The correlation between nursing workload and abnormal 24-h ambulatory blood pressure profiles in clinical nurses: a cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVE: To analyze 24-h ambulatory blood pressure profiles among clinical nurses and investigate their correlation with nursing workload. METHODS: This study enrolled 312 clinical nurses from a tertiary hospital in China between June 2024 and June 2025. All participants underwent 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. Latent profile analysis identified blood pressure profiles. Binary logistic regression identified workload indicators associated with abnormal profiles, and restricted cubic spline models assessed dose-response relationships. RESULTS: Four profiles were identified: the low ambulatory SBP dipper group (SBP<111 mmHg, dipper≥49%), the high ambulatory SBP rhythm variability group (SBP≥111 mmHg, abnormal circadian rhythm≥54%), the low ambulatory DBP dipper group (DBP<72 mmHg, dipper≥46%), and the high ambulatory DBP rhythm variability group (DBP≥72 mmHg, abnormal circadian rhythm≥61%). An increased number of patients admitted or transferred in was associated with abnormal SBP profiles [odds ratio (OR) 1.496, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.069-2.094]. An increased total number of patients assigned was associated with abnormal DBP profiles (OR 1.228, 95% CI 1.014-1.488), whereas a higher number of patients with level II or below care needs was protective (OR 0.777, 95% CI 0.645-0.937). All associations were linear and varied across subgroups, with broader patterns observed in the high-variability groups. CONCLUSION: Abnormal blood pressure profiles in clinical nurses were characterized by elevated 24-h blood pressure (median 117.0/80.5 mmHg) and a high proportion of abnormal circadian rhythms (54.2% for SBP and 61.4% for DBP). Linear dose-response relationships exist between specific nursing workload and the risk of abnormal profiles.