activity level for nurses

acm130
acm130 Posts: 100 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I am an ER nurse I work 3 12 hr shifts a week, I stand to chart, may sit briefly to start an IV or confer with a patient, and if I get a lunch break:laugh: I sit for 30 min. In a typical shift I see 20-30 patients, do about 3-8 transports (pushing stretcher with patient), help with lifting/transfer (i.e. from EMS stretcher to ER stretcher or boosting a patient) and spend 90% of my shift standing or walking. When I'm in intense training mode (i.e. for a marathon) I set my activity level to active and eat back some of my exercise kcal (somedays all, somedays 50-70%) but since November I haven't been running as much, so I set my activity level to Lightly Active (the example MFP gives is a teacher or salesman who spends majority of time on their feet which I do). I work out 4-6 hours a week and again eat back some or all of my exercise calories. I'm just curious as to what other 3 12 hr shifters who work in health care set their activity at.

Replies

  • dixiewhiskey
    dixiewhiskey Posts: 3,333 Member
    Active is good.. you could consider upping it to the next level up (Very active?)
  • acm130
    acm130 Posts: 100 Member
    thanks, I'm thinking of switching it back to active but still curious about what others in this field set their activity level at.
  • rbeckner711
    rbeckner711 Posts: 161 Member
    thanks, I'm thinking of switching it back to active but still curious about what others in this field set their activity level at.
    At least active. I also work 12 hr shifts as a nurse, but on a neuro tele unit. If you're moving most of your shift in a busy ER, that's much more active than most teachers.
  • mhotch
    mhotch Posts: 901 Member
    I love the comment about the 30 minute :laugh: lunch break!

    I am/was an ICU nurse. I changed my activity level daily. I just figured out both calorie limit, {one for very active, and one for light active}. When I worked I used the upper, very active count, and lower count on my days off.
  • acm130
    acm130 Posts: 100 Member
    thanks for your feedback, what is your activity level set at? the reason I waffle between lightly active and active is because on my days off I'm just running errands, going to gym and light housework or reading etc which seems sedentary (if you eat back yr work out kcal) so i wonder if 3 days a week activity level is active then the other 4 is sedentary should opt for middle ground and eat back work out kcal.
  • acm130
    acm130 Posts: 100 Member
    I love the comment about the 30 minute :laugh: lunch break!

    I am/was an ICU nurse. I changed my activity level daily. I just figured out both calorie limit, {one for very active, and one for light active}. When I worked I used the upper, very active count, and lower count on my days off.

    HeeHee I forgot to mention the 1-2 bathroom breaks which count as sitting:laugh: Maybe I should just switch to TDEE w/ 15-20% cut and not eat back exercise kcal, because there is such a variant in day to day activity level.
  • dixiewhiskey
    dixiewhiskey Posts: 3,333 Member
    thanks, I'm thinking of switching it back to active but still curious about what others in this field set their activity level at.

    To be honest, it doesn't matter what field you are in.. you work late hrs, you are on your feet most of the time. I lost weight fairly rapidly set at active being a department manager a few years back.. I think you would get more feedback if you opened up to get advice from anyone who work long shifts (who barely sit down).

    I would just set it to active if you are concerned about the days you are off although I think you burn more given your profession than you think

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