Nursing

In the mix: Hitting the pause button

Stressed Out Nurses Weekly, July 20, 2009

Despite all the talk about critical thinking, nurses operate in a very task-oriented system. In our rush to take care of all our patients’ needs, we are prone to neglect ourselves, which affects not only our own health but also our ability to care for patients.

Remember, there are few things that can’t wait five minutes, so take a moment for yourself. Much of my increased efficiency at the bedside results from the way I now manage a shift. I used to run around getting everything done before taking a break, which often meant the entire shift went by without taking a break. This would result in being hungry half the shift, causing a bout of overeating when I finally got the chance to eat. Is it any wonder that I started to put on weight after becoming a nurse?

I now come to work with small prepared meals that I can quickly eat on the go while charting or double-checking medications. I make a point to eat every two-and-a-half to three hours so my blood sugar never drops and my metabolism burns high. My three-to-five minute meal breaks became a regular pause button in which I would stop to breath and reprioritize tasks.

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