I have been in bedside nursing for 12 years now, and I am wondering just how much longer my body can take it. When I get off work, my back and neck hurt, my legs/feet are swollen from not getting to sit down for more than a few minutes at a time, and I have chronic plantar fasciitis. I don't think I can do this for more than another year- and I absolutely love my job.
For those of you who have been doing this longer than I have: What is your secret? How have you been able to do this for so long without your body completely breaking down? Do you feel like nursing has aged you? I sure do. I'm only 38, and I feel like I'm about 70 when I get off work.
Hats off to all you old-timers, and those of you who have made it to retirement age. You have my deepest admiration and respect.
Specializes in Trauma,ER,CCU/OHU/Nsg Ed/Nsg Research.
I can definitely say I run my butt off at work, and butt is about to turn 52 years old. Nursing is a second career for me and I underestimated the physical toll on the body.
This is a very interesting thread for me and I salute you oldies for hanging in this long! My feet are OK, legs are OK, BUT THE LIFTING OF THE DEAD WEIGHT IS A HUGE PROBLEM! The repositioning Q2hr of vented patients is my undoing.....no nursing assistant, no orderlies. We just have to pull another RN to get help. No lifts....what's a girl to do?
OK, vent over. Thanks for listening. I think I have to find an ICU that has a lift team.
Specializes in ICU;CCU;Telemetry;L&D;Hospice;ER/Trauma;.
How do we do what we do???
Eat healthy; drink fluids;(non-alcoholic you ninny!!) and take time out for myself once a week to do whatever makes my heart happy inside....I also read alot....both on line and at the library....Barnes and Nobles is like catnip for me....the smell of printed paper makes me salivate.
as for sore feet....make sure your shoes are the proper fit for you...if you are having feet issues, a visit to a store that designs inner soles just to your feet might be what you need....I have been very fortunate in that even though I am Rubenesque, I haven't had troubles with my knees or feet....my hands have a bit of arthritis....not RA, but osteo in both thumb joints....so they ache when it rains, and in cold weather, and sometimes get painful enough I have to pop Ibuprofen....
I think my most difficult hurdle has been to get enough rest....I don't sleep well...restless legs, and a brain that won't shut down....
I have tried sniffing lavender, soap bar under the sheets, sleeping aids...and nothing seems to help me....I think it's probably hormonal (yeah, that's it!! blame it all on hormones!!) I crave sleep, and can only really konk out for about three solid hours before waking....
I do love what I do.....so despite the occasional sleepless night, I still get up and roll out of bed to work...where else can I give back to other humans who give me so much???
Since the power that be decided I would have to work for a living, not be blessed with a silver-spoon existance, I work to eat and pay bills. Like another poster said, sometimes you just suck it up and do it.
alcohol works for me! i have made a personal effort to slow down to save my energy just to get through the day. i poke around instead of running. after all ,the more work you do, the more that is expected and the more physically and mentally exhausted you become. winsor pilates the 20 minute workout has worked wonders for me to help with bending (and crawling around the floor as nurses often do) plus burn off calories.
Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.
i took 800mg of motrin before work and half way through my work shift. i sometimes alternated between motrin and orudis which i found worked quite well for me also. i wore jobst stockings and always had arch supports (to fend off the plantar fasciitis) in my orthopedic shoes which i bought at an orthopedic shoe store. when i got home from work i laid down and died until the next work shift. you also need to diet if your are overweight. if i didn't go to work, my bills didn't get paid--it was that simple.
miami valley hospital in dayton, ohio has a hospital lift team.
i took 800mg of motrin before work and half way through my work shift. i sometimes alternated between motrin and orudis which i found worked quite well for me also. i wore jobst stockings and always had arch supports (to fend off the plantar fasciitis) in my orthopedic shoes which i bought at an orthopedic shoe store. when i got home from work i laid down and died until the next work shift. you also need to diet if your are overweight. if i didn't go to work, my bills didn't get paid--it was that simple.
miami valley hospital in dayton, ohio has a hospital lift team.
awesome! not yet on nights (oh well lol) but hey, a step in the right direction.
"there's an astonishing statistic we call the 'gasp number' because the jaws dropping are palpable when we reveal that in a typical eight-hour shift, a nurse lifts cumulative weight of 1.8 tons," added o'malley.
Specializes in Trauma,ER,CCU/OHU/Nsg Ed/Nsg Research.
alcohol works for me! i have made a personal effort to slow down to save my energy just to get through the day. i poke around instead of running. after all ,the more work you do, the more that is expected and the more physically and mentally exhausted you become. winsor pilates the 20 minute workout has worked wonders for me to help with bending (and crawling around the floor as nurses often do) plus burn off calories.
thanks- i did try pilates, but have neck problems so that didn't last long. i'm going to get back into yoga- it did work wonders for my back.
BBFRN, BSN, PhD
3,779 Posts
I hear ya!