Family-friendly policies: general nurses' preferences and experiences

Area of Science:

• Nursing Workforce Studies
• Gender Equality in Healthcare
• Family-Friendly Policies

Background:

• European Union policy links family-friendly working to gender equality.
• UK policy primarily focuses on workforce retention, not gender equality.
• Registered General Nurses (RGNs) returning after maternity leave are a key demographic.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine RGNs' preferences and experiences with UK family-friendly policies post-maternity leave.
• To assess the implications of these policies for advancing gender equality in nursing.
• To identify gaps between policy aims and RGNs' lived experiences.

Main Methods:

• A questionnaire-based study of Registered General Nurses in three UK regional health authorities.
• Data collected on experiences 4-8 years post-qualification.
• Investigated maternity leave duration, return-to-work timing, working hours, work patterns, grade retention, and childcare support.

Main Results:

• Nurses often returned to work sooner than preferred due to financial or professional pressures.
• A mismatch exists between desired and obtained working hours and flexible work patterns.
• Challenges with childcare arrangements and workplace crèche availability impact work-life balance and retention.

Conclusions:

• Current UK family-friendly policies may not adequately support gender equality for returning nurses.
• Addressing nurses' preferences for flexible work and childcare is crucial for both retention and equality.
• Policy review is needed to better align family-friendly initiatives with gender equality objectives in nursing.