Work/life balance!

RE: Work/life balance!

emmadilemma — Wed, 12 Jul 2017 13:33:22 GMT

I find I have a much better work life balance working nights than when I did days.....i work 6 nights on then get 8 off. When I book one weeks holiday, I get 3 weeks off in a row due to how the Rota runs and I can do that three times a year. Lots of time off and better pay too

RE: Work/life balance!

Jacqueline Gallacher — Tue, 11 Jul 2017 21:18:59 GMT

I think this is one of the biggest problems with this profession, the - leave your life at the door- attitude. There have been big drives lately to highlight mental health issues in the profession and I really think this is one of the problems, some staff are made to feel obliged to do extra and can feel very guilty and stressed if they do it and if they don't, It can be a no win situation. And much of that extra time is unpaid too.

Learning to prioritise and say no is a good skill but I know that it isn't always possible in some jobs. I think the bigger hospitals and charities who have more staff , are probably better for finding a balance.

RE: Work/life balance!

Simon Joshep — Mon, 10 Jul 2017 10:11:07 GMT

I have changed my routine and now I happy with. What I believe in work life balance the biggest problem is we faced when cannot manage the time.

RE: Work/life balance!

Nick Shackleton — Thu, 06 Jul 2017 22:21:29 GMT

I currently work part time for a large hospital. It employs day and night staff. So depending on the type of shifts you like. You can have a good work/life balance. Our full time day nurses do either 7-4 or 8-5. Plus 1:3 weekends. Day shifts. I it's time off during the weekend. Night staff slightly different. Think they do 5 on 5 off Then 2 on 2 off. Both seek to offer good work/life balance. Smaller practices seem to involve more weekend shifts and there still seems to be a number of independents that do their own ooh.

RE: Work/life balance!

Heather Bacon — Thu, 06 Jul 2017 18:33:25 GMT

I work in a charity practice, mostly 9-5:30, no OOH and 1 in 4 or 5 weekends with 3 days off the week after.

I don't do puppy parties (I know more about cats to be honest!). I am doing a bit more overtime at the moment due to staff illness but normally I get to leave on time. Although I don't have much of a life outside of work at the moment due to doing a certificate.

Those sorts of jobs are out there, you just have to find them! Or can you chat to your boss about potentially delegating some of your responsibilities?

RE: Work/life balance!

Meow1950 — Thu, 06 Jul 2017 17:24:32 GMT

These jobs do exist but they're hard to come by. I'm now in my fourth practice and although I still work a few hours more than the average working week, I have no on calls and very little weekends. All my other practices either had extensive over time, weekends or on call duties. You get to a stage where you just want to have a life as well! Much more content now :) If I was you I'd look around :)

RE: Work/life balance!

Robyn — Tue, 04 Jul 2017 16:10:52 GMT

Those roles do exist, but I think you have to fight for them, otherwise it's assumed that you'll be able to do everything asked of you and that you're coping fine. If you don't want to leave where you are, can you speak to your head nurse/practice manager/HR about reducing your responsibilities or OOH/weekend cover? Sometimes if you're open about struggling with things then things can be shifted arount to help - nobody benefits from you burning out.

RE: Work/life balance!

FINNIGAN — Mon, 03 Jul 2017 20:17:53 GMT

I changed practices because of that very reason, now do two days 9-5 and two days 8.30-6 no out of hours no inpatients, and one weekend in 9,, it's out there u just gotta look x