When your shift ends, your caregiving responsibilities may continue at home. Supporting patients and loved ones can leave little room for your own needs. You don't have to put every suggestion below into practice. Start with one that feels useful for the week ahead.
For many healthcare workers, the end of a shift means the start of the “second shift” with loved ones at home. Researchers call this double-duty caregiving. In one survey, healthcare workers who spent more time providing informal care reported poorer mental and physical health.*
Nurses may also face challenges if they are family caregivers, including concerns about support in the workplace. Some keep these responsibilities private at work. The suggestions below offer a few ways to manage competing demands.
- Be clear about what you can take on (The “good enough” boundary script)
Your family may turn to you for medical questions and expect you to achieve other caregiving tasks outside of work because of your training. Try being specific about where you can help: “I can help with the medical questions this week, but I need someone else to handle transportation and scheduling.”
- Start with one task (“The one next thing”)
When your to-do list feels overwhelming, identify one task that needs your attention. Once it is done, then decide what needs your attention next. In other words, ask only: what is the one next thing? Do that, then ask yourself that question again.
- Acknowledge the guilt (“Name it to tame it”)
If you feel guilty about what you can’t do, pause and name the feeling. You might tell yourself, “I feel guilty, but I am doing my best with the time and energy I have.” You don’t have to resolve the feeling before deciding what to do next.
- Notice a moment that mattered (“The two-minute meaning check”)
Before bed, think of one moment you valued today, big or small: whether that be a conversation with a family member, a problem you solved, or a patient that you helped feel more comfortable. Double-duty caregivers can have meaningful experiences as well as strenuous ones. This is a chance to acknowledge both.
- Ask for the support you need
A concrete request gives your manager something concrete to consider. Try: “Can we review my schedule for the next few weeks? I am caring for a family member and could use [a shift swap / an earlier start time / advance notice of schedule changes].” Healthcare workers who are double-duty caregivers appreciate the value of understanding managers and supportive colleagues.
Making room for your own needs can be difficult when others rely on you. A Marvin counselor can be someone to lean on as you work through caregiving stress and decide what support would be useful. Confidential sessions are available on nights and weekends.
Schedule a confidential session and talk to someone who understands your shift.
*Baumblatt GL, et al. The impact on organizations, individuals, and care when nurses are also family caregivers. Nursing Outlook. 2022;70:381-390. doi:10.1016/j.outlook.2021.12.001
