The Impact of Emotional Exhaustion on Job Satisfaction among Nurses in Abu Dhabi Public Hospitals
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47604/jhmn.3710Keywords:
Emotional Exhaustion, Job Satisfaction, Nurse Burnout, Healthcare Workforce, RetentionAbstract
Purpose: Nurse burnout, especially emotional exhaustion (EE), negatively impacts job satisfaction (JS), staff retention, and the quality of patient care worldwide. EE presents as persistent fatigue resulting from extended work-related stressors, such as excessive workloads, inadequate staffing, and emotional demands. In the UAE, the rapid expansion of healthcare, dependence on foreign nurses, and elevated patient-to-nurse ratios exacerbate these issues. Abu Dhabi's Vision 2031 emphasizes the importance of the healthcare workforce’s well-being and retention; nonetheless, empirical research linking EE and JS remains scarce. This study combines international and UAE-related literature using the Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) framework to analyze factors affecting EE, its effects on JS, and mitigation strategies.
Methodology: The study employs a literature synthesis approach, integrating findings from international and UAE-specific studies within the JD-R framework to identify determinants of EE, its impact on JS, and evidence-based mitigation strategies.
Findings: Findings emphasize the importance of supportive leadership, ethical workplace cultures, effective workload management, and nurse residency programs in improving satisfaction and retention. Key factors contributing to EE include heavy workloads, lack of leadership backing, and ethical pressure. Interventions based on evidence empowering leadership, inclusive governance, and organized mentorship, successfully reduce EE.
Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: This study provides practical recommendations for hospital leaders and decision-makers to enhance employee well-being and ensure sustainable, high-quality healthcare services in line with the UAE Vision 2031, while adapting the JD-R framework to the healthcare environment in the United Arab Emirates.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Laila Rashed Bakhit Almarbooei, Dr. Md Hafizur Rahman
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