Professional Burnout and Its Relationship to Patient Care Quality and Safety Practices Among Staff Nurses in A Level 3 Government Hospital

This study examined the relationships among professional burnout, perceived patient care quality, and patient safety practices among 150 staff nurses at a Level 3 government hospital in Southern Metro Manila. Using a descriptive-correlational quantitative design, data were collected through a researcher-developed and validated questionnaire. Findings revealed that overall professional burnout was low (mean = 2.23), although emotional exhaustion was the most frequently experienced burnout dimension. Perceived patient care quality (mean = 4.40) and patient safety practices (mean = 4.65) were rated very high. Pearson correlation analysis showed significant negative relationships between professional burnout and perceived patient care quality (r = -0.406, p<0.001) and between professional burnout and patient safety practices (r = -0.315, p<0.001). These findings indicate that higher levels of burnout are associated with lower perceptions of care quality and safety practices. The study highlights the importance of organizational support, wellness initiatives, and workload management strategies in promoting nurse well-being and sustaining safe, high-quality patient care. These findings provide evidence for the development of a targeted wellness program in government hospital settings.