Child-rearing experiences of female nurses working three shifts in South Korea: A qualitative study

Aim: To explore the experience of balancing a career with raising school-aged children and working three shifts and to suggest working environment changes to balance these roles. Background: Female nurses working three-day shift rotations experience irregular life patterns, parenting conflicts, and confusion over nursing roles. Introduction: This qualitative study examined nurses with early school-aged children who work three-day shift rotations in South Korea. Methods: A descriptive phenomenological approach employed in-depth interviews to collect data from 12 married, female nurses with children aged 4–9 years. Data were analyzed using Colaizzi's phenomenological method, and reporting rigor was demonstrated using the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research checklist. Findings: Four themes emerged in our findings: (1) challenging phase: facing a great crisis that completely shatters the axis of life; (2) chaos phase: endless inner conflict between work and parenting; (3) solutions for coping phase: struggling to continue a nursing career; and (4) expanding phase: stepping into the expanded world of care. Conclusion: Nurses working three-day shift rotations try to balance their lives through interactions between nursing and child-rearing. Further research is needed to create an environment that promotes this balance. Implications for nursing practice and policy: To provide a better work–life balance, policymakers should foster a participatory and supportive management style, ensure adequate nurse staffing, implement a flexible work system, provide clinical career opportunities, encourage professional autonomy and responsibility, and promote in-service and shared social information or continuing education.