Do Nurses Eat?

[Nathalie]

So many people I talk to say nurses/nursing students barely ever have time to eat. Is that true? They say nurses live on protein bars and other things similiar to that. I even heard someone say that they give themselves shots of glucose!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! that seems a little extreme. Whats your opinion or experience?

[misschelei]

It depends on what type of unit you work on. If its a short staffed busy unit plan on finger foods cuz that the best you're gonna get. Those places usually have high turnover rates. I started as a new grad on a Burn unit like this. I was doing a particularly grulleing dressing change. I'll spare you all the details. But I started to get that low blood sugar sway. My preceptor was not sympathetic. She asked me "What's more important your patient or your stomach?" That's an extreme. Usually all of us has some time for a break. Timing is everything. If you have a lull in the shift take it cuz it might be your last. It's always a good idea to have something you can eat quickly in case you're too busy to have a formal break though.