Lived experiences of work-life balance among doctoral nursing students: a qualitative descriptive study

Abstract

Purpose This study aimed to gain an in-depth understanding of the meaning and nature of nursing doctoral students’ lived work-life balance experiences. Methods A qualitative descriptive study was conducted with 11 doctoral nursing students who worked and raised children. In-depth interviews were conducted to collect data, providing insight into the participants’ work-life balance experiences. As proposed by van Manen, four lifeworld existential, namely lived place, lived body, lived time, and lived relations, were used for qualitative data analysis. Results Four existential themes emerged: 1) existing in multiple spaces; 2) busy, tired, hard, and painful but must endure; 3) time to endure and grow until the end of schooling; and 4) realizing walls of togetherness. Conclusions This study explored how the work and life of doctoral nursing students with multiple roles are balanced and how they relate to others in different contexts. We revealed the problems and difficulties they face in their daily lives and the centres and motives behind their lives. Support from families, universities, and workplaces is needed to continue the Ph.D. program, which will eventually ensure the quality of the discipline.

Keywords

• higher education
• nursing doctoral student
• work-life balance