I have a super fast metabolism and i have to eat every 3hrs. I'm a nursing student and don't have much money to buy processed foods (besides they are filled with sugars that make me more hungry anyway). Any one have any good suggestions of things that will tide you over between meals?
I started drinking protein shakes and that has been helpful in the morning, but i still get hungry at 9am again.
I appreciate your concern, but IMO the problem is less one of education than it is an issue of staffing realities. Today's nurse is dealing with high acuity patients with complex problems, and the administration is deliberately understaffing. Therefore, today's nurse cannot sit down and often cannot take a lunch break. Rather than berate the nurses for the poor working conditions that they have little or no control over, you might better protect yourself and other patients by getting to the root of the problem and advocating for better nurse-patient ratios.
Why are today's nurses so darned incapable of standing up for their own needs when it comes to meals and bathroom breaks? These are issues that my husband and I brought up with our children while they were young pre-schoolers, and we reinforced the teaching as long as they were living at home.
A nurse would probably be fired for abusing mechanical or electronic equipment, so why can't management pay more attention to the wellbeing of their staff members?
Why are today's nurses willing to work under conditions that are so unhealthy, and often unsafe for themselves as well as their patients?
Its actually BETTER for you to eat a lot of small snack-like meals than to eat 3 bigger meals a day. I'm pretty sure there are even weight loss plans that suggest that approach. So skipping meals, yet eating snacks every 2-3 hrs is a GOOD thing (although I'm sure you wont gain weight that way unless they're garbage food)
I really love Kashi foods because I feel that they're healthier, more natural, and in general their company tries very hard to use REAL ingredients, plus they're not a "gimmick" brand. Nothing dissapoints like going on the South Beach diet, picking up a South Beach labeled snack, and then realizing that it DOESNT EVEN MEET THE CRITERIA FOR ITS OWN DIET lol.
Kashi has some granola that is really good and a bit sweet, but not too sweet (they also use natural cane sugar in some variety and not the processed crap we're used to) and perfect sized for a quick pick me up.
Generally, avoid carbs and try to get in protein as it should keep you from feeling hungry longer due to taking longer to process. If you're going to do fruits, aim for freeze dried fruits instead of regular dried because they dont use sugar when they freeze dry (ever check the package on dried apricots etc? sugar is in pretty much everything, even the bananas!). It sounds silly but the kind you can get with the toddler/baby food in the yellow pouch is what hikers use because its natural and healthier than the stuff they sell to adults. There are some "adult" versions too, but its the same stuff, and harder to find.
You can cut the bitterness in this thread with a knife.
Legitimate question asked.
OP, I used to workout a lot, and thus needed to eat a lot. I also worked in construction, sometimes 20 hour shifts that had no breaks. (powerplant shutdowns)
I used to make my own trail mix and designate one pocket in my carhearts (industrial workwear) just for that.
Also, I would focus my diet on complex carbs if I were you. They hang out longer, giving you steady carbs, rather than a carb bomb. Go for oatmeal, squash, sweet potatoes, whole grain bread, nuts, bananas, apples, etc. Don't forget your protein. Drink milk if you can (I don't like it myself, but it is a good source of calories and protein)
Best of luck, I hope your coworkers are different than the ones represented here.
A little off the subject of food, but right on with op, I'm still in ns, but my last clinical instructor forced us to take our lunch. Her belief was that a hungry nurse= a tired nurse= an unhappy pt.
I vow to at least have a bathroom break when I begin my nursing career!
Do union hospitals make sure nurses get breaks? I thought it was a must, but now I'm not so sure.
I don't know how other units function, but if we see one of our coworkers starting to wilt, we will force her to stop and rest and at least try to get a bite to eat. Personally, I eat dinner before work, and maybe grab a quick snack from the vending machine. I also exist on lots of coffee. I always take my bathroom breaks (after 3 kids, I don't have a choice). But looking out for your coworkers is just as important as looking out for your patients. We need to learn to support each other. It just makes for a better shift!
Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
Why are today's nurses so darned incapable of standing up for their own needs when it comes to meals and bathroom breaks? These are issues that my husband and I brought up with our children while they were young pre-schoolers, and we reinforced the teaching as long as they were living at home.
A nurse would probably be fired for abusing mechanical or electronic equipment, so why can't management pay more attention to the wellbeing of their staff members?
Why are today's nurses willing to work under conditions that are so unhealthy, and often unsafe for themselves as well as their patients?
Management aren't really bothered these days unless money is involved. Many nurses are leaving the profession because they can not stand the politics and staffing. The ones that stay do so because they in most cases love nursing too much and worry for the patients or have no choice but stay in a job they don't like because they need the money. Many nurses have tried to stand up for rights but soon find themselves out of a job
Why are today's nurses so darned incapable of standing up for their own needs when it comes to meals and bathroom breaks? These are issues that my husband and I brought up with our children while they were young pre-schoolers, and we reinforced the teaching as long as they were living at home.
A nurse would probably be fired for abusing mechanical or electronic equipment, so why can't management pay more attention to the wellbeing of their staff members?
Why are today's nurses willing to work under conditions that are so unhealthy, and often unsafe for themselves as well as their patients?
This post really irritates me. I have a big mouth and am redhead (lol!) and am fully capable for standing up for myself--believe me I work with residents in a teaching hospital if that tells you anything. My unit has good management too. We usually get 1 hour lunch/dinner breaks :)
My shift yesterday for instance I admitted a 7 month old with menigiococcemia (sp?) who we were desperately trying to save his life while in the room next too me a 10 year old was coding off and on for 5 hours and is no doubt dead by now.....so no I don't always get to eat or pee or drink because I literally have someones life in my hands.....can't just say "sorry hang in there while I go eat something". Some days are just like that. It's not just RNs, it's the MDs and residents and RTs I work with too....we have a very critical and fast paced unit.
But to the OP. I am not skinny (I'm just regular...lol) but I think most of us need to eat something every 3 hours or so. I bring the Fiber One or South Beach bars with me, or if all I can do is grab a coke for some calories/sugar then I will. You just have to do what you can. Some days aren't too bad, and others you simply will not have the time because of your patients condition.
At least "todays nurses" don't see themselves as doctor handmaids or put up with the same crap we did 10-20 years ago. "Todays nurse" is very well educated (we are not just taught tasks but to THINK and do research, etc) and doing things that 10-20 years ago only doctors did. I think "todays nurses" for the most part are pretty freakin kick a**!!
haven't had the thyroid checked, but i'm not diabetic. i'm pretty sure it's just a fast metabolism. i don't have the other s/s of hyperthyroidism, but who knows.
I am also skinny with a fast matabolism. Every time I go to the doctor, they attempt to rule me up for Hyperthyroidism, but my labs are always normal. Other symptoms include fatigue (what nursing student doesn't have fatigue), tachycardia (I'm baseline HR 90's to low 100's), thinning hair (ok, the dr saw it, I think it's actually quite thick). So many of these could be your baseline that it'd be hard to know if something was off or not.
you've already received good advice about complex carbs and healthy snacks, but I just wanted to second the notion that protein shakes can be very filling, (and healthy!), also. I like Muscle Milk 'Carb Control' shakes for the times I need to skip a meal. You can find them at Wal-Mart, GNC and some supermarkets.
Trail mix, Kashi bars, fresh sliced fruit, cheese sticks, Smart Balance peanut butter and celery, spinach salads...the list goes on. When I was in my early and mid 20s, I too was very thin and had trouble keeping weight on. This changed when I neared 30, (lol), but eating healthy is always good for you, no matter your size or age.
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and reading these forums
Retired R.N.
260 Posts
Why are today's nurses so darned incapable of standing up for their own needs when it comes to meals and bathroom breaks? These are issues that my husband and I brought up with our children while they were young pre-schoolers, and we reinforced the teaching as long as they were living at home.
A nurse would probably be fired for abusing mechanical or electronic equipment, so why can't management pay more attention to the wellbeing of their staff members?
Why are today's nurses willing to work under conditions that are so unhealthy, and often unsafe for themselves as well as their patients?