Other Titles
Experiences of Presenteeism Among Taiwanese Nurses: A Qualitative Study [Title Slide]
Abstract
Background: Nurses often work despite illness due to heavy workloads, professional expectations, and limited staffing. Such presenteeism may affect performance, well-being, and long-term occupational health. In Taiwan, little is known about how nurses perceive and experience working while unwell. Therefore, this study aimed to explore Taiwanese nurses’ awareness and lived experiences of presenteeism using a qualitative approach.
Methods: A qualitative descriptive design was used. Six nurses from intensive care units and general wards in a medical center in northern Taiwan were recruited through purposive sampling. Data were collected through face-to-face, semi-structured interviews that focused on decision-making regarding attendance, perceived pressures, and coping strategies. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using thematic analysis to identify recurring patterns and conceptual categories.
Results: Four major themes emerged:
- Professional responsibility and self-expectations: Nurses described a strong sense of duty and professional identity, often believing they were “still able to manage,” which prompted them to continue working despite discomfort. Feelings of guilt or obligation led to delayed self-care.
- Practical challenges in work processes and scheduling: High workloads, insufficient staffing, and rigid scheduling influenced attendance decisions. Limited leave flexibility and concerns about burdening colleagues were frequent barriers to taking sick leave.
- Balancing work and family roles: Nurses commonly navigated competing responsibilities across work and home. They were more inclined to take leave for urgent family needs than for their own health, reflecting the strain of dual role expectations.
- Cumulative physical–emotional responses and self-adjustment: Over time, recurring presenteeism contributed to fatigue and emotional stress. Some nurses are increasingly advocating for their own health, with younger generations showing a greater willingness to prioritize well-being and challenge traditional norms of “working through illness.”
Conclusion/Implications: Nurses’ decisions to work while unwell are shaped by professional role identity, workload structure, team dynamics, and family obligations. Enhancing organizational support, improving staffing and scheduling flexibility, and fostering a culture that normalizes self-care may help reduce presenteeism and promote a healthier, more sustainable nursing workforce.
Notes
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Extensive reference list included in attached slide deck.
References:
Gerlach, M., Hahn, S., Rossier, C., Geese, F., Hamers, J., & Backhaus, R. (2024). Presenteeism among nurses: An integrative review. International Journal of Nursing Studies Advances, 7, 100261. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnsa.2024.100261
Hung, S. P., Ming, J. L., Tsao, L. I., & Jeng, C. (2024). A preliminary qualitative exploration of the lived experiences of presenteeism among Taiwanese nursing staff. Journal of Nursing Administration, 54(12), 40-45. https://doi.org/10.1097/NNA.0000000000001515
Jessica, G. R., Diane Ash, D., & Linsey, M. S. (2020). Nurse health, work environment, presenteeism and patient safety. Western Journal of Nursing Research, 42(5), 332-339. https://doi.org/10.1177/0193945919863409
Kang, M., Min, A., Park, C., & Kim, I. (2025). Cost burden of productivity loss due to sickness presenteeism among nurses in South Korea: A cross-sectional study. International Nursing Review, 72(1), e13094. https://doi.org/10.1111/inr.13094
Mohammadi, M. M., Dehghan Nayeri, N., Varaei, S., & Rasti, A. (2021). Exploring the concept of presenteeism in nursing: A hybrid concept analysis. International Journal of Nursing Knowledge, 32(3), 166-176. https://doi.org/10.1111/2047-3095.12308
Sigma Membership
Non-member
Type
Presentation
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
Descriptive/Correlational
Research Approach
Qualitative Research
Keywords:
Mentoring and Coaching, Stress and Coping, Workforce, Presenteeism, Work Experiences, Taiwan
Recommended Citation
Cheng, Hsiao-Wei and Chiou, Ai-Fu, "Exploring Presenteeism Experiences Among Nurses in Taiwan: A Qualitative Study" (2026). International Nursing Research Congress (INRC). 132.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/inrc/2026/presentations_2026/132
Conference Name
37th International Nursing Research Congress
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Conference Year
2026
Rights Holder
All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record. All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository. All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.
Review Type
Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
Date of Issue
2026-08-05
Exploring Presenteeism Experiences Among Nurses in Taiwan: A Qualitative Study
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Background: Nurses often work despite illness due to heavy workloads, professional expectations, and limited staffing. Such presenteeism may affect performance, well-being, and long-term occupational health. In Taiwan, little is known about how nurses perceive and experience working while unwell. Therefore, this study aimed to explore Taiwanese nurses’ awareness and lived experiences of presenteeism using a qualitative approach.
Methods: A qualitative descriptive design was used. Six nurses from intensive care units and general wards in a medical center in northern Taiwan were recruited through purposive sampling. Data were collected through face-to-face, semi-structured interviews that focused on decision-making regarding attendance, perceived pressures, and coping strategies. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using thematic analysis to identify recurring patterns and conceptual categories.
Results: Four major themes emerged:
- Professional responsibility and self-expectations: Nurses described a strong sense of duty and professional identity, often believing they were “still able to manage,” which prompted them to continue working despite discomfort. Feelings of guilt or obligation led to delayed self-care.
- Practical challenges in work processes and scheduling: High workloads, insufficient staffing, and rigid scheduling influenced attendance decisions. Limited leave flexibility and concerns about burdening colleagues were frequent barriers to taking sick leave.
- Balancing work and family roles: Nurses commonly navigated competing responsibilities across work and home. They were more inclined to take leave for urgent family needs than for their own health, reflecting the strain of dual role expectations.
- Cumulative physical–emotional responses and self-adjustment: Over time, recurring presenteeism contributed to fatigue and emotional stress. Some nurses are increasingly advocating for their own health, with younger generations showing a greater willingness to prioritize well-being and challenge traditional norms of “working through illness.”
Conclusion/Implications: Nurses’ decisions to work while unwell are shaped by professional role identity, workload structure, team dynamics, and family obligations. Enhancing organizational support, improving staffing and scheduling flexibility, and fostering a culture that normalizes self-care may help reduce presenteeism and promote a healthier, more sustainable nursing workforce.
Description
Nurses often work despite being ill due to the responsibilities, workload, and role expectations. This qualitative study of Taiwanese nurses identified four themes that shape presenteeism: professional duty, work constraints, family demands, and cumulative physical and emotional strain.