Building a better work-life balance as a nurse practitioner

As The Burned-out Nurse Practitioner, I try to offer alternative ways for nurse practitioners to create a better work-life balance. 

Many nurse practitioners are spending more time at work and less time at home. APRNs are expected to see more patients in a shorter amount of time. A lot of NPs see patients in 15 minute appointments and even double booking appointments! 

The task load is increasing as the availability of support staff is decreasing. Nurse practitioners not only assess, diagnose, and treat patients, but also have to document the findings. Then add on reviewing medical documentation, analyzing diagnostic data, prescribing medications, and the never-ending patient messages. 

With the lack of staffing many healthcare facilities are struggling with, the tasks that would be handled by a nurse, medical assistant, or even front office staff are piling onto nurse practitioners’ plates. This takes more time and energy away from patient care and completing chart notes. 

Nurse practitioners have a lot of roles and responsibilities to keep up with! 

What is not accomplished during the work day, the nurse practitioner either has to stay at work longer or bring home to finish. This creates a lack of nurse practitioner work-life balance. 

A lot of nurse practitioners went back to school thinking they could create a better work-life balance. 

Many were hoping to stop working mornings, evenings, weekends, and holidays like they did working as a RN. Instead, many NPs are working more than 40 hours a week, bringing charting home, and struggling with nurse practitioner burnout. 

Side effects of lack of nurse practitioner work-life balance

Most nurse practitioners who are working full time experience a lack of nurse practitioner work-life balance. This can create mental, physical, emotional exhaustion. By the time they get home to their families, nurse practitioners are spent. Too tired to make a nutritious meal. Too exhausted to interact with their kids. Too much mental fatigue to truly be present with their families. There is no time to rest and recharge. 

This lack of nurse practitioners work-life balance negatively impacts our families/friends. Because of the imbalance, many NPs struggle with mom guilt and feel like they are never good enough as a parent. 

The poor work-life balance strains personal relationships. Family members that don’t work in healthcare may question why nurse practitioners spend so much time charting. Why are NPs always overwhelmed? Why are APRNs constantly thinking and stressing about work? 

Nurse practitioners who struggle to create a better work-life balance do not have the time or energy to implement self-care. This can lead to poor mental, emotional, and physical health. Nurse practitioners end up burned out and ready to leave healthcare. 

Benefits of improving nurse practitioner work-life balance

While The Burned-out Nurse Practitioner always advocates for nurse practitioners to improve work-life balance by setting boundaries, implementing self-care, addressing the unhealed trauma , and resolving the burnout, I also want to provide alternatives to creating a better nurse practitioner work-life balance. I strongly encourage NPs to define what work-life balance means to them specifically.

 Maybe you need to drop down to part time to spend more time with your family. Maybe you need to quit the J.O.B. that is burning you out. Maybe you need to leave healthcare altogether. Maybe you need to delegate or outsource the cleaning, cooking, and laundry so you have more energy for your family. 

Create a side hustle that allows you to save more money and outsource these tasks. Maybe you need to improve your family’s financial status so your spouse can drop to part time. Maybe you need a more flexible job (or a remote nurse practitioner job) so you can travel more. 

Create a job that allows you to spend more time with your family/friends. A job that allows you to do work and activities that bring you purpose. A career that brings you purpose and fulfillment. A job that allows you to create a better work-life balance as a nurse practitioner. 

If you have never considered scaling a business, hang with me. I want you to realize the impact it can have on your nurse practitioner work-life balance. I want you to consider how it can help you overcome the nurse practitioner burnout. I want you to dream about a life you can control! 

No more shuffling through patients every 15 minutes. No more basing your care off insurance rules and regulations. No more trying to help patients who don’t want to make lifestyle changes. No more lack of purpose and fulfillment in your job. 

No more working a set 9 to 5 job (plus 3 hours of charting at home). No more missing out on kids activities. No more not being able to spend time with family or friends. No more mental, physical, and emotional exhaustion. No more ignoring your own health and wellness. No more sacrificing your nurse practitioner work-life balance. 

Create a better work-life balance as a nurse practitioner

And if you have already created a side hustle because you know you can create a better work-life balance as a nurse practitioner, Erica D the Nursepreneur Coach is for you!

Erica specializes in helping nursepreneurs scale their online side hustle to create more impact (and income) than their full-time nurse practitioner job.

It is possible for nursepreneurs to create a better work-life balance with an online coaching or consulting business. 

It is possible to generate an income AND create a better work-life balance to allow flexibility of time. It is possible to work with clients who actually cared about their health/life and were willing to make a change. It is possible to scale your business so you can leave your nurse practitioner job to build a better work-life balance!

 I want all burned-out nurse practitioners to know it is possible to create the life you want. 

It is ok to take a leap of faith.

It is ok to not work a 9 to 5 job. 

It is ok to rediscover your passion and purpose in healthcare.

And scaling a coaching or consulting business may be the answer for you!

Now is the time to create a better work-life balance as a nurse practitioner. 

And the best place to scale your business is through the "Non Compliant" Nursepreneur Membership!

Join today to grown your side hustle to more impact (and income) than your nurse practitioner job!

Erica D the Nursepreneur Business Coach specalizes in helping nursepreneurs scale their side hustle to create more impact (and income) than their full-time nurse practitioner job- without burning out!

Get into the "Non Compliant" Nursepreneur Membership: Where nursepreneurs scale their side hustle by becoming "non compliant" with the internal and external limiting beliefs that "keep us safe!"