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Abstract IntroductionIn order to be positioned to address the increasing strain of burnout and worsening nurse shortage, a better understanding of factors that contribute to nursing workload is required. This study aims to examine the difference between order‐based and clinically perceived nursing workloads and to quantify factors that contribute to a higher clinically perceived workload. DesignA retrospective cohort study was used on an observational dataset. MethodsWe combined patient flow, nurse staffing and assignment, and workload intensity data and used multivariate linear regression to analyze how various shift, patient, and nurse‐level factors, beyond order‐based workload, affect nurses' clinically perceived workload. ResultsAmong 53% of our samples, the clinically perceived workload is higher than the order‐based workload. Factors associated with a higher clinically perceived workload include weekend or night shifts, shifts with a higher census, patients within the first 24 h of admission, and male patients. ConclusionsThe order‐based workload measures tended to underestimate nurses' clinically perceived workload. We identified and quantified factors that contribute to a higher clinically perceived workload, discussed the potential mechanisms as to how these factors affect the clinically perceived workload, and proposed targeted interventions to better manage nursing workload. Clinical RelevanceBy identifying factors associated with a high clinically perceived workload, the nurse manager can provide appropriate interventions to lighten nursing workload, which may further reduce the risk of nurse burnout and shortage.