Is floor nursing making you fat?

anotherone, BSN, RN · Apr 5, 2013

In the region where I live, we have a low budget chain of grocery stores called ALDI that almost always has whole pineapples on sale for $0.99 each. $8 for pre-cut slices? I couldn't even imagine!

I have heard of ALDI but there aren't any in this area. Yes, $8 for 3servings. Sometimes walmart carries whole pineapples for about $3-4 but i wasnt going to drive that far . I have bought the precut slices for that price a few times before. fruits are very expensive here and even the superwalmart only has a limited selection that doesn't seem too fresh esp for anything that isn't an apple.

turnforthenurse, MSN, NP · Apr 5, 2013

$8 for 3 slices of pineapple is insane. :wideyed:

I also work nights so we graze at the nurses station. Our nursing supervisor is always floating around in the hospital. No matter who it is, they could care less if we are eating at the nurses station.

Not sure how this would work during the daytime when you actually have management around.

LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN · Apr 7, 2013

$8 for 3 slices of pineapple is insane.
I also work nights so we graze at the nurses station. Our nursing supervisor is always floating around in the hospital. No matter who it is, they could care less if we are eating at the nurses station.
Not sure how this would work during the daytime when you actually have management around.

I graze during the daytime as well...no issues in regarding grazing. Keeping hydrated (and going to the bathroom) is also encouraged, no issues regarding keeping the nurses capable of performing pt care, lol.

The hospital also gives the nurses 8x8 totes, so I keep snacks, bottle water, and gum, pens, markers, resources, and my care trinkets in there. I store all my grazing meals in there, so I'm sure that helps.

TerpGal02, ASN · Apr 12, 2013

Ugggh yep I'm packing on the pounds. I have gained 13 lbs since September probably. I started floor nursing (inpt psych) and working off hours about a month ago. I know some of it is the meds I take. Antidepressants make me gain weight like whoa. Sweet cravings and all that. I eat like crap and shove food into my face when I have time. I started couch to 5 k in the fall, but then it.just got roo cold to run outside. Now that its warming up I am just gonna have to start back up. I actually like running. Great stress reliever.

dandk1997RN, MSN, RN · May 6, 2013

I've actually lost 25 #s since I started nursing 10 mo ago. I almost always take my own food (veggies and hummus or homemade yogurt dip, nuts, string cheese, air popped popcorn, yogurt, oatmeal most days.) I try to avoid food brought in by others- I eat it maybe 1 time out of 10. Most nights I drink one coffee, eat a yogurt, and try to find time for my veggies. I just stay away from the junk and keep moving. Bringing my own food makes a huge difference.

LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN · May 8, 2013

I've actually lost 25 #s since I started nursing 10 mo ago. I almost always take my own food (veggies and hummus or homemade yogurt dip nuts, string cheese, air popped popcorn, yogurt, oatmeal most days.) I try to avoid food brought in by others- I eat it maybe 1 time out of 10. Most nights I drink one coffee, eat a yogurt, and try to find time for my veggies. I just stay away from the junk and keep moving. Bringing my own food makes a huge difference.[/quote']
^ Congrats!!!
It's funny, I woke up the other day and weighed myself, only because I realized the the scrubs I was wearing were slowly needing to be tied tighter than when I bought them, and they are a size smaller than my old scrubs. It took me a year, but I lost 25 lbs. I am the size I was about 5 years ago! I celebrated by having Greek yogurt with berries and honey, and a 3 mile walk, lol.
It is a struggle to have weight issues, and sometimes our jobs don't help either, however, sometimes the smallest changes and a good stress outlet can help...that's what I started with, and went from there.

OCRN3 · Jul 2, 2013

That's for sure... I tend to reward my self with a huge restaurant meals after work with girls once or twice a week. Slowly been gaining.... I really need to get on the ball.

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anneuhbanana · Jul 4, 2013

YES!! We are all getting fat with the exception of the few outstanding fitness freaks we probably all work with. When I first started working as a nurse the stress really got to me, binge eating after getting off was (and still is) a major problem. I've noticed a lot of nurses I work with don't hydrate except when eating their lunch. We technically aren't supposed to have food and drinks at the nurses station but I bring my refillable cup and sip on it while I chart and when walking through. Now I've started bringing small snacks and attempting to "graze", which seems to be a much smarter option. Only a month or two ago I kept a coke in my hand throughout the day, it was bad, and eating out of the vending machine because I couldn't get a lunch break.

It finally hit me when some of the older nurses started scolding me and told me to drop whatever I was doing and to go sit down and just eat. Now I realize I HAVE to take care of myself, everything else will still be there when I get back. Sometimes you just have to make yourself a priority. I do not want to end up like a lot of the nurses I work with. I want to be a good example to my pts, so if only I could figure out how to not let the stress affect me? That would solve a lot of problems. They don't tell you about all this in nursing school.

joanna73, BSN, RN · Jul 5, 2013

My goal is to be healthy in old age and stay out of the nursing home. Poor eating habits, lack of exercise and lack of sleep sets us up for the downward spiral.

Management and floor work certainly doesn't help matters but we must decide to take care of ourselves first, because no one else will.