before clinical breakfast ideas?

Nursing Students General Students

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Hello,

Friday was my first hospital clinical day. It was from 7-3 , everything was fine until around 10am I began to faint in my pt. room. didn't hit the floor but cooly sat in the chair while the lpn got me some soda. I attributed my fainting spell to my nerves and not eating breakfast. Guess I did not know how grueling the all the walking back and forth in the halls is. I get up a 5am and really have very little time to cook breakfast. What are some quick ideas to keep my sugar up and stop the fainting spells b/c I was so embarassed. I am thinking a banana maybe, but I may need more calories than that since lunch is not until 11am

Thanks

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Specializes in Medical.

A banana isn't a bad idea. Toast? You can cook it while you're getting dressed. How about a museli bar as well? I'm not usually a fan of them, but if it's not every day...

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Think protein. Same thing used to happen to me. I try to scramble a couple eggs real quick. If I'm not hungry that early, which is usually the case, I eat a cup of yogurt and a piece of fruit. Mid morning I try to drink a glass of milk to get me through to lunchtime.

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Specializes in Emergency Dept, M/S.

A protein bar or some peanut butter crackers are GREAT to carry in your pocket. I'm diabetic and have to keep something with me at all times. I always have glucose tablets (yuck, dry as chalk!), but when my BS is about 90-100 and I want to bring it up a little bit, I have one of those cheese or peanut butter crackers packages, or a package or Lorna Doone's.

The protein stablizes your blood sugar. So while you have some carbs to bring it up, the protein will keep it on an even keel because it is digest more slowly. I find it hard to eat at 5am also, but I have an hour's drive, so I have a few Reduced Fat Wheat Thins and cheese on the way. Not really "breakfast" food, but it gets me through until our break at 9:30 or so.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Cardiac Cath Lab.

I have instant oatmeal before I leave the house, and I'll drink a low-carb, high protein smoothie on the way to school/clinical. I like the low-carb ones since I've noticed that if I have too much sugar, it just makes me more hungry.

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Specializes in CCU (Coronary Care); Clinical Research.

Some great ideas here so far. Always, always try and eat before you go...if you are not used to the habit it may take awhile to get used to but in the end it is worth it...I usually eat two eggs, occassionally with a piece of toast to for some energy. I always make sure to bring something quick and easy to snack on in a couple of hours...usually a bananna or pre-cut apple. Then lunch, then another snack then dinner (except i do all of this at night since I work night shift). Oatmeal is also a good breakfast that sticks with you...

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Specializes in corrections.

I have been having a breakfast yogurt smoothie on clinical days and I really like them. I have bought either the Dannon Frusion (Peach is the BEST!) or Yoplait Noriche. I just drink one in the car on the way to my clinical and I'm good to go...no cooking involved! :p

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Instant oatmeal! While it's cooking in the microwave I am getting ready. Also I try to bring either a breakfast bar or granola bar in my pocket. When I start to get hungry or anything I slip into the break room and eat my bar and drink some water then back to the floor I go....

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Specializes in OBGYN, Neonatal.

I would say the suggestions above are GREAT! Definately think protein and carbs combined. The protein has staying power and the carbs have good instant energy.

I'm diabetic also and on an insulin pump so I usually eat on the way (bad girl, been getting fast food) and then I'm good til lunch usually 11 or 12 or 1. The hospital cafeteria is a good idea too if you can. Ours is open in the morning for breakfast.

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I'm a bagel fan, myself. They're quick and you can put all kinds of stuff on them...

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I pop toast in the toaster as soon as I get up and munch it as I gather up my things, or driving on the way to the hospital. I second the yogurt smoothie idea, those are great too! I hit the floor my very first day in the hospital 1st semester and it was so terribly embarassing. Now I eat something at least every couple hours. Check out the applesauce aisle at the store. They have every imaginable flavor now, many without added sugar. They work well for any meal or snack. Bring some juiceboxes. If you get the Juicy Juice kiddie ones you can slurp one down in 30 secs if you don't have much time, but it still gets that glucose to your brain.

PS- Don't feel too bad about the nearly passing out. When it happened to me just about every nurse on the unit came up to me to recount THEIR story of passing out or nearly passing out while they were a student! It happens to just about everyone at some time. :)

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Specializes in Cardiac Telemetry.

Green tea with honey and a plain blueberry bagel. (I eat it in the car and can't afford to have toppings drip all over my clean, white uniform!) We don't get a lunch, but post-conference is all about the granola bars and cheapo Nutri-Grain bars.

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