Eating right during 12hr shift

[wingding]

I am looking for ideas to eating better on my 12hr shift - locked Psych ward. I end up eating English muffin with lunch meat for breakfast; often not very hungry at lunch 1/2 pita bread sandwich, & don't always get to drink 20oz. water on shift. Hospitals' food is heavy & unappealing. No food at desk or in drink room - ok by me - but I am starved on my ride home at night, 3 back to back shifts call for early sleep. What is a good meal to eat when I have to go to bed in 2hrs & get up to do it all over again??? I am having a hard time finding balance & nutrition that doesn't have me up & sick to my stomach at night.

[macawake, MSN]

I eat things like avocado, cherry tomatoes, bananas, boiled eggs, nuts like almonds and walnuts (no salt), cottage cheese or plain yogurt. I usually eat twice, around 11pm-midnight and around 4 am. I drink lots of water and too much coffee

I generally avoid bread on worknights since that seems to upset my stomach.

Once home, shower and drink a meal replacement shake of some sort. If I go to sleep on a completely empty stomach I'll wake up hungry after three or four hours, this way I sleep like a baby for about seven hours :)

I hope you find a way to eat when working nights that works for you!

I must be seriously tired I don't know where I got the idea that you were asking about night shifts.. Macawake off to sleep

[Jeniele, ADN, RN]

I have a question about this as well. I will be starting a 12 hr day shift next week for the first time and it occurred to me that I will be at work during the entirety of times when I'm used to scheduling my meals (roughly 0800, 1300, & 1800). I'm not diabetic or hypoglycemic but my GERD and blood sugar will go crazy if I only eat once during a 12 hr shift. I don't think my patients will want a light headed short-tempered "hangry" CNA caring for them. Tips and or suggestions for a newbie?

[busymsybee96]

Macawake....thanks for the food tips. I work nights (going on 8 years) and still cannot find a happy place with my diet. I don't eat big, greasy meals, but do eat Lean Cuisine, Smart Ones, canned soup. I'm still leaving feeling hungry and bloated/swollen in the AM.