Levels of Quality of Work Life and Clinical Empathy Among Nurses in Palestine During the War: A Cross-Sectional Study of Predictors

Background Quality of work life has emerged as one of the primary determinants of nurse's satisfaction, retention, and well-being within the profession, while empathy refers to responding to patient's feelings in a compassionate and caring manner. Objective This study aimed to assess the quality of work life and clinical empathy levels among nurses in Palestine and to identify the predictive factors of quality of work life. Methods A descriptive cross-sectional design was used, involving 250 nurses working in governmental and nongovernmental hospitals, selected using a convenience sampling technique. Data were collected through an internet-based questionnaire from February to April 2025 which included validated tools for measuring quality of work life and empathy, demonstrating very good reliability (α = 0.88 and 0.82, respectively). Results Nurses reported a mean overall quality of work life (QWL) score of 3.30 ± 0.47. Among QWL domains, Stress at work recorded the highest mean score (3.62 ± 0.72), while general well-being and the home–work interface demonstrated comparatively lower scores. The mean empathy score was 33.55 ± 5.56 (range 0–64). Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that empathy was the strongest positive predictor of QWL (β = .370, p < .001). Divorced or widowed marital status was positively associated with QWL (β = .172, p = .004), whereas working nonstandard shifts (β = −.127, p = .044), higher educational level (β = −.144, p = .020), older age (β = −.148, p = .049), and employment in certain departments (β = −.175, p = .010) were negatively associated with QWL. Conclusion Empathy plays a significant and meaningful role in enhancing nurses’ quality of work life, functioning as a key psychosocial resource within challenging healthcare environments. Organizational strategies that promote stable work scheduling, professional role alignment, and empathy-oriented development may contribute to improving occupational well-being and sustaining high-quality patient care.