Managing a work-life balance: the experiences of midwives working in a group practice setting.
OBJECTIVE
To explore how a group of midwives achieved a work-life balance working within a caseload model of care with flexible work hours and on-call work.


METHODS
in-depth interviews were conducted and the data were analysed using a data-driven thematic analysis technique.


METHODS
Children, Youth and Women's Health Service (CYWHS) (previously Women's and Children's Hospital), Adelaide, where a midwifery service known as Midwifery Group Practice (MGP) offers a caseload model of care to women within a midwife-managed unit.


METHODS
17 midwives who were currently working, or had previously worked, in MGP.


RESULTS
analysis of the midwives' individual experiences provided insight into how midwives managed the flexible hours and on-call work to achieve a sustainable work-life balance within a caseload model of care.


CONCLUSIONS
it is important for midwives working in MGP to actively manage the flexibility of their role with time on call. Organisational, team and individual structure influenced how flexibility of hours was managed; however, a period of adjustment was required to achieve this balance.


CONCLUSIONS
the study findings offer a description of effective, sustainable strategies to manage flexible hours and on-call work that may assist other midwives working in a similar role or considering this type of work setting.
Fereday
Jennifer
J
Department of Nursing & Midwifery Research & Practice Development, Children, Youth and Women's Health Service, Level 2 Samuel Way Building, 72 King William Road, North Adelaide, SA 5006, Australia. jennifer.fereday@cywhs.sa.gov.au
Oster
Candice
C
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D006123:Group Practice / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D016294:Models, Nursing; D009551:Night Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D009721:Nurse Midwives / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology; D024802:Nurse's Role / Q000523:psychology; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D010561:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling / Q000458:organization & administration; D057184:Practice Patterns, Nurses' / Q000458:organization & administration; D011321:Primary Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012944:Social Support; D013021:South Australia; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014940:Work Schedule Tolerance; D016526:Workload / Q000523:psychology*