weight gain in home health

[tnurse63]

Hi, I was just wondering if any of you hh nurses have had any problems with weight gain since youve been doing your jobs. When I first got hired in 10 yrs ago,my then supervisor said ''you'll gain about 40 lbs or more doing this job and boy was she right! I seem to eat alot of junk food out on the road, too tired by the time I get home to cook or clean. I'm having alot of tension headaches too. I am wondering if this is a sign I should get out and find something different elsewhere. I love the flexibility, patient care, and getting to work from home which I seem to do alot of everyday at home, more than I care to do. It would be nice to come home from a job without having to drag out papers/laptop . I am having mixed emotions about it. Seems like all I do is sit on my --- from being in my car all day , then at home, sitting on the computer charting for hours. Does anyone else get exhausted over all this?If you did change,what area would you choose?

[Grace Oz]

[QUOTSo there's worse things than critters out there!!! :rotfl:

Some homes are more dangerous than the great outdoors! E]

You ain't whistling dixie there my friend!

Some of the homes I visited during my tenure as HH nurse........ :uhoh21:

Now, I know we're not there to pass judgement on their homes. However, since OH&S is such a big deal in the healthcare setting ..............

As for gaining weight. It's easy to do, IF you eat takeaway food! And/or accept the well intended kindness of pt's who INSIST you have a tidbit! :stone Where possible, I used to avoid that like the plague! But, if unable to deflect the offer, I'd accept it and tell them I'd eat it on the run! LOL Fortunately, that didn't happen all too often for it to be a real problem.

[caliotter3]

Jnette

I'll have to agree with you on that statement about some of the homes we have to go to and what goes on in them. I've had more than my share of these situations, and what's worse, the employer's ignoring the problems or making out that the nurse (me) is the problem. I don't ever see the managment people go into these homes unless they absolutely have to. And they all go around acting like they were born with their heads in the sand!

Did you ever go back to that house of horrors?

[jnette, ASN, EMT-I]

Jnette

I'll have to agree with you on that statement about some of the homes we have to go to and what goes on in them. I've had more than my share of these situations, and what's worse, the employer's ignoring the problems or making out that the nurse (me) is the problem. I don't ever see the managment people go into these homes unless they absolutely have to. And they all go around acting like they were born with their heads in the sand!

Did you ever go back to that house of horrors?

Actually, before I ever went, our owner sent her co-administrator (a big, burley guy) along with one of our young nurses to check the place out (AND the patient). After talking with the patient and seeing the home, he decided there was no real threat, and that we could not discriminate soley on the unusualness of his home decor. True enough, and I have to agree.

So yes, since he is on my "route", I get the privilege of seeing him daily for wound care. So far so good, and he's not pulled any funny stuff, but theres' still that underlying "uncomfortable" feeling... we're going to see him only as long as we absolutely have to and then we are OUTTA there!

Before someone DOES get hurt, or before he gets too friendly with any of the nurses. :uhoh21:

It's just one of those "ewwwwwww" sensations while there. Ick.

[joannep]

Hi Jnette,

Did this chap have mirrors on the floor?

Hell, you wouldn't want to wear a dress or skirt, would you?!

[wonderbee, BSN, RN]

Wow Jnette! Saturday Night Fever meets The Abyss. The stories we have to tell! No food, no drink, bears, deer, houses that are adventures unto themselves, icy roads and steps with nothing to hold on to. Grizzy Adams RN, urban mountain nurses.

[Cattitude]

I've actually lost a LOT of weight in the past couple of years. I think it is all a matter of what you plan for your day.

I bring fruit, a light yogurt smoothie, water, cut up veggies, etc. I also make sure and eat a decent breakfast before I leave, I never used to do that before. After losing 100 lbs, it helps me stay energized throughout the day.

No one "has" to gain weight doing any kind of job!

[jnette, ASN, EMT-I]

Hi Jnette,

Did this chap have mirrors on the floor?

Hell, you wouldn't want to wear a dress or skirt, would you?!

You've got THAT right ! :rotfl:

And to answer your question, YES.. he does in the kitchen. Even his refrigerator shelves are made of mirrored glass.. his ceiling fan blades are stainless steel and mirrored glass...

Nope... certainly no skirts in THAT house!!! :uhoh21:

Wow Jnette! Saturday Night Fever meets The Abyss. The stories we have to tell! No food, no drink, bears, deer, houses that are adventures unto themselves, icy roads and steps with nothing to hold on to. Grizzy Adams RN, urban mountain nurses.

:rotfl: Quite the adventure, indeed!!!

I've actually lost a LOT of weight in the past couple of years. I think it is all a matter of what you plan for your day.

I bring fruit, a light yogurt smoothie, water, cut up veggies, etc. I also make sure and eat a decent breakfast before I leave, I never used to do that before. After losing 100 lbs, it helps me stay energized throughout the day.

No one "has" to gain weight doing any kind of job!

Good for you, Cattitude !!! :)

You've got it down, and are doing exactly right!

And you are so correct in saying nobody HAS to gain weight doing ANY kind of job !True enuff.

[Elektra6, ASN, BSN, RN]

I don't eat at ALL until I get home.. and that includes no breakfast before I leave in the am.

With IBS, I take no chances............. :uhoh21:

So no.. haven't had any weight gains.

You poor thing! My friend actually takes food "to go" from parties because of IBS!

[jnette, ASN, EMT-I]

You poor thing! My friend actually takes food "to go" from parties because of IBS!

:rotfl:

I've thought about it, believe me.

But I often can't resist the temptation when it's all spread out in front of me like that. Like our Thanksgiving diiner at the agency.. what a spread! I was determined to eat and damn the consequences. Boy, was it GOOD.

Barely made it 2 miles down the road on the way home.. thank GOODNESS there was a familiar groicery store, where I was able to pull in with a screeching halt! Just in the nick of time.

*sigh* It's so not fair.

I also take immodium pills with me if I know I'm going to be eating a decent sized meal somewhere... or take them and hour before...or else I'd NEVER get to go out and eat!