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Caring in the School System: Quality of Work-Life Among Public School Nurses

Author

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  • Lisette Grace Cabalang

    (University of St. La Salle)

  • Leslie Young

    (Graduate School, University of St. La Salle, Bacolod City, Philippines)

Abstract

Amid increasing health challenges among learners, public school nurses have become essential within the school system; however, their well-being remains underexplored, despite recognition that supporting nurses directly benefits the learners they serve. This study explored the lived experiences of 11 public school nurses regarding their quality of work life in Negros Occidental. A descriptive phenomenological design, utilizing the Colaizzi approach to data analysis, was employed to analyze narratives across different career stages. Guided by Nola Pender’s Health Promotion Model, the research aimed to understand how nurses interpret and navigate professional demands while maintaining their well-being. Four interrelated themes emerged: (1) Reframing Care Beyond Clinical Boundaries, where nurses extend care beyond traditional clinical roles; (2) Interpreting Support as a Foundation of Practice, where support systems are experienced as enabling or constraining; (3) Valuing the Self Within the System, where compensation, recognition, and professional growth shape nurses’ sense of worth; and (4) Sustaining the Self Amid Demands, where well-being is actively negotiated through self-care, resilience, and relational support. These findings suggest that quality of work-life is not solely determined by external conditions but is constructed through ongoing meaning-making and adaptive responses. The study concludes that quality of work life among public school nurses is a dynamic, meaning-centered process shaped by roles, support systems, professional valuation, and self-regulatory strategies. Based on these findings, the CARE Model in the Work-Life of Public School Nurses is proposed, emphasizing Caring, Adaptation, Recognition, and Empowerment. This model provides a framework for enhancing nursing practice, strengthening school health program management, and informing policy development to support the well-being and sustainability of public school nurses.

Suggested Citation

  • Lisette Grace Cabalang & Leslie Young, 2026. "Caring in the School System: Quality of Work-Life Among Public School Nurses," Technium Social Sciences Journal, Technium Science, vol. 83(1), pages 261-346, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:tec:journl:ojs:13621
    DOI: 10.47577/tssj.v83i1.13621
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