In returning to work and continuing employment of potential nurses community involvement in parenting

Abstract

Objective: To clarify what kind of community surrounds potential nurses raising children, how that community contributes to their return to work, and obtain suggestions on what support they need in their return to work.

Methods: We conducted a semi-structured interview of 14 nurses currently raising children up to the sixth grade of elementary school. These nurses were returning to work after 1-6 years of leave of absence at a hospital with more than 200 beds that provides support for child-rearing in Tokyo.

Results: The potential nurses raising children had a community comprising of nurses raising children, mothers other than nurses raising children, and families and relatives. During their leave of absence from their jobs, they were worried about returning to work and their work style. However, they were encouraged to do so by the support from their community and motivation from their colleagues. They acquired specific information regarding work style while raising children and the expected changes in lifestyle after returning to work. Furthermore, it became clear that having a community contributed to their desire to continue working after returning to work.

Discussion: There was encouragement from the other mothers raising children and motivation from their efforts in encouraging them to return to work. By listening to experiences of others who actually returned to work as nurses, the anxiety about their work style may have reduced. Moreover, the participants intrigued about the possibility of working while raising children mostly likely took the step toward returning to work by receiving specific information regarding changes in lifestyle after returning to work and balancing work and childcare.