<p> The purpose of the hermeneutic phenomenological study was to explore the perceptions and lived-experience of work-life balance of oncology nurses living the Houston Metropolitan area. The two theories used to advance the study were work-family conflict and role stress theory. A single research question guided the study: <i>How do oncology nurses perceive and describe the lived-experience of work-life balance?</i> Twelve oncology nurses were interviewed to identify perceptions of work-life balance, understand from the nurses&rsquo; perspectives of the contribution of oncology work environment to work-life balance, to describe the experience of work-life balance, and to identify personal strategies that help the nurses achieve work-life balance. The study revealed nine major themes: (a) work-life balance is described as managing time between work and home; (b) time management and emotional demand are challenges oncology nurses face in achieving work-life balance; (c) the oncology work-environment creates challenges for nurses achieving work-life balance; (d) work-life imbalance creates negative effects for the nurse, the workplace, and the patient; (e) nurses had considered leaving oncology or the current nursing workplace because of work-life balance issues; (f) successful work-life balance has positive outcomes for employees and the workplace employer; (g) A nurses&rsquo; lifestyle and demographic factors contributes to successful work-life balance; (h) an organization&rsquo;s benefits and resources contribute to successful work-life balance; and (i) self-care is a strategy nurses find useful for obtaining and maintaining work-life balance and self-care is important to psychosocial health. Recommendations include providing more staff recognition opportunities, providing more work-life balance resources, performing work-life balance nursing needs assessment, developing work-life balance programs, developing work-life balance champions, developing nurse caregiver programs, and improving marketing and communication regarding work-life benefits and programs. Education recommendations include educating staff about available work-life balance and self-care programs, increasing the amount of and access to oncology related educational opportunities, incorporating work-life balance and self-care in nursing educational programs, and providing time management learning opportunities designed specifically to address managing critically ill patients and high acuity. Finally, a recommendation for nursing practice is developing strategies that include flexible work schedules and self-scheduling.</p>

<p> There is little research addressing caregiver stress while in the hospital setting. This study sought to answer the question, Would utilization of an oncology care partner program during hospitalization increase communication and preparedness for discharge while decreasing caregiver stress? A two phase study was utilized to generate standard of care data and data resulting from the intervention. A quantitative pre and post survey method was used. Qualitative data was included from conversations between the researcher and subjects. Communication and comfort upon discharge improved with the intervention, but there was no significant change in caregiver stress levels. Though this study had a small sample size, there are positive implications for the patient, family caregiver, nurses and hospital. The utilization of such a program has merit and further research is needed to validate the findings.</p>

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Pacific Graduate School of Psychology, 1999. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 60-06, Section: B, page: 2958. Adviser: Bruce Bongar.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karolinska institutet, 2007. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

Universiẗat, Diss., 2006--Frankfurt (Main).

Diss. Linköping : Univ., 2001.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm Karol. inst., 2002. / Härtill 7 uppsatser.

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Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karol. inst., 2005. / Härtill 5 uppsatser.

Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Western Sydney, Hawkesbury, 1997. / Bibliography : leaves 361-375.