RN looking to share trials and tribulations!
FlattRN
Posts: 19 Member
I am an RN on a busy Neuro unit. I'd like to share experiences, what's worked or hasn't regarding exercise, if others feel too exhausted after three 12's to go before or after work to exercise. I need my nursery friends!
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Hey girl! I hear ya! Im a night nurse. On a pediatric unit. Somedays are busier than others but I absolutely love my workouts before coming in to work. I usually work 3 in a row and by the third I usually try to use it as a rest day. But sometimes I still go because I feel it gives me energy! I sleep 8-230 then the gym and home for dinner. Around 11 I usually end up taking a fat burner to help keep me up. And surprisingly I dont get tired til just about the time I have to leave. I eat every 2 hours to keep up my energy! What have you been doing?0
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Night shift nurse here. I sent you a FR. I work 8- and 12-hour shifts. Plus I have a long-ish commute that eats into my sleep time, so I don't usually work out the day/afternoon of my 12-hour shift because I am trying to get as much sleep as possible.0
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I work day shift and struggle! I can't imagine working midnights and keeping up with things! Way to go! My gym doesn't open that early And I'd go but I have to be ready to leave for work by 6:00 at the latest. I already wake up at 4:30 as it is. After work I'm toast! I do walk about 4 miles on average during my day.0
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<--- RN checking in. I work in group homes for developmentally disabled adults. I'm mainly day shift and a desk job 90% of the time. I usually hit the gym before work (round 5am) for some weight lifting or some cardio.0
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Paramedic checking in! work clinic during the day 8 hours, fire station at night 12 hours. it makes for long shifts!
snacking at the desk, food days, eating out, docs buying pizza, all used to kill my healthy eating efforts. I had no willpower, but it's getting better now. I have made my healthy habits well known, and people know not to ask if I want chocolate lol0 -
Hello fellow RNs!!!
Thanks Taflatt for starting this thread. I've been on this new journey of better health since June. I've lost 43 lbs.
I work as a recovery room nurse in a very busy unit. I don't have to be in Til 11am so after I drop off my 4yr old son at school I go work out. I could never do this if it was a day shift. I get home at 10pm.
Can u ask not to be on 3 in a row (which are evil!)? Try to workout on your days off, first thing in the morning too, so you don't get involved with the list of things you put off because you were working the past 3 days. If I don't do that it never happens.
For food I use this app which I love. I am constantly amazed how calories add up.
I started to pay attention to my food I was eating and how long it kept me full.
For example, I eat either scrambled eggs or toast with cottage cheese in an and find it keeps me satisfied Til I get to eat again for lunch.
I eat a salad everyday and played around with what went in it. I found that it keeps me full till dinner.
Good protein snacks help too. that are quick and easy to throw into your mouth.
Basically if I find I eat something that doesn't keep me satisfied I change it to something else.
So far this is working. I lose a pound a week on average. I still treat myself from time to time.
Good luck!!
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I don't know if I can help much. I'm a RN, but also just started a Nurse Practitioner position in November (I graduated May 2014). My NP job is a sit down job for the most part. After I'm done seeing patients, charting my notes, and reviewing labs...I'm out of there since I'm salaried. I usually can leave work around 2pm and be home by 3pm (I have an hour commute). I try to work out in the evening because GA is getting hotter by the day. I do usually work as a PRN RN at the hospital on weekends (12 hr shifts). I tend to walk before going to sleep after a shift, its better than benadryl lol. I do this because I don't have the motivation or energy to get up if I have to go in for another shift that night. I'm just beginning so my workout only consist of powerwalking 60-90 mins.
OAN: Definitely looking for nursing buddies so feel free to add me!0 -
Psych RN here! I work three 12 hour shift, 7pm-7am. I log midnight to midnight, which seems to be working, just getting used to my days off is tricky. My body is confused. lol anybody feel free to add me
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I'm a night shift nurse as well. Three twelve hour shifts. I go to the gym after work. There's hardly anyone there at 0730. Any equipment I want is available with no waiting. I do 30-45 minutes of cardio and finish out the hour on the weights.0
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I am also a nurse. I feel that preplaning my meals helps a lot. I also try to get to the gym on days off or force myself to go right after my shift.0
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I go to the gym after dropping kids off at school on my days off so at least I do that. What's the lowest calorie healthiest foods that you find fills you up? I usually don't get a lunch break or any break for that matter. I've tried builder bars and like those. Any thoughts on this?0
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I have had great results using Leslie Sansone walking DVD's. I tested them out on You Tube. I purchased the DVD with 4 different workouts on it. Amazon had it for $9. I LOVE these. I usually do the 3 or 4 mile DVD and I use weights for at least 1-2 miles of the DVD.
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pineapple_peach10 wrote: »I am also a nurse. I feel that preplaning my meals helps a lot. I also try to get to the gym on days off or force myself to go right after my shift.
I agree with preplanning and preparing my foods.
I try to have 30mg of protein in the morning. It keeps me full. I never know if and when I'll get to lunch.
I love peanut butter but found it doesn't keep me full for long. I do scrambled eggs or fiber1 English muffin with cottage cheese. Kellogg's protein bars with nuts is delicious. I eat that and drink 16oz water and it keeps me full for a bit.
I've been recently Using a whey protein powder mix, so I can have it to sip on at work. I've mixed it with berries one day and my coffee another. Delicious!
The trick is find small snacks that take seconds to consume. The other trick is to find time to eat it.
Drink enough water too!! That keeps me in check too!
I love Leslie's walking dvds. I just started doing a jllian micheals Dvd too.0 -
I'm a community health nurse who does home visits working with pregnant women and kids - mostly preemies and kids with disabilities or health problems. I have worked in the hospital setting, shift work, in psych. I will never go back to a hospital setting again. That is such a hard job and kudos to those of you who manage it.
I don't have problems working out or eating within my goals as I typically make it home for lunch or take lunch with me from home. I work out at home. I hate gyms.
My biggest issue is getting my water in. Some homes I visit, you don't want to go near the bathroom let alone use it. I lost my nurse's bladder after having my daughter so mostly I try to get my fluids in toward the end of my day and in the evening. I do know where every public bathroom is in my county is though!
Love seeing all my fellow RNs out there! I know one of my motivations for dropping weight is because I do a lot of education on health and nutrition. This is difficult to do while not feeling like a hypocrite when carrying an extra 30-40 pounds! I've actually told quite a few of my clients about MFP. Co-workers too. It is such a great tool.0 -
Critical Care RN here. I work mostly nights, 12 hr shifts. I'm lucky enough to have an onsite 24 hr gym in the hospital, so I often hit the gym on my break. Add me if you like!0
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I go to the gym after dropping kids off at school on my days off so at least I do that. What's the lowest calorie healthiest foods that you find fills you up? I usually don't get a lunch break or any break for that matter. I've tried builder bars and like those. Any thoughts on this?
Quest bars have 20g protein, 17g of fibre, low sugar and are pretty tasty. I'll often have a protein shake on nights that keeps me pretty un-hangry.0 -
theatre nurse here - I do a run of 4 ten hour days.
I have quite a complicated system going, since I do long cases (hearts) and there's really nothing like the misery of getting the hungry shakes at 11 and knowing there's no way you'll be seeing your lunch before 2.
If I know I'll be doing the morning case, I have a protein shake before work with WPI, raspberries and oats. if I won't be doing the morning case I take porridge with berries and peanut butter to work and eat breakfast about 9 when we start doing morning tea breaks.
Lunch is usually a salad with some protein like beans or nuts, snacks are fruit and a homemade protein slice.
Exercise is less of a 'fitting it in' and more 'just have to'. if I allowed myself to skip it because I had to stay overtime, was tired, was sore etc I'd never do anything, so my workout is just something else I have to do, like going to work. I see a trainer on my day off, do two group sessions a week, and the other days do whatever homework my trainer has set me.0 -
badgerbadger1 wrote: »Quest bars have 20g protein, 17g of fibre, low sugar and are pretty tasty. I'll often have a protein shake on nights that keeps me pretty un-hangry.
OP asked for trials and tribulations, so here goes..
Quest bars are the most upsetting thing that's happened to me this week!
I've heard so much about them - people both on here and in real life actually rave about them!!
Being in Australia, they can be a little difficult to source, and expensive to buy - my local bodybuilding shop sells them for $4.50 each, so until last weekend I had just wondered about them.
I was at an expo and passed a stall selling them, I was on a shopper's high from buying discounted running tights, so thought I'd finally give them a go. I initially picked a smores one, but when I asked the girl what her favourite was, she suggested I try double chocolate chunk. A friend suggested I cut the bar into three bits and try one bit as is, one warmed in the microwave and one baked in the oven, so that's what I did.
fail. fail fail fail.
has anyone seen the episode of friends where Monica is trying to make up recipes for "mocklate" and the others say things like 'is it meant to be fizzing?'. I haven't seen that episode in 10 years, but that's what came back to me as I tasted my first bite. so cloyingly, artificially sweet, with such a disgusting aftertaste!! warming it in the microwave made it no better, and baking it in the oven just made it disgusting and chewy, rather than disgusting and gooey.
I know American processed foods are often saltier or sweeter, but really??0 -
MissSusieQ wrote: »badgerbadger1 wrote: »Quest bars have 20g protein, 17g of fibre, low sugar and are pretty tasty. I'll often have a protein shake on nights that keeps me pretty un-hangry.
OP asked for trials and tribulations, so here goes..
Quest bars are the most upsetting thing that's happened to me this week!
I've heard so much about them - people both on here and in real life actually rave about them!!
Being in Australia, they can be a little difficult to source, and expensive to buy - my local bodybuilding shop sells them for $4.50 each, so until last weekend I had just wondered about them.
I was at an expo and passed a stall selling them, I was on a shopper's high from buying discounted running tights, so thought I'd finally give them a go. I initially picked a smores one, but when I asked the girl what her favourite was, she suggested I try double chocolate chunk. A friend suggested I cut the bar into three bits and try one bit as is, one warmed in the microwave and one baked in the oven, so that's what I did.
fail. fail fail fail.
has anyone seen the episode of friends where Monica is trying to make up recipes for "mocklate" and the others say things like 'is it meant to be fizzing?'. I haven't seen that episode in 10 years, but that's what came back to me as I tasted my first bite. so cloyingly, artificially sweet, with such a disgusting aftertaste!! warming it in the microwave made it no better, and baking it in the oven just made it disgusting and chewy, rather than disgusting and gooey.
I know American processed foods are often saltier or sweeter, but really??
I've only tried the cookies & cream, and chocolate chip cookie dough and they are pretty tasty.0 -
Hello! Night Shift ER RN here. I tend to work out early afternoon or right before work. Kudos to you who can work all night then go workout! All I am thinking about is my bed at 7 am! I try not to eat at work. I eat a late dinner (like 8) then drink ice flavored water all night to keep me up. If I starving in the morning I eat something light for breakfast to hold me through sleep. Feel free to add me as a friend any of you!
Cheers
Katie0 -
pineapple_peach10 wrote: »I am also a nurse. I feel that preplaning my meals helps a lot. I also try to get to the gym on days off or force myself to go right after my shift.
I agree with preplanning and preparing my foods.
I try to have 30mg of protein in the morning. It keeps me full. I never know if and when I'll get to lunch.
I love peanut butter but found it doesn't keep me full for long. I do scrambled eggs or fiber1 English muffin with cottage cheese. Kellogg's protein bars with nuts is delicious. I eat that and drink 16oz water and it keeps me full for a bit.
I've been recently Using a whey protein powder mix, so I can have it to sip on at work. I've mixed it with berries one day and my coffee another. Delicious!
The trick is find small snacks that take seconds to consume. The other trick is to find time to eat it.
Drink enough water too!! That keeps me in check too!
I love Leslie's walking dvds. I just started doing a jllian micheals Dvd too.
Great info, thanks!0 -
I'm a community health nurse who does home visits working with pregnant women and kids - mostly preemies and kids with disabilities or health problems. I have worked in the hospital setting, shift work, in psych. I will never go back to a hospital setting again. That is such a hard job and kudos to those of you who manage it.
I don't have problems working out or eating within my goals as I typically make it home for lunch or take lunch with me from home. I work out at home. I hate gyms.
My biggest issue is getting my water in. Some homes I visit, you don't want to go near the bathroom let alone use it. I lost my nurse's bladder after having my daughter so mostly I try to get my fluids in toward the end of my day and in the evening. I do know where every public bathroom is in my county is though!
Love seeing all my fellow RNs out there! I know one of my motivations for dropping weight is because I do a lot of education on health and nutrition. This is difficult to do while not feeling like a hypocrite when carrying an extra 30-40 pounds! I've actually told quite a few of my clients about MFP. Co-workers too. It is such a great tool.
I did homecare for a bit and quickly put on 30lbs by eating drive thru between patients! Ugg! I struggle with water too. Silly thing, if I drink from a straw I end up drinking more.0 -
Loving all the ideas and support! Thank you all! 0
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What's the one thing you struggle with daily? One thing you simply refuse to give up. Mine is a Venti iced skinny caramel macchiato with an extra shot! Everyday of my life this is what I start my day with!0
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granola bars, fruit bars, oatmeal bars etc..seem to be my struggle, so easy to throw in my purse and take on the go and delicious, but its all processed and my goal is to nix the processed food in my diet.. thats a toughy!0
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Young ICU nurse here! Mostly nights. I find that working out before a shift is great for energy. Ugh never after. And I'm 100% done with snacking on gross unit snacks haha I gained 10 when I started and just working to lose that all!0
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kateabusse wrote: »granola bars, fruit bars, oatmeal bars etc..seem to be my struggle, so easy to throw in my purse and take on the go and delicious, but its all processed and my goal is to nix the processed food in my diet.. thats a toughy!
Having food ready and available is hard when trying to forgo processed foods, believe me I understand. I love cutie clementines, I've been trying to use those as my throw in the purse snack. I'd love more ideas!0 -
So tomorrow is a tough day for me. I lost my nephew two years ago tomorrow. He was 12 years old and took his life. It'll be interesting to see how my diet plays out... Either gorge or starve. Hope I can keep it in check.0
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Where's everyone at? I need my peeps, lol!0
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Open diary! Like challanges! Add me pals 0
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