recovering from eating disorder... eating at work

Nurses Stress 101

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I'm a new nurse (graduated last May) and I started working in an ER over the summer. I had to take a medical leave for 6 weeks shortly after I started working to receive inpatient treatment for anorexia. The hospital I work for was great with allowing a medical leave for treatment.

I have been back for a few weeks and I LOVE nursing in the ER. I'm still doing a lot of orientation classes and working with a preceptor since I'm a new grad. I have a ton to learn, but I feel like I'm catching on.

I am still in the process of recovering and trying to gain weight... I'm determined to get better from the ED, and I have a significant amount of weight to gain until I will be healthy. During my shifts we get one 30 minute break for lunch which is pretty standard I know. The only problem is, I have extremely high caloric needs that are likely going to get higher in coming weeks (I've been through the refeeding process before... I tend to become very hypermetabolic and require possibly up to 4500-5000 calories/day). In addition, my blood sugar tends to drop very quickly (I have been told due to metabolism speeding up during recovery process), so if I go many hours without eating, I get dizzy, shaky, etc.

So I am trying to figure out the best way to keep my calories up and eat adequately during my shifts. Eating at the nurses station is technically against the rules, but pretty much all the nurses there do it. I have been trying to pack snacks that are higher in calories (like shakes and nutrition bars)... Does anyone have ideas? I want to make sure I continue to recover and have the energy to be alert during the entire shift... the ER is a very busy place.

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Congrats on recovering!! I too have struggled with an ED and know how hard it is. We're not technically allowed to eat at nursing stations either but since everyone else does I've joined in. You won't always get your break and besides you need to eat more than once on a shift, at least I know I do or else my sugars drop. I don't take messy meals just needy bars, yogurt, etc. Try to eat at the stations and if someone says something to you I'd be honest and explain your situation.

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I think you are on the right track with easy to eat snacks. What about homemade smoothies you can pack full of good things? Also one thing I always bring to work are hard boiled eggs, because they are so quick and easy to eat when you only have a little time, especially if you peel them at home. Good luck with your journey :)

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Thanks for the feedback! I'll definitely try the hardboiled eggs... I never thought of that. And I've been drinking the breakfast essentials shakes, but homemade smoothies might taste better (and be cheaper). I'm going to try and pack a bunch of portable stuff and eat at the nurses station whenever I have a spare second. Hopefully nobody says anything about it because that would be kind of embarrassing, especially because I'm fairly new there. But I guess it would be less embarrassing than passing out if my blood sugar drops...

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Specializes in retired LTC.

My favorite = mozzarella cheese stix.

You could just keep them in a pocket. Love them!

Good luck!

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

1. Granola bars

2. Power Bars (packed with protein and carbs)

3. Ensure / Boost milkshakes

4. Ensure pudding (tasty, but packed with calories and protein)

5. Lunch meats (turkey, ham, roast beef)

6. Greek yogurt (has twice the protein of regular yogurt)

7. Chicken breasts

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