Quality of Nursing Work Life, Compassion Fatigue, and Self-Efficacy Among Primary Care Nurses in Saudi Arabia.

: This quantitative cross-sectional study examined the relationships between self-efficacy, compassion fatigue, and the quality of nursing work life (QNWL) in primary care nurses from the Dammam and Riyadh regions of Saudi Arabia. This study examined how these factors varied according to gender, education, income, and years of experience. A total of 158 primary care nurses completed validated survey instruments, including the General Self-Efficacy Scale, Professional Quality of Life Scale-Version 5, and Work-Related Quality of Life Scale-2. Descriptive statistics were used for data analysis. The results indicated that participants experienced elevated self-efficacy (M = 29.53, SD = 0.52), moderate compassion fatigue (M = 54.62, SD = 10.16), and moderate overall quality of work life (QWL) (M = 3.26, SD = 0.52). Positive correlations were identified between self-efficacy and QWL ( = 0.250, < 0.05) and compassion satisfaction ( = 0.533, < 0.05). By contrast, compassion fatigue was negatively correlated with QWL ( = -0.259, < 0.05). Notable disparities in QWL were identified according to education level and years of experience, with nurses possessing advanced degrees and those with less experience having elevated QNWL scores. This study highlights the significance of promoting self-efficacy and mitigating compassion fatigue to improve the quality of nursing. Administrators and nurse leaders should consider strategies such as continuous professional development, psychological support, and effective workload management to enhance the well-being and retention of primary care nurses.