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

Published

Hi! I'm writing this as I wait to clock out from my 6:30 am to 7:00 pm shift. The one thing on my mind is FOOD. What am I going to eat?? Should I cook or buy something? I have to be up early tomorrow for clinical. I like my sleep but I feel like I'm just being lazy.

That led me to wondering, what does everyone else do??? Do you guys still have energy to cook after your 12 hour shift, whether it be a day or night shift??

Specializes in Infection Control, Med/Surg, LTC.

I didn't do much cooking until I retired, and I discovered my house had a kitchen!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Do you have any recipe or website recommendations for the crockpot-in-a-bag meals? I'd like to utilize mine more but the idea of getting up extra early pre-work to do food prep makes me want to cry.

Stephanie O'Dea's "A Year of Slow Cooking" blog has great crockpot meals. (She's also gluten free but for anyone not gluten free it doesn't affect the taste - just use your normal ingredients.) She doesn't use a lot of "cream of X" soups but does have a lot of easy "meal in a bag" menus that don't require more than 5-10 minutes prep time, and some can be done the night or weekend before.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Yes, I didn't say anything (write anything), but I was thinking this too. My crockpot would scorch and maybe burn anything in that time. I'd worry about a fire. There is only so much fluid you can put in it. I guess mine could be set for 8 hrs and it would shut off?

Get a crockpot that switches to "warm" after the original cooking time (e.g. 8-10 hours). My cuisinart model switches to warm and stays warm for up to 8 hours.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in adult psych, LTC/SNF, child psych.
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:

Interesting! I don't have any coworkers that knit and when I talk about it, they speak like it's magic or witchcraft that I'm doing. :yes:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in adult psych, LTC/SNF, child psych.
Does eating peanut butter from the jar with a spoon count as cooking?

Oh that's one of my favorite meals. Sometimes I get really classy and put the peanut butter on some bread!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Well, everybody has to eat, so I cook on my days off and portion it for the freezer. Things like spaghetti or soup or roast in the crock pot. Get it ready, stir once in a while, and darn the socks while I'm waiting. I no longer have any kiddos to homeschool or feed either. On really busy days there's nothing better than a rotisserie chicken from the deli. Problem is they smell so good I'm tempted to eat about half the chicken in the car.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I absolutely do not cook after a legit 12 hours, especially not if I'm back in the morning. Like several other posters said above, I eat leftovers that can be microwaved at least 4 days a week. If I have a horrible shift and don't want to make myself eat at home, I'll buy chickfila, subway, Wendy's, or snack foods I keep in my bedroom so I can actually graze while getting ready for bed.

Emergent, I too brush my teeth. I know your struggle. :cat:

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Your cooking sounds fantastic, actually! :-)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I didn't do much cooking until I retired, and I discovered my house had a kitchen!

I'm glad I'm not the only one who finds that so true and I'm on the opposite end from retirement!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in critical care, ER,ICU, CVSURG, CCU.

Thank you LORD,

for Bertoli, and frozen pizza....I love days off, my clinic is closed on Wednesday....so I can cook real food......also on Sunday's and sometimes Saturday eve..... Got to take advantage of my grass fed beef... And mostly my time and energy left

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Urology.

Its all in the prep. I do it all the time for my wife and kids. Just have to prepare the day ahead is all. Physically cooking food shouldn't take longer than 30 minutes if you do it right. Plus you know the food is better for you and you can pick what you like.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Psych, Corrections, Med-Surg, Ambulatory.
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.

Too bad you don't have time to improve your knitting skills. Then those socks wouldn't need darning.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion