<![CDATA[Nurses provide continuous nursing care throughout the day, and an imbalance between workload and nursing capacity may reduce nurse performance and the quality of care. A preliminary study at the Pediatric Inpatient Unit of Teungku Peukan Regional General Hospital, Southwest Aceh, indicated a considerable perceived workload related to patient volume, limited nursing staff, and additional non-nursing activities. This study aimed to determine the relationship between workload and nurse performance in that unit. A quantitative study with a cross-sectional design involved all 68 nurses working in the Pediatric Inpatient Unit, recruited through total sampling. Data were collected from 24 November to 2 December 2025 using a 13-item workload questionnaire and a 19-item nurse performance questionnaire, and were analysed univariately and bivariately using the Chi-Square test at a 5% significance level. Most respondents reported a moderate workload (48 respondents; 70.6%), followed by a heavy workload (13 respondents; 19.1%) and a light workload (7 respondents; 10.3%). Nurse performance was predominantly adequate (37 respondents; 54.4%), followed by good (24 respondents; 35.3%) and poor (7 respondents; 10.3%). The Pearson Chi-Square test yielded χ²=36.173; df=4; p<0.001, indicating a statistically significant relationship between workload and nurse performance. Periodic workload evaluation, staffing that matches service needs, balanced shift scheduling, and optimised task distribution are required to support nurse performance and nursing service quality. Keywords: workload, nurse performance, pediatric inpatient, nursing management, hospital]]>
