The impact on organizations, individuals, and care when nurses are also family caregivers.

BACKGROUND: There can be negative consequences to family caregiving as an employee. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of family caregiving as a nurse (double-duty nurse caregivers) on the nurse, colleagues, and organization. METHODS: Two surveys were completed by double-duty nurse caregivers and healthcare organization leaders on their demographics, and support for/impact of family caregiving. Descriptive statistics, chi squares, t-tests, and Mann-Whitney U tests were used. Text from open-ended questions were used to inform the quantitative data. FINDINGS: Without organizational policies and a workplace culture that support family caregiving, managers are limited in the types and level of support they can provide. DISCUSSION: Healthcare leaders perceived family caregiving to have a larger impact on the nurses' own health and work performance than nurses themselves. Family caregiving was identified as a potential contributor to burnout; and lack of workplace support for family caregiving may influence turnover intentions.

A balancing act: managing your personal and professional life--Part II.

Managing your personal and professional life is a lifelong balancing act due to situations that arise in the course of expected and unexpected normal life events. Identifying and dealing with these issues in your own life will likely make you a stronger leader in the eyes of your employees who often struggle with similar issues. Acknowledging these struggles among your employees can help create community in work teams, which ultimately translates into retention. Advocating for work life policies in your organization will transform personal compassion into organizational culture and, ultimately, into corporate policy.