I am (hopefully) entering my final year of school for nursing.  Just wondering how you all handle the changes of your body with the demands of the job.  Do you bring you food with you and make sure you take 30 minutes to eat?  Use protein bars or drinks throughout your shift?  Even in our clinicals, it seems like you never have a chance to sit and catch up let alone have an entire meal.  Any thoughts, suggestions, encouragements appreciated.....

I am an RN. Welcome to the field of nursing :) I carry all of my food and drinks as there is never any guarantee that you will be able to eat whatever there might be to eat when you get downtime. I carry almonds, turkey jerky, protein bars, protein shakes, vitamin water zero, and water. That way I always have an option, and when I get a five minute break I can chug a shake or something! Good luck! I also carry my vitamins in mini ziplock bags so I always take them.

Thanks for replying....that's pretty much what I thought based on my clinicals...by the time I graduate and pass the NCLEX, I'll be over a year out so hopefully, I'll be able to pack some of those high protein snacks! Thanks again!

Im a wind turbine mechanic, not quite as time demanding as a nurse, and I frequently have problems with getting enojgh time to eat. I always carry protein bars in my pocket at work and if you can carry a fannypacc****ep 2 boost shakes with me, really easy way to get some protein in a pinch, and they dont have to be refrigerated, although they dont taste good warm lol. But I'd be cautious, last time I was in the hospital, one pf the techs got chewes out by the charge nurse for eating at the doorside chart desk. So it would probably depend on the policy of the facility you're at. My company had a no food in company vehicles policy until I arrived, but with my rny they made an exception, and then the same exception for my twin bro when they hired him, he's also rny.

My biggest obstacle being a nurse is the amount of food around at work! There is always food in the nurses lounge, a party, or someone's birthday, and of course it is all unhealthy foods! I started packing food preop and will continue to pack, I do NOT get paid for breaktime so I will be taking my breaks to eat even if it means leaving the unit to do it.

I'm an RN on a super busy surgery floor. Many days I don't even get a luch break. But I will say, I still bring all of my food with me. I don't think the cafeteria at work has the best food, plus I don't know what they put in it! As far as the changes with my body, I started at 350 on this job last year, and now I am 250. It makes it so much easier on my legs and feet with the weight loss. I still have more to go, but I can tell already that I am able to do my job better and faster since losing weight. Also, I bring a large water bottle with me and leave it on the desk in the nurses station so I can sip while charting or whatever! Good luck!!

 I know nurses spend a large portion of their work up and going, but really post op the best way to handle it is really no difference for a nurse, teacher or computer programer.

Planning and packing your meals makes staying on track much easier.  If you plan and pack the night before you are not runshed the morning of and you will have a better shot at making healthy choices.  Not planning can be disatorous because then you have to rely on the available options and you may make less than ideal choices or opt to just skip, which is also a less than ideal choice.

I don't know what your surgeons plan calls for but I do smaller more frequent meals typically I eat every 2-3 hours and am drinking in between.  I have found establishing this routine makes the food stuff much less of a hassle.  The bigger difficulty is probably going to be keeping up on your fluids as this often can be overlooked more easily than the food stuffs.

Planning is key! I am pre-op but let me tell you that you can do this. Large water bottles are okay at most nurses stations (as long as they can be closed). It will be easier to eat small amounts of food more frequently. Communicate with your coworkers that you're going to need to take small food breaks because of your surgery. Also, Lady Lithia has a teaching job and is years out. She doesn't get long breaks either so she does protien shakes.

Good luck with your journey and nursing school

Cherie

I work in a hospital but I'm not a nurse.  I can tell you the nurse's here do get time for lunch.  And easy access to microwave and fridge. 

On another note, take care of your body when nursing - use lift devices to move patients and get assistance - even for 'small' patients.  Your back with thank you.

We have a nice cafeteria at my hospital... but I always bring a protein bar and a drink just in case.

Audrey

Nurses get to eat?  ;)

I pack and plan all my meals for the day.  They are easy, and almost always the same thing every day.  Breakfast is always the same.  Lunch is a rotation of choices.  All are super easy to pack, bring and consume.  I don't bring a lot of "snacky" type foods like nuts or protein bars or jerky.  That's too easy to get in the mindset of nibble a few here and there.  They tend to be higher calorie and they add up.  I bring an apple, an orange, a protein powder, and the meals.  If I get a few minutes and I know lunch is a long way off I'll just grab a part of my lunch.  Everything I bring is designed to taste good cold too.  :)