The Pull and Pull of Nursing and Motherhood

Achieving higher work-life balance

One of essentially the most difficult challenges I actually have faced as a nurse was becoming a mother to an exquisite baby boy almost two years ago (and one other amazing, handsome baby boy eight months ago). Two children under the age of two is not any joke!

Unfortunately, I used to be only on maternity leave for about three months with our first son. Both my husband and I actually have to work to support our family. The working mom guilt was real. And I felt like I had let our son down by going back to work because I assumed I might miss out on a lot. I left my management position to have a greater work-life balance, especially with a newborn, and to be more there for our child (now infants). I searched for distant nursing jobs and other positions but couldn’t find anything that met our financial needs. I knew we might adjust and had faith that things would work out, but that didn’t make the method any easier.

Self-care and support for the working mother

For me and lots of of my colleagues who’ve children, combining the responsibilities of a mother with work as a nurse has proven to be a challenge. Despite only working two or three shifts every week, the shifts are long and sometimes you miss out on moments, whether it’s putting your child to bed at night or missing a sports match or musical since you’re working every other weekend. Despite having your village – whether it’s family, friends, nursery or school – it’s tough and you possibly can’t help but feel such as you’re not doing enough on your family, especially whenever you’re caring for others at work. Yes, we discover ways to regulate to life as a working parent, but we want to support one another and higher understand the struggles many nurses face working and being parents.

My goal is to let all nurses going through the same situation know, whether you’ve gotten children at home or are caring for fogeys or relations, that you simply aren’t alone. And try to achieve out to others for help or simply talk.