A phenomenological study of nurses' experiences with maternal guilt in Turkey.

AIM: This study aims to describe nurses' views on what it is like to be a working mother in Turkey. BACKGROUND: Most mothers are in the workforce but continue to fulfil their traditional roles at home. This emerges as an important factor causing mothers to try to find a balance between work and home. METHOD: For this purpose, a semi-structured form was used in face-to-face interviews conducted with 17 participants. A phenomenological design was preferred in this qualitative study. RESULTS: The findings obtained from the study revealed the six themes of 'the sense of inadequacy/helplessness, the sense of responsibility, the strong desire to have a positive effect, gender role stereotypes, the choice between achieving a successful career and being a good mother, but with a sense of depletion'. CONCLUSION: The results obtained from the study of nurses in Turkey have shed light on how policies should be developed to eliminate work-life barriers in realizing the roles of motherhood. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: The study results will guide nurse managers in taking the steps needed to incorporate arrangements that will result in balanced conduct of work and home for nurses.