12 tips for staying healthy as nurses

Nurses work selflessly to ensure that the community receives the best care possible. Unfortunately, the majority of them are unconcerned about their own health and well-being. Spending your entire workday caring for others takes a serious toll on your physical, mental, and emotional well-being, and at the end of the day, you may not feel like caring for yourself in the way you would instruct your patients to care for themselves.

If you want to be there for your patients and provide the high-quality service they require, you must prioritise your own health and wellness. Maintaining a healthy work-life balance can be difficult, but it is well worth the effort.

Here are some suggestions for how nurses and nursing assistants can improve their health and wellness:

1. Eat healthy

It is nearly impossible to prepare a healthy meal as a nurse or a nursing staff member when you are constantly swamped with tasks. Plan your meals ahead of time in such cases; try including more seasonal fresh fruits and vegetables, proteins, and whole grains in your diet.

2. Workout regularly

Your hectic schedule as a nurse or nursing assistant should never prevent you from working out. It is critical to find a fitness session that works best for your schedule. You don't need to exercise for hours; a 20-minute effective workout is all you need to energise your body.

3. Get good sleep

Nurses and nursing assistants may not get the proper sleep they require. Develop good sleep hygiene to improve your health and reduce your chances of having an accident at work. If you work nights, consider developing a sleep hygiene routine. Walk up and go to sleep at a set time, and also make your sleeping environment conducive to better sleep.

4. Hobbies and passions

Nurses and nursing assistants have one of the most stressful jobs, and bringing that stress home only adds to it. It is advisable to leave the stress at your workplace and do something you enjoy after your shift hours. You can just go out and spend some time with friends, knit, plan a short vacation, read a good book, or do anything else you enjoy.

5. Watch your health

As a nurse or nursing assistant do healthcare check-ups on a regular basis, and if you are scheduled for an annual physical check-up, don’t miss it. If you smoke or drink, try to reduce the habit gradually and avoid it completely.

6. Develop better and healthier relationships

You might get very less personal time being a nurse or nursing assistant. Spend time with family and close friends to recharge your batteries. Determine who you spend the majority of your time with and keep the people who give you positive energy while avoiding those who drain you.

7. Less caffeine, more water

Most nurses and nursing assistants consume an excessive amount of caffeine, either to stay awake or to energise themselves. This is the most harmful thing you can do for your health. Caffeine consumption not only contributes to sleep deprivation, but it also has a negative effect on brain function. Caffeine and nicotine should be avoided at least 6 hours before bedtime, as they will impair sleep quality.

Drink some water instead of another cup of coffee or a can of soda. Every day, as a nurses or nursing assistant you probably remind your patients of the importance of staying hydrated. It's time to follow your own advice and drink as much water as your body requires.

Staying hydrated is beneficial to your overall health, and drinking water throughout your shift can help you feel less sluggish and more awake. Furthermore, unlike other beverages, drinking water has no negative side effects.

8. Find a mentor

Look for someone to whom you can turn for advice and support. This will allow you to meet the demands of your nursing job without becoming exhausted.

A mentor can assist you in identifying and expressing your emotions. You see, when you can express your emotions, you can alleviate emotional problems and tension.

9. Hone your abilities

Working in a hospital should not be the end of your professional journey. As a nurse or nursing assistant, you are bound to improve your skills, gain confidence, and improve the service quality you provide to patients. This will also increase your chances of getting promoted at work.

10. Take care of mental health

A career as a nurses or nursing assistant can be physically and mentally demanding. As a result, it is necessary to recharge your battery in order to improve your overall wellbeing and productivity.

11. Get your daily dose of vitamin D

Being a nurse or a nursing assistant, your work mostly consists of being indoors, looking after patients in wards or care homes, so break up your long workday. If you have a lunch break, take a quick walk outside or eat somewhere other than the hospital. Those few minutes of sunbathing can help you build strong bones and improve your mental health.

12. Take precautions

As a nurse or nursing assistant, you are constantly in contact with germs. To prevent the spread of illness, it is recommended that you wash your hands with soap and water, use your PPE kit, and take a bath as soon as you return home.

Taking care of others is something that comes naturally to a nurse. Caring for yourself, on the other hand, can be a bit more difficult. Many nurses and nursing assistants experience burnout or suffer from a variety of physical, mental, and emotional health issues.

You can take care of your health and wellness by following the tips above and working towards a healthy lifestyle. No matter how driven you are to care for others, you must prioritise yourself as well, or you will be unable to pursue your passion. Take care of yourself so that you can better care for those who rely on you.

Nurses Group regards our nurses and nursing assistants as valuable assets, and with this in mind, we have enabled the option of advance booking of shifts. You will be able to achieve a proper work-life balance by using the pre-booking feature.