Being a nurse means giving everything you have and then some.
You care for people and they appreciate the time and energy you spend on them to ensure they leave your care happy and healthy.
However, sometimes this means you don’t always have time to recover your own health, especially in stressful settings like hospitals.
The best way to combat getting bogged down by your day-to-day routine as a nurse is to follow the simple Survival Tips for Nurses brought
to you by the pros.
Top 5 Survival Tips for Nurses
Sleeping is the cornerstone of any good life. Your body and mind need rest to recuperate from the trials and tribulations you experienced the day before. Many healthcare professionals take it upon themselves to help others, even at their own expense. The key to thriving as a nurse is to make sure you have a good night’s sleep. You need to plan your schedule so that you have at least 10 hours between shifts so you can get some much-needed shut-eye.
This may seem counterintuitive when you start the hustle and bustle of a healthcare career but you need to actually take your sick days when they are needed. You’re good to nobody when you’re not feeling well and you put other people at risk of getting sick as well. If you don’t think you can do simple tasks like going to the store for groceries then you should not be working the intensive shifts of a nurse. Stay in bed until you feel better, your coworkers will thank you for it.
On that same note, you also want to take your breaks when they come. If you’re new to nursing then you may feel obligated to skip them, especially if you come from a retail background and don’t think they are all that important. As a nurse, even 15 minutes can make all the difference in the world.
As you go about your day, you might start to feel drained and tired, even if you get your full eight hours of sleep. This is when you should consider changing your diet to include items that are packed with energy. Protein-rich meals with low-fats and lots of fluids will go a long way in helping you make it through your day,
Finally, if all of these start to fail you, you can take up exercising. Jogging for 15-30 minutes, a quick spree of jumping jacks, anything you can do to get your blood pumping on a regular basis (in the morning preferably) will give you a lot more energy to work with in the long run.
If you follow all the Survival Tips for Nurses, you’ll find yourself a lot stronger and able to get through even the roughest days. Your patients will thank you for the extra positivity you throw into their world too.
If you have any questions about an LVN career, California Career Institute here to help. Contact a CCI representative for more information today!