Be the fit and healthy nurse!

            

           Aside from exposure to occupational hazards, nurses too are at risk from developing ill conditions mainly from self care deficit, which means neglecting self- duties. Most of the times they are committed to preserving and saving lives rather than looking up for themselves.

           So to help our nurses, I have prepared a list on how to stay fit and healthy without compromising their jobs

                         Make an exercise routine.

           

           It always start on not being too hard on yourself. Yes, it feels challenging that you want to try out a new dance craze or scheduling a run 2 hours a day. I don’t discourage you to do so. However, making simple steps at a time like 1 hour walk for week/ attending zumba session per week or half an hour to the nearest gym from your place will give much benefits on the long run than pushing yourself hard on the first time. From then you can adjust 3x a week to 2 hours a day. No pain no gain it is, but muscle spasms all added up to the penitence. So take it easy. Once step at a time.

                Watch your food intake.

           I know what you’re thinking and I couldn’t agree more. Nurses tend to skip meals but when they do, they eat like a pig. Watch it, we don’t want our health to suffer for wrong habits. Nurses are professionally bred to explain what's behind every orders. When they say small frequent feedings to patients, they know the rationale is for better digestion. We love ourselves when we do what is right for our health. Keep finger foods in the station within reach and you’re good to go. Also, supplements are very helpful for vitamin and mineral maintenance.

               Drink water often.

          Drinking too often is not advisable when your at work. The workplace is so demanding you tend to perform Valsalva on the perineum when it’s already coming (or probably emergency hormones work their way to hold it our for you), either way I believe you can manage it. Drink a lot of water not on duty hours but when at home. That’s the best thing to do. Drink and drink and drink. Dehydration supports many diseases up to cellular level. So it’s better to be hydrated on not-so-toxic hours.

                Feel the warmth.

                There are growing list of disease associated with Vitamin D deficiency. Though precautions are instituted pertaining to length of exposure, it is deemed necessary for every individual to love the warmth of sun, it’s magical healing properties. Since nurses are encapsulated in the hospital for enormous number of hours a day, we should find time as well to let our skin breath and feel sunlight. Remember the pathophysiology/physiology of Vit D? Oooh.. I think I should review that once more.

                Stay Positive. 

          

                To be an efficient nurse, one is required to be strong in body and more so, in mind and at heart. I salute those who stayed in this profession for quite a time, I wonder what are defense coping mechanism they use in dealing with irate clients or relatives. Kidding aside, but remember this, do not let anything bad that happens to you eat you up. Stress in the hospital is inevitable, everyone almost experience stress. There is only growth in pain and going out of the comfort zone. Having a positive outlook and maintaining the nature of care as our philosophy will lessen the burden, and make us grow. Ethics and moral play a vital role in giving quality service to our clients and gives us peace of heart and mind.