Mental Health World Conference 2026

Abstract

Nursing faculty who balance academic and clinical responsibilities often navigate competing demands at work and at home. This phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of eight nursing faculty members from four universities in Naga City, Philippines, focusing on the challenges they encountered, the impact on their well being, and the strategies they used to cope. Purposive sampling was used, and data were gathered through semi structured interviews and analyzed thematically through transcript familiarization, coding, categorization, and theme development. Four major themes emerged: Like a Chameleon Shifting Between Roles, which reflects the continuous adaptation required to manage academic, clinical, and personal responsibilities Burning Candles at Both Ends, which describes the strain of meeting competing professional and personal demands; Pouring from an Empty Cup,which illustrates continued fulfillment of professional responsibilities despite personal exhaustion  and Anchoring Oneself Amid the Waves of Responsibility, describing the grounding practices used to cope with competing demands. Together, these findings show how maintaining work life balance requires continuous adjustment to multiple responsibilities, often affecting the emotional, physical, and social well being of nursing faculty as they strive to meet their professional and personal responsibilities. Despite these challenges, participants described coping strategies that helped them remain engaged in both their professional and personal roles. These experiences point to the need for support that goes beyond individual coping, particularly through adequate staffing and equitable workload distribution. In response, the study proposes a Protected Faculty Recovery and Administrative Hour Program and a Faculty Wellness and Boundary Support Program to help nursing institutions better support faculty well being while maintaining the quality of nursing education.