Assessing Quality of Life Among Emergency Department Nurses

Aim. The aim of this research was to assess the quality of life (QoL) of nurses working in emergency departments in Rijeka and Zagreb. In addition, the study examined how demographic and work-related factors such as gender, age, education level, and place of employment are associated with variations in quality of life.Methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted in July and August 2024 using a non-probabilistic ran- dom sampling method. A total of 99 nurses (54.5% female, 45.5% male; mean age = 34.1 years, SD = 8.9) participated by completing an anonymous online survey. The World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire (WHOQOL-BREF) was used to evaluate four domains of QoL: physical health, psychological health, social relationships and environmental. Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics, the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, Mann-Whitney U test, Kruskal-Wallis test, and, where appropriate, post hoc analyses. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05.Results. The overall mean quality of life score was 57.0, indicating a moderate level of well-being. The highest scores were observed in the domain of social relationships (M = 65.4), and the lowest in physical health (M = 50.8). Statistically significant differences were found between age groups, particularly in psychological health and social relationships, with younger participants (< 25 years) reporting higher scores. Nurses with secondary education reported higher QoL in psychological and social domains than those with higher degrees. The respondents from Ri- jeka scored higher in the environmental domain than those from Zagreb.Conclusion. This study highlights moderate QoL among emergency nurses and identifies demographic and contextual differences across key domains. The findings suggest a need for targeted interventions to improve physical health, support work-life balance, and promote equity based on age, gender, and work environment. Enhancing the well-being of emergency department nurses is essential for sustainable healthcare systems and quality patient care.