There are so many reasons to work from home compared to working a long shift on your feet all day. Here’s why so many nurses do it:
- Better work/life balance
The clichéd work/life balance debate has been going on so long. Depending on who you ask, you’ll get a different response about whether it’s attainable. I’ve always valued hard work. Before kids, I put in some looong hours, on nursing units and in corporate settings. Once, I even considered changing my honeymoon date to be on hand for a major project I was working on. (I didn’t change the date and loved every minute I spent in Greece) Since having kids, I can’t put in those long hours. I have dinners to cook, baths to give, homework to check. Thankfully, working from home for an employer that values work/life balance, I’m able to do a job I love while being present for those I love. Best of both worlds. I’ll share what my typical day looks like soon.
- You can work from anywhere.
Take your pick: a home office, the kitchen table, the front porch, or pretty much anywhere you can connect to the internet. (Note: When discussing personal health information (PHI), HIPAA rules still apply. You must use your professional judgement when discussing sensitive medical information. For example, don’t discuss a patient’s medical situation while waiting online in Starbucks. Pretty obvious, I know.)
- Flexible hours
Every company may not offer flextime, most give you some flexibility when life happens-like picking up the kids, running an errand, midday workout or heading to a doctor’s appointment. Work from home employees cite this as the biggest perk.
- You’ll save money
Scrubs aren’t cheap. Neither is gas or costly car maintenance. Ditching the commute equals money in your pocket. Ka-ching!
- Minimize workplace politics
Workplace politics exist in every company. So, you won’t have to deal with the typical water-cooler gossip or lunch-hour cliques, but you won’t avoid it completely when you’re working from home. It may rear its ugly head once in a while. However, it should have less of an impact on you. My advice is to stay focused on your job and the mission at hand.
