Abstract

Session presented on: Thursday, July 25, 2013:

Purpose: The aim of this study was to examine motivations and obstacles experienced by hospital nurses who endeavor to work after injury by focusing on the injury experience, work climate, risk of re-injury, workers' compensation, and issues related to personal lifestyle.

Methods: Motivations and Obstacles to Work for the Injured Hospital Nurse (MORE Nurses Study), used ground theory methodology including coding and conceptualization in the analysis of the data. Nurse participants (n =16) provided patient care in two different medical centers in California; however, four received their nursing education outside the United States. The sample included nurses married, with families, and those who were single.

Results: Nurses were able to clearly articulate examples of work-life balance and gave vivid descriptions of their motivations to gain/regain a balance between work and home demands. Participants reported fear of injury based on their own experiences and witnessing career-ending injuries to co-workers. Many were reluctant to report an injury for reasons related to stigma of disability, desensitization of self-needs, and their loyalty as nurses to provide patient care. Conceptual sub-categories emerged from the data. From them, the conceptual description of nursing together represented the connections nurses share, which motivate them to work after injury.

Conclusions: Nurses are compelled to do their work based on deep beliefs related to the importance of caring for another human being in need. The degree to which nurses personally connect with nursing as something more than a job, influences their perseverance to maintain work, the quality of the patient care they delivery, where they chose to work, connections with co-workers, and how they balance these demands with their family and community identity. Such connections are essential in determining whether nurses will find ways to nurse together in the physically and emotionally demanding hospital setting while striving to find a satisfying balance with their life outside of work.

Authors

Kathleen Mullen

Author Details

Kathleen Mullen, PhD, RN

Sigma Membership

Non-member

Type

Presentation

Format Type

Text-based Document

Study Design/Type

N/A

Research Approach

N/A

Keywords:

Injured Hospital Nurses, Work-Life Balance, Work Environment

Conference Name

24th International Nursing Research Congress

Conference Host

Sigma Theta Tau International

Conference Location

Prague, Czech Republic

Conference Year

2013

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Work-life balance: Motivations and obstacles to work for injured hospital nurses

Prague, Czech Republic

Session presented on: Thursday, July 25, 2013:

Purpose: The aim of this study was to examine motivations and obstacles experienced by hospital nurses who endeavor to work after injury by focusing on the injury experience, work climate, risk of re-injury, workers' compensation, and issues related to personal lifestyle.

Methods: Motivations and Obstacles to Work for the Injured Hospital Nurse (MORE Nurses Study), used ground theory methodology including coding and conceptualization in the analysis of the data. Nurse participants (n =16) provided patient care in two different medical centers in California; however, four received their nursing education outside the United States. The sample included nurses married, with families, and those who were single.

Results: Nurses were able to clearly articulate examples of work-life balance and gave vivid descriptions of their motivations to gain/regain a balance between work and home demands. Participants reported fear of injury based on their own experiences and witnessing career-ending injuries to co-workers. Many were reluctant to report an injury for reasons related to stigma of disability, desensitization of self-needs, and their loyalty as nurses to provide patient care. Conceptual sub-categories emerged from the data. From them, the conceptual description of nursing together represented the connections nurses share, which motivate them to work after injury.

Conclusions: Nurses are compelled to do their work based on deep beliefs related to the importance of caring for another human being in need. The degree to which nurses personally connect with nursing as something more than a job, influences their perseverance to maintain work, the quality of the patient care they delivery, where they chose to work, connections with co-workers, and how they balance these demands with their family and community identity. Such connections are essential in determining whether nurses will find ways to nurse together in the physically and emotionally demanding hospital setting while striving to find a satisfying balance with their life outside of work.