BACKGROUND: Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have been linked to a higher probability of adverse physical and emotional conditions. Yet, there remains limited understanding regarding the correlation between ACEs and job burnout, and the role of sleep duration as a potential mediator in this relationship remains largely understudied. METHODS: From December 2023 to February 2024, a convenience sampling method was used to recruit nursing interns from multiple hospitals in Hunan Province, China. Adverse Childhood Experiences International Questionnaire and Maslach Burnout Inventory-General Survey were used to collect data. Logistic regression was employed to analyze the association between ACEs and job burnout, while mediation analysis was used to investigate the potential mediating role of sleep duration in the relationship between ACEs and job burnout. RESULTS: Among the 1055 participants, 412 (39.1%) reported experiencing at least one type of ACE, with 124 (11.7%) reporting four or more type of ACEs. A total of 265 interns were identified as experiencing job burnout. After adjusting for potential covariates, participants with high ACE exposure (≥ 4) showed significantly higher odds of job burnout compared to those with low ACE exposure (0-1) (OR: 1.69, 95%CI: 1.10, 2.57). In addition, each unit increase in ACEs was associated with decreased sleep duration (β: -3.14, 95%CI: -5.60, -0.69). Mediation analysis confirmed that sleep duration partially mediated the association between ACEs and job burnout (indirect effect: 0.0019, 95%CI: 0.0004, 0.004; direct effect: 0.0116, 95%CI: 0.0013, 0.0214), accounting for 13.62% of the total effect. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests more ACE exposure was associated with an increased likelihood of job burnout among nursing interns, with sleep duration playing a partial mediating role in this relationship. CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER: Not applicable.