Walking a tightrope : the lived experience of shift-working mothers in healthcare

Abstract

The aim of this study, which takes a social constructionist and interpretivist approach, is to explore the lived experiences of shift-working mothers in healthcare, and the impact these experiences have on their personal and relational well-being. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with five mothers working nonstandard schedules as nurses. The data collected was analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA), and this process yielded six superordinate themes: (a) Benefits of shift work; (b) The downside of shift work; (c) Motivation to work in the nursing profession; (d) Struggling to find a work-life balance in the context of shift work; (e) Ways of coping and safeguarding well-being, and (f) Support is a sine qua non for coping with shift work. This study highlights the challenges the shift-working mothers face when trying to successfully juggle work and life. These are intertwined with stories of resilience forged through interdependence with all those who form part of their system. Implications and recommendations for future research and development are also addressed.