Nurses with pedometers - How far do you walk?

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How many steps do you walk in a busy shift and a slow shift? I just put a pedometer app in my phone. I was unsure about its accuracy, so I counted steps with it in my pocket and it's pretty good! I've had two slower shifts at 8300 steps and a moderately busy one at 9600.

Yep...all of these steps are part of our total daily energy expenditure (TDEE). It is a very interesting concept. Since our bodies are acclimated to the thousands of daily steps we take during each shift, it is merely part of our regular metabolic rate.

When I went from floor nursing to home health I started putting on weight. My boss said "Oh, that's the home health 15" referring to the average 15lb nurses gain from going from floor nursing to more sedentary nursing. :yes:

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.
Yep...all of these steps are part of our total daily energy expenditure (TDEE). It is a very interesting concept. Since our bodies are acclimated to the thousands of daily steps we take during each shift, it is merely part of our regular metabolic rate.

This is my issue with things like Fitbit - it's like we're giving ourselves permission to not do any other exercise because we take all these steps each day. I don't think that's a good thing! But my mom, who is 71 and an avid walker for exercise, does about 100,000 steps a week. She is awesome. :)

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Specializes in Psych,LTC,.

Who's he really cheating. I'm sure the main point behind the program was getting people fitter.

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Specializes in Critical care.

On average, 6 miles a 12 hour shift in the ICU, but when we go into overflow, and open a satellite unit, this number more than doubles.

Cheers

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Specializes in Critical Care.
Yes, fitbits are great, I just cant seem to remember to start recording my sleep every night, ugh!

You can go into the Fitbit app and edit your sleep log after the fact. So no more missed sleep data!

ETA: I have the Fitbit one. Purchased a year ago.

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Specializes in Emergency Nursing.

Today's shift was 13,882. And that was a day shift. Swings are way more!

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Specializes in ER, progressive care.

My FitBit recently crapped out on me :( but I would average around 12,000 steps for a 12 hour shift.

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I am unit clerk right now and I average 5-6 miles in a 12 hour day. My highest ever so far is 6.37. I was hoping that the shift where I spent no less than one hour walking every square inch of four floors looking for a PCA pump for an OR pt who'd been w/o it for nearly 2 hours would've counted as my highest. Unfortunately it didn't because this ICU is generally very boring and after that I spent the rest of the day sitting at my desk doing homework for all of five hours that shift. :facepalm: Still, I think avg 13 miles for 24 hours is pretty good, yes?

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So maybe I should switch to Fitbit. All these numbers are making me feel like an underachiever. Ha! I would like to see if they're accurate, though.

Do you have a Smart Phone or an apple? The Samsung tracker that comes with the phone is really good as far as I've seen.

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Specializes in critical care.
Do you have a Smart Phone or an apple? The Samsung tracker that comes with the phone is really good as far as I've seen.

iPhone

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If it is an average night...5800-6500. If it is a busy night up to 7800. If I am pulled and it is a busy night 12,000-14,000 steps.

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Specializes in Cardiac/Telemetry.

I have the Fitbit Zip and keep it in my pocket or clipped to my shirt at home. I average 14K steps for 6 miles on a busy shift though 4-5 miles is average for my day. Hubby and I walk every evening 1-2 miles in addition to what I walk each shift.

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