A qualitative study of clinical oncology nurses' perceptions of work-life balanc

The purpose of the hermeneutic phenomenological study was to explore the perceptions and lived-experience of work-life balance of oncology nurses living the Houston Metropolitan area. The two theories used to advance the study were work-family conflict and role stress theory. A single research question guided the study: How do oncology nurses perceive and describe the lived-experience of work-life balance? Twelve oncology nurses were interviewed to identify perceptions of work-life balance, understand from the nurses' perspectives of the contribution of oncology work environment to work-life balance, to describe the experience of work-life balance, and to identify personal strategies that help the nurses achieve work-life balance. The study revealed nine major themes: (a) work-life balance is described as managing time between work and home; (b) time management and emotional demand are challenges oncology nurses face in achieving work-life balance; (c) the oncology work-environment creates challenges for nurses achieving work-life balance; (d) work-life imbalance creates negative effects for the nurse, the workplace, and the patient; (e) nurses had considered leaving oncology or the current nursing workplace because of work-life balance issues; (f) successful work-life balance has positive outcomes for employees and the workplace employer; (g) A nurses' lifestyle and demographic factors contributes to successful work-life balance; (h) an organization's benefits and resources contribute to successful work-life balance; and (i) self-care is a strategy nurses find useful for obtaining and maintaining work-life balance and self-care is important to psychosocial health. Recommendations include providing more staff recognition opportunities, providing more work-life balance resources, performing work-life balance nursing needs assessment, developing work-life balance programs, developing work-life balance champions, developing nurse caregiver programs, and improving marketing and communication regarding work-life benefits and programs. Education recommendations include educating staff about available work-life balance and self-care programs, increasing the amount of and access to oncology related educational opportunities, incorporating work-life balance and self-care in nursing educational programs, and providing time management learning opportunities designed specifically to address managing critically ill patients and high acuity. Finally, a recommendation for nursing practice is developing strategies that include flexible work schedules and self-scheduling.