How did nursing school effect your health?

[RangeinPlace]

i have heard repeated accounts of how the stress of nursing school can cause weight gain, and sometimes weight loss. i could see how health would be impacted, given that nursing schools are often compacted into 10-15 short months filled with tons of strict deadlines, loads of new information to take in, and the stress of such new exposure to the responsibilities of nursing. my question then is, how did or is nursing school effecting your health? and what advice do you have to a new student for maintaining a healthy body whilst enduring much stress?

[staceym]

I'm not in nursing school till next year but I have been finishing up prereqs while working fulltime and it has been somewhat stressful. I gained about 10-15 lbs over the course of a year, especially with working a desk job. I got really bad about skipping workouts and grabbing fast food because I was too busy or too tired to fix anything at home. This is my last semester of prereqs and I'm going to start working on prepping meals on Sundays and pushing myself to exercise daily... if not for my weight, at least for my sanity and anxiety.

[ImThatGuy, BSN, RN]

I concur with the remark above about cutting the soda. Even diet soda actually since the acid is bad for the enamel of your teeth. However, there's a lot of quick calories in soda. You get a lot fast without realizing it, and people using diet sodas seem to compensate by getting larger portions. Cut the excess sugar and you'll lose weight. I've had quite a few friends lose weight by putting a halt to the sugary beverages and doing absolutely nothing else.

All of the other comments are good. Don't sit and stuff your face. Get up and move your butt. Calories in, calories out. If you're doing less with your body that simple statement ought to tell you that you can't consume as much without growing the old gut.

[Lajimolala, BSN, RN, NP]

In my first semester I lost about ten pounds, and meanwhile I have a friend who gained 15 pounds. All the reasons are already stated above. Honestly, I have no advice. Everyone goes through it. Everyone who is a nurse went through it, and everyone who is thinking about being a nurse WILL go through it. Just ride it like a wave. It'll pass eventually, and then you make money. Lol.

[Morgan0429]

I have had 15lbs in weight gain in 1.5 years,GERD, anxiety that has triggered palpitations (PVC's) and I now have IBS. So yeah.....it has taken a toll on my health

[parrothead36]

yep i gained about 20 lbs in a 12month period. my blood pressure shot up from 110/70 to 130/70. and i attribute it to all the sitting around and studying. not being able to cook & feeling guilty if i exercised instead of using that time to study. now i am approaching my last semester & i have to get on board with exercising and preparing healthy meals, otherwise how am i going to be able to provide patient education if i'm not in ok shape. also i'm going to need the stamina to work 12hour shifts!!