Latent profile analysis of health and fatigue recovery among shift work nurses and differential associations with participation in a shift work improvement pilot project: a descriptive cross-sectional study.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to identify latent profiles of shift-work nurses according to perceived health, fatigue, and recovery levels and to examine differences across profiles in work-related outcomes, including sleep quality, work-life balance, job satisfaction, and turnover intention. It also examined whether patterns associated with participation in a shift-work improvement pilot project differed by latent profile. METHODS: This descriptive cross-sectional study included 120 shift-work nurses working in pediatric wards at a tertiary hospital in South Korea. Data were collected from January 14 to 24, 2025. Latent profile analysis was performed using the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey and the Occupational Fatigue Exhaustion Recovery Scale. Differences in outcomes by latent profile membership and pilot-project participation status at the time of data collection were examined using two-way analysis of covariance, with age included as a covariate. RESULTS: Three latent profiles were identified: Healthy-Recovery (20.8%), Moderate (41.7%), and Burnout-Vulnerable (37.5%). Significant differences among profiles were observed in sleep quality (F=37.37, p<.001), work-life balance (F=50.86, p<.001), job satisfaction (F=12.29, p<.001), and turnover intention (F=12.11, p<.001). A significant interaction between latent profile membership and pilot-project participation was observed for job satisfaction (F=4.77, p=.010, partial η²=.078). Pilot-project participation was associated with significantly higher job satisfaction only in the Healthy-Recovery profile (p=.005). CONCLUSION: Associations between pilot-project participation and work-related outcomes differed according to nurses' health, fatigue, and recovery profiles. These findings indicate that heterogeneity among shift-work nurses should be considered when interpreting work-related outcomes and designing tailored support strategies.