PDF(Pubmed)
Abstract：
BACKGROUND: Nursing home staff often face challenges in achieving a satisfactory work-life balance, particularly because of the nature of shift work. While long shifts offer extended periods off work, their impact on the delicate balance between work and leisure remains understudied in the context of nursing homes. This study investigated the experiences of nursing home staff in Norway working long shifts lasting 12-14 h and their perceptions of the balance between family life and work.
METHODS: Eighteen nursing home staff members were interviewed following a semi-structured qualitative approach. The participants worked in three types of long shifts and provided insights into their experiences, addressing issues such as work hours, shift patterns, and work-family balance.
RESULTS: The study revealed four main categories: (1) impact of long shifts on family life-the highs and lows; (2) maximizing time off with long shifts; (3) reducing job stress with long shifts; and (4) full-time work leads to predictable hours and stable income. The participants emphasised the distinct separation between work and leisure during long shifts, acknowledging limited social life during working periods but appreciating extended periods off. Family life posed challenges, especially with young children, but the participants found benefits in the longer periods of family time during days off. Longer rest periods and reduced commuting time were perceived as advantages of long shifts, contributing to better sleep, reduced stress and overall well-being. Long shifts also allowed for more predictable working hours and income, supporting a stable work-life balance.
CONCLUSIONS: Balancing work and family life involves more than just the number of hours spent at work; it also encompasses the quality of those hours both at work and at home. Our findings underscore the complex interplay between work and family life for nursing home staff working long shifts. While challenges exist, benefits such as extended time off, improved sleep, reduced stress, and predictable working hours contribute positively to their work-life balance. Long shifts in nursing homes offer a unique perspective on achieving work-life balance, revealing both the challenges and advantages inherent in such schedules. Understanding the experiences of nursing home staff in this context can inform future innovations in shift scheduling, promoting a more balanced and sustainable work environment for healthcare professionals. For some healthcare staff, extended shifts can lead to a better work-life balance.
METHODS: Eighteen nursing home staff members were interviewed following a semi-structured qualitative approach. The participants worked in three types of long shifts and provided insights into their experiences, addressing issues such as work hours, shift patterns, and work-family balance.
RESULTS: The study revealed four main categories: (1) impact of long shifts on family life-the highs and lows; (2) maximizing time off with long shifts; (3) reducing job stress with long shifts; and (4) full-time work leads to predictable hours and stable income. The participants emphasised the distinct separation between work and leisure during long shifts, acknowledging limited social life during working periods but appreciating extended periods off. Family life posed challenges, especially with young children, but the participants found benefits in the longer periods of family time during days off. Longer rest periods and reduced commuting time were perceived as advantages of long shifts, contributing to better sleep, reduced stress and overall well-being. Long shifts also allowed for more predictable working hours and income, supporting a stable work-life balance.
CONCLUSIONS: Balancing work and family life involves more than just the number of hours spent at work; it also encompasses the quality of those hours both at work and at home. Our findings underscore the complex interplay between work and family life for nursing home staff working long shifts. While challenges exist, benefits such as extended time off, improved sleep, reduced stress, and predictable working hours contribute positively to their work-life balance. Long shifts in nursing homes offer a unique perspective on achieving work-life balance, revealing both the challenges and advantages inherent in such schedules. Understanding the experiences of nursing home staff in this context can inform future innovations in shift scheduling, promoting a more balanced and sustainable work environment for healthcare professionals. For some healthcare staff, extended shifts can lead to a better work-life balance.
摘要：
背景：疗养院工作人员在实现令人满意的工作与生活平衡方面经常面临挑战，特别是因为轮班工作的性质。虽然长时间轮班会延长下班时间，在疗养院的背景下，它们对工作和休闲之间微妙平衡的影响仍未得到充分研究。这项研究调查了挪威养老院工作人员长期工作12-14小时的经验，以及他们对家庭生活与工作之间平衡的看法。
方法：按照半结构化的定性方法对18名养老院工作人员进行了访谈。参与者在三种类型的长期轮班中工作，并提供了对他们经验的见解，解决工作时间等问题，移位模式，工作与家庭的平衡。
结果：该研究揭示了四个主要类别：（1）长时间轮班对家庭生活的影响-高点和低点；（2）长时间轮班最大化休假时间；（3）长时间轮班减轻工作压力；（4）全职工作导致可预测的工作时间和稳定的收入。参与者强调了长时间轮班期间工作和休闲之间的明显分离，承认工作期间有限的社会生活，但赞赏延长的时间。家庭生活带来挑战，尤其是对年幼的孩子，但是参与者发现，在休假期间，家庭时间更长的时间会有好处。更长的休息时间和减少的通勤时间被认为是长时间轮班的优势，有助于更好的睡眠，减少压力和整体福祉。长时间轮班还允许更可预测的工作时间和收入，支持稳定的工作与生活平衡。
结论：平衡工作和家庭生活不仅仅涉及工作时间；它还包括工作和家庭时间的质量。我们的发现强调了长期轮班的疗养院工作人员的工作与家庭生活之间复杂的相互作用。虽然存在挑战，好处，如延长休假时间，改善睡眠,减少压力，可预测的工作时间对他们的工作与生活平衡有积极的贡献。疗养院的长期轮班为实现工作与生活的平衡提供了独特的视角，揭示了这些时间表固有的挑战和优势。在这种情况下，了解疗养院工作人员的经验可以为未来的轮班安排创新提供信息，为医疗保健专业人员提供更加平衡和可持续的工作环境。对于一些医护人员来说，延长轮班可以带来更好的工作与生活平衡。
方法：按照半结构化的定性方法对18名养老院工作人员进行了访谈。参与者在三种类型的长期轮班中工作，并提供了对他们经验的见解，解决工作时间等问题，移位模式，工作与家庭的平衡。
结果：该研究揭示了四个主要类别：（1）长时间轮班对家庭生活的影响-高点和低点；（2）长时间轮班最大化休假时间；（3）长时间轮班减轻工作压力；（4）全职工作导致可预测的工作时间和稳定的收入。参与者强调了长时间轮班期间工作和休闲之间的明显分离，承认工作期间有限的社会生活，但赞赏延长的时间。家庭生活带来挑战，尤其是对年幼的孩子，但是参与者发现，在休假期间，家庭时间更长的时间会有好处。更长的休息时间和减少的通勤时间被认为是长时间轮班的优势，有助于更好的睡眠，减少压力和整体福祉。长时间轮班还允许更可预测的工作时间和收入，支持稳定的工作与生活平衡。
结论：平衡工作和家庭生活不仅仅涉及工作时间；它还包括工作和家庭时间的质量。我们的发现强调了长期轮班的疗养院工作人员的工作与家庭生活之间复杂的相互作用。虽然存在挑战，好处，如延长休假时间，改善睡眠,减少压力，可预测的工作时间对他们的工作与生活平衡有积极的贡献。疗养院的长期轮班为实现工作与生活的平衡提供了独特的视角，揭示了这些时间表固有的挑战和优势。在这种情况下，了解疗养院工作人员的经验可以为未来的轮班安排创新提供信息，为医疗保健专业人员提供更加平衡和可持续的工作环境。对于一些医护人员来说，延长轮班可以带来更好的工作与生活平衡。
