Balancing Work, Family, and RN to BSN Studies

In the midst of the ongoing nursing shortage crisis, the work-life balance of nurses has been a hot topic in the profession. Nurse leaders and educators are working to help nurses achieve a better sense of balance in their personal and professional lives. This is key to sustaining a long-term career in the field. 

Knowing how to achieve work-life balance as a nurse begins during your education. Nurses who pursue an online RN to BSN degree program will find that they learn to navigate the demands of their program along with their personal time and work schedule, giving them strategies that they can utilize throughout their entire nursing careers. 

The Demands of an RN to BSN Program

An RN to BSN program is an accelerated undergraduate degree program designed to help nurses quickly build upon their existing professional and academic foundation to earn their bachelor's degree and pursue higher-level nursing positions. As an accelerated program, it is relatively demanding, and most nurses who enroll in this degree program are also working while earning their degree. It takes approximately 12 to 24 months to complete the RN to BSN degree program, depending on the pace that you set, as well as your current professional and personal obligations.

Courseload and Clinical Requirements

The online RN to BSN program includes traditional coursework, as well as clinical requirements. This allows nurses to develop an advanced understanding of the practical skills needed to pursue higher-level clinical positions. 

Some of the courses that students must complete as part of this degree program include: 

• Patient Safety and Quality 
• Community Health 
• Nursing in Emergent Situations 
• Healthcare Policy and Finance 

In addition, nurses must complete clinical hours in various healthcare settings to develop a well-rounded understanding of the type of care that patients require. 

Online vs. On-Campus Learning

Nurses who want to earn a BSN degree can choose between online degree programs and traditional, on-campus programs. Many working nurses find that the online RN to BSN degree programs provide them with the flexibility that they need to achieve a sense of nursing work-life balance. With an online degree program, students enjoy a combination of synchronous and asynchronous coursework, allowing them to set their own pace for their degree and complete their coursework at a time and schedule convenient for them. 

Working as an RN

Registered nurses often find their work to be rewarding, but it is not without its challenges. Working as an RN is physically, mentally, and emotionally draining, and it is important to understand the rigors of the job, as well as the commitments of a degree program before you decide to enroll in an online RN to BSN degree. 

Shift Work and Long Hours

Shift work is the standard in the nursing profession, particularly for those who work in a hospital setting. According to Indeed, nursing shifts can vary, with typical shifts lasting for 8, 10, or 12 hours. Shift work commonly refers to working the night shift, which may last from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. or 11 p.m. to 7 a.m., depending on the facility where you work. These long hours can be difficult and draining, both physically and mentally, and it can make it difficult to balance personal life since shift work contradicts the traditional, business work week that most other professionals enjoy. 

Emotional and Physical Demands

Working as an RN is both emotionally and physically taxing. Nurses work directly with patients, providing them with the care that they need and ensuring that their treatment plan is followed. Most shifts are spent primarily on your feet, and you are often trying to handle a caseload of many patients, which means that you are constantly on the go. With little time for a rest, your body will feel exhausted after a shift, and you may also feel emotionally drained by the toll of putting the needs of others before yourself.  

It can be difficult to work with patients who are suffering and families who are dealing with life-changing circumstances. Knowing the emotional and physical demands of nursing is essential to consider, especially if you are concerned about the work-life balance of this role. 

Family Responsibilities

Despite the long hours and the toll that the job can take on oneself, most nurses also have their own family responsibilities to balance. Nurses may have a wide range of family responsibilities, including: 

• Caring for young children 
• Caring for aging parents 
• Caring for siblings or other relatives 
• Managing a household 

Strategies for Effective Time Management

By pursuing an online RN to BSN degree, nurses can begin to put into practice their learned work-life balance strategies. Knowing how to balance your time effectively will help you be more successful, not only in your degree program but also in your general career as a nurse. 

Creating a Schedule

During your degree program, you should evaluate your professional and personal commitments, and make a schedule for studying accordingly. Allocating specific time to study, as well as time for self-care, will help you better manage your coursework. 

Utilizing Technology

Leveraging technology and using it to your advantage during your online degree program can help you improve your productivity and increase your efficiency. Scheduling apps and classroom management software are two examples of technology that can help you throughout your online RN to BSN degree program. 

Setting Realistic Goals

Setting realistic and attainable goals can help you stay more focused throughout your degree program. By knowing that your goals are within reach, you will enjoy success more often, which can allow you to stay motivated as you learn how to balance your personal time, work schedule, and coursework. 

Leveraging Support Systems

Being able to lean on your support system will help you tremendously throughout your online RN to BSN degree program. Regardless of what your support system looks like and who it includes, you will find that these people can help significantly ease the burden of navigating your busy schedule. 

Family and Friends

It would be easy to withdraw and become overwhelmed by your work hours, your study schedule, and your personal life, but your family and friends can help you feel less isolated. Share with them what you are going through, talk about your goals, and ask for help when you need it. These are the people who will always be willing to help you. 

Workplace Support

Employers often support nurses interested in pursuing an advanced degree. These programs allow their employees to develop advanced skills that will improve their patient outcomes. If you need to adjust your schedule or your nursing position during this time, you can always reach out for support from your employer and learn more about what options are available to you. 

Academic Support

Through your university, you can receive academic support as well as student services to help you better manage your needs. Network with your instructors, reach out to your advisor, and talk to a student services coordinator about support options that may be available to you. 

Self-Care and Stress Management

As a nurse, you are called upon to take care of others, which means that you are often putting your own needs behind those of your patients, your family members, and your friends. Self-care and stress management are vital to your personal and professional success, as they allow you to achieve a keen sense of work-life balance as a nurse. 

Importance of Self-Care

Self-care is essential to preventing burnout as a nurse. Practicing self-care requires you to prioritize time for your own physical, mental, and emotional needs. Self-care  looks different for everyone, but some common self-care practices include reading for pleasure, exercising, practicing yoga, and meditating. 

Physical Health

As a nurse, you also need to prioritize your physical health, especially given the demands of working while pursuing an online RN to BSN degree. You can improve your physical health and well-being by creating a consistent sleep routine and schedule, enjoying a well-balanced diet, and exercising regularly. 

Mental Health

Your mental health is just as important as your physical health, and it is crucial to prioritize your mental health and well-being while pursing your online RN to BSN degree. You can improve your mental health as a nurse by regularly completing deep breathing exercises, spending time outdoors, and finding creative outlets that you enjoy. 

Mindfulness and Meditation

Mindfulness and meditation can help healthcare professionals reduce burnout and make them feel more present as they work to provide patients with the best possible care. The best mindfulness practices for nurses include: 

• Taking a meal break each shift, and enjoying a nourishing meal in a quiet, peaceful spot. 
• Talking to yourself as you would talk to your best friend. 
• Asking for help when you need it. 

Recognizing Burnout

Knowing the signs and symptoms of burnout in nurses can help you proactively take steps to prevent severe and lasting burnout. The top signs of burnout in nurses include: 

• An overwhelming feeling of mental and physical exhaustion. 
• Feeling cynical about your nursing role and career prospects. 
• Feeling distant or detached from your work life. 

Planning for the Future

As you begin to pursue an online RN to BSN degree, you should start planning for the next steps in your nursing career. 

Career Advancement Opportunities

When you earn your BSN degree, you will find that you are qualified for advanced positions in nursing. A BSN degree can improve your career prospects by: 

• Allowing you to pursue higher-level positions in nursing. 
• Allowing you to develop advanced nursing skills. 
• Allowing you to increase your earning potential over time. 

Long-Term Benefits for Family and Personal Life

In the short-term, you may find that earning your online RN to BSN degree may limit your free time, but in the long-term it could actually benefit your personal life. When you earn your BSN degree, you will have the opportunity to pursue a wider range of nursing positions. This allows you to select a nursing career path that gives you more time with your family and friends. 

Learn More About the Best Work-Life Balance Strategies for Nurses at Lindenwood University

Achieving nursing work-life balance is essential, particularly as nurses continue to experience burnout at an increasing rate. To effectively address both the short-term and long-term impacts of the nursing shortage crisis, Lindenwood University has developed an innovative online RN to BSN program that allows nurses to develop advanced nursing skills while learning how to achieve work-life balance as a nurse. 

Request more information about our online degree programs today.