Quality of life associated with nursing professionals' individual resources and work.

Objectives: to assess the physical and mental components of nursing professionals' quality of life and associate them with individual, health and work characteristics.

Methods: cross-sectional research, with nursing professionals from a university hospital in São Paulo. Own questionnaire and validated instruments were applied.

Results: the overall quality of life was compromised. The physical component was lower in relation to low family income and among those who perceived greater control/pressure at work, and better for those who practiced physical activity and had support of leader and organization. The mental component was lower in professionals who reported dissatisfaction with work, worse self-rated physical health and were older. Scores for both components reduced due to work-related illnesses, worse work ability and increased daytime sleepiness.

Conclusions: quality of life was statistically associated with controllable institutional factors and individual resources that, except age, can be promoted.