Date
10-16-2025
Department
School of Health Sciences
Degree
Doctor of Health Sciences (DHSc)
Chair
Orchid George
Keywords
on-site childcare, nurse-parents, healthcare staff, childcare, work-family conflict, childcare providers
Disciplines
Medical Sciences
Recommended Citation
Villegas, Sandily, "The Impact of Childcare Services on the Professional and Personal Lives of Nurse-Parents in Puerto Rico" (2025). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 7569.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/7569
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of childcare services on the professional and personal lives of nurse-parents in Puerto Rico. The problem investigated was that nurses who are parents constantly face challenges regarding balancing work and childcare responsibilities. This study used qualitative research with a grounded theory framework. Neuman System Theory serves as a framework for evaluating the stressors and challenges faced by nurse-parents. The central research question was: How does the availability of childcare services affect the professional and personal lives of nurse-parents in Puerto Rico? To answer this question, data were collected through three qualitative methods: anonymous online surveys, in-depth interviews, and focus groups with a total of 32 participants. The interviews were analyzed line by line using the software, Atlas.ti, resulting in four principal codes: work-life balance, support systems, personal impact, and professional impact. The surveys captured general perspectives, while focus groups explored discussions and collective related information. The research advocated four evidence-based recommendations for healthcare institutions and policymakers to improve childcare services and improve nurse-parents’ work-life balance. The study contributed to addressing the gap in the literature concerning the Puerto Rican healthcare workforce regarding childcare responsibilities.
