As The Burned-out Nurse Practitioner, I try to offer alternative ways for nurse practitioners to create a better work-life balance.
Many nurse practitioners are spending more time at work and less time at home. APRNs are expected to see more patients in a shorter amount of time. A lot of NPs see patients in 15 minute appointments and even double booking appointments!
The task load is increasing as the availability of support staff is decreasing. Nurse practitioners not only assess, diagnose, and treat patients, but also have to document the findings. Then add on reviewing medical documentation, analyzing diagnostic data, prescribing medications, and the never-ending patient messages.
With the lack of staffing many healthcare facilities are struggling with, the tasks that would be handled by a nurse, medical assistant, or even front office staff are piling onto nurse practitioners’ plates. This takes more time and energy away from patient care and completing chart notes.
Nurse practitioners have a lot of roles and responsibilities to keep up with!
What is not accomplished during the work day, the nurse practitioner either has to stay at work longer or bring home to finish. This creates a lack of nurse practitioner work-life balance.
A lot of nurse practitioners went back to school thinking they could create a better work-life balance.
Many were hoping to stop working mornings, evenings, weekends, and holidays like they did working as a RN. Instead, many NPs are working more than 40 hours a week, bringing documentation home, and struggling with nurse practitioner burnout.
Side effects of lack of nurse practitioner work-life balance
Most NPs who are working full time experience a lack of nurse practitioner work-life balance. This can create mental, physical, emotional exhaustion. By the time they get home to their families, nurse practitioners are spent. Too tired to make a nutritious meal. Too exhausted to interact with their kids. Too much mental fatigue to truly be present with their families. There is no time to rest and recharge.
This lack of nurse practitioners work-life balance negatively impacts our families/friends. Because of the imbalance, many NPs struggle with mom guilt and feel like they are never good enough as a parent.
The poor work-life balance strains personal relationships. Family members that don’t work in healthcare may question why nurse practitioners spend so much time charting. Why are NPs always overwhelmed? Why are APRNs constantly thinking and stressing about work?
Nurse practitioners who struggle to create a better work-life balance do not have the time or energy to implement self-care. This can lead to poor mental, emotional, and physical health. Nurse practitioners end up burned out and ready to leave healthcare.
Benefits of improving nurse practitioner work-life balance
While The Burned-out Nurse Practitioner always advocates for nurse practitioners to improve work-life balance by setting boundaries, implementing self-care, addressing the unhealed trauma, and resolving the burnout, I also want to provide alternatives to creating a better nurse practitioner work-life balance. I strongly encourage NPs to define what work-life balance means to them specifically.
Maybe you need to drop down to part time to spend more time with your family. Maybe you need to quit the J.O.B. that is burning you out. Maybe you need to leave healthcare altogether. Maybe you need to delegate or outsource the cleaning, cooking, and laundry so you have more energy for your family.
Create a side hustle that allows you to save more money and outsource these tasks. Maybe you need to improve your family’s financial status so your spouse can drop to part time. Maybe you need a more flexible job (or a remote nurse practitioner job) so you can travel more.
Create a job that allows you to spend more time with your family/friends. A job that allows you to do work and activities that bring you purpose. A career that brings you purpose and fulfillment. A job that allows you to create a better work-life balance as a nurse practitioner.
If you have never considered starting a business, hang with me. I want you to realize the impact it can have on your nurse practitioner work-life balance. I want you to consider how it can help you overcome the nurse practitioner burnout. I want you to dream about a life you can control!
No more shuffling through patients every 15 minutes. No more basing your care off insurance rules and regulations. No more trying to help patients who don’t want to make lifestyle changes. No more lack of purpose and fulfillment in your job.
No more working a set 9 to 5 job (plus 3 hours of charting at home). No more missing out on kids activities. No more not being able to spend time with family or friends. No more mental, physical, and emotional exhaustion. No more ignoring your own health and wellness. No more sacrificing your nurse practitioner work-life balance.
Create a better work-life balance as a nurse practitioner
The Burned-out Nurse Practitioner has partnered with Maggie Berghoff, a nurse practitioner entrepreneur, author, and mentor, to teach nurse practitioners it is possible to create a better work-life balance with an online health coaching and consulting business.
Maggie is an amazing educator who was actually a former burned-out nurse practitioner herself!
She became a health coach because she wanted to generate an income AND create a better work-life balance to allow flexibility of her time to raise her kids. She wanted to work with patients who actually cared about their health and were willing to make a change. Maggie built up her business and was able to leave her nurse practitioner job! Now she teaches other nurse practitioners to do the same.
Never thought about owning a business?
No problem! Maggie put together an online training: From Dream to Profit: An Exact Roadmap To Building A Wildly Successful Online Health Business.
I encourage you to check out the webinar and learn more about how you can create a better work-life balance and overcome nurse practitioner burnout!
P.s. Make sure to stay till the end because Maggie generously shares a coupons code for all my fellow burdened out nurse practitioners!
I want all burned-out nurse practitioners to know it is possible to create the life you want.
It is ok to take a leap of faith.
It is ok to not work a 9 to 5 job.
It is ok to rediscover your passion and purpose in healthcare.
And building a coaching or consulting business may be the answer for you!
Now is the time to create a better work-life balance as a nurse practitioner.
For time management and charting tips, check out The Nurse Practitioner Charting School– The one stop for all documentation resources created specifically for nurse practitioners. Learn more at www.npchartingschool.com
**Full disclosure, this blog post may include affiliate links. I do receive a commission if any of the affiliate programs/services/supplies are purchased. This is at no extra cost to you but does allow me to continue to provide content as The Burned-out Nurse Practitioner! Thank you!
