Do you still have energy to cook after a 12 hour shift?

Emergent, RN · Sep 19, 2016

Oh yes, after a 12 hr shift and long commute I come home to cook a 7 course meal for my family, and still have the energy to sew all our clothes, polish our silver, make handcrafted soap, then darn (handknitted) socks, plus homeschooled the kids, of course.

AceOfHearts<3 · Sep 19, 2016

Nope and I don't feel guilty about it. I'm up by 4:30am at the latest and I leave the house between 5:30-5:45am (try to leave closer to 5:30) because I live 45-60 minutes from work. If I'm lucky I clock out by 7:45pm (it's typically closer to 8pm) then I have to gather up my stuff, walk to my car, and exit the parking garage which probably takes another 10 minutes. So if I'm lucky I'm on the road home about 8ish and I get home about 9ish. I tend to have cereal or a lean cuisine, pack my lunch for the next day, then go to bed, especially if I'm back in the next day. If my shift was a really bad shift and I'm getting out even later I tend to indulge and stop at chic fila on the way home (I really limit how often I stop though since I pass it every time I drive to/from work). If I were to actually cook I'd be eating even later plus have all the cleanup. Cooking is for days I don't work a 12+ hr shift.

vanilla bean · Sep 19, 2016

I do not cook after working 12 hour shifts. On my days off I cook, and make enough for left-overs for another meal so after working I can just quickly reheat and eat. I have friends that rely on their crock-pots so they can come home to a hot meal.

Plan ahead. Make big pots of homemade soups or chili which can easily be frozen in smaller portions and defrosted in the fridge (or reheated from frozen). Sometimes I make pasta sauces ahead and keep refrigerated or freeze until I need them and then all I have to do is cook the pasta and toss with the pre made sauce to heat it through. Get creative.

KatieMI, BSN, MSN, RN · Sep 19, 2016

I made 12 h shifts a reason for my then 12 y/o girl to learn how to cook simple things. We started from chicken with skillet sauces, and gradually progressed to roast chick with potatoes and such, and meanwhile she grew up to like cooking.

joanna73, BSN, RN · Sep 19, 2016

No. I cook every Sunday and make enough meals to last me at least 3-4 days. Essentially, I'm eating the same lunch/ dinner for 3-4 days but I don't mind.

I will cook again once during the week and eat leftovers. Today I made basmati rice with spinach (cooked in the rice) and a large portion of stir fried vegetables.

Mid week, I'll probably make a lentil and sweet potato stew and baked portabello mushroom caps.

I do eat fish or chicken but usually only once a week or less.

Emergent, RN · Sep 19, 2016

OK, now the truth. I go home to a messy kitchen, fry some eggs at the most, feed the dogs, check my allnurses bookmarks one last time, then crash. I do brush my teeth.

oncivrn · Sep 19, 2016

Totally agree with vanilla bean. Soups reheat well and are very nourishing. Or leftover protein and a fresh salad. If I cook after a twelve hour shift it's just eggs. I'm usually exhausted and too tired to even eat.

chunkalunk, ADN, RN · Sep 19, 2016

OK, now the truth. I go home to a messy kitchen, fry some eggs at the most, feed the dogs, check my allnurses bookmarks one last time, then crash. I do brush my teeth.

Aww I was going to ask you to make some hand knitted socks :laugh:

chunkalunk, ADN, RN · Sep 19, 2016

I do not cook after working 12 hour shifts. On my days off I cook, and make enough for left-overs for another meal so after working I can just quickly reheat and eat. I have friends that rely on their crock-pots so they can come home to a hot meal.
Plan ahead. Make big pots of homemade soups or chili which can easily be frozen in smaller portions and defrosted in the fridge (or reheated from frozen). Sometimes I make pasta sauces ahead and keep refrigerated or freeze until I need them and then all I have to do is cook the pasta and toss with the pre made sauce to heat it through. Get creative.

I'm planning to buy a crock pot so I can come home to hot meals but I keep pushing it back. My schedule is pretty full with working, school, and studying. By the end of the day, all I want is me time or sleep time. I try to cook on the days I have 8 hour days of work or when I just have school. So far it hasn't worked out. I have meals that I can cook in big portions for leftovers but getting myself to do it is the hard part. I do keep quick frozen and canned foods so I at least don't buy take out all the time.

kiszi, RN · Sep 19, 2016

Nope. I work nights and don't always eat after work. When I do, it's a Burger King breakfast sandwich or cereal.

I didn't cook after work when I was on days, either. My husband would generally make dinner for me and the kids or get pizza. If I was on my own I think my fast-food budget would be through the roof.

Beldar_the_Cenobite, CNA · Sep 19, 2016

I've noticed a lot of RNs on here like to sew and knit. That's not a bad thing but it's the only place I've ever seen or met anyone in a region of people where sewing and knitting is very popular. It's very old school and it's just not common to see or know people who do it. Interesting.

Also, I love this post. Thank you Bahbah! I've been wondering the same thing about having time to cook at home and what not. I've always thought about this when it came to the RN career. Do I have time to breathe lol With how hectic people sound being so busy as RNs it kinda makes you wonder "Do you have time to even breathe?". :laugh: