Managing menopause as a nurse: symptoms and support at work

A significant portion of the NHS workforce is women around the age when menopause typically occurs – 45-55 years. Many common symptoms of menopause, including mood and sleep disturbance, anxiety, depression, memory loss, hot flushes, joint and muscle pain, can affect how staff feel about their job, their need for flexible work arrangements, as well as staff absence and retention rates. The RCN recommends healthcare organisations have a menopause at work strategy. We look at ways to make menopause more manageable at work, and what employers can do to support staff.