4 things every nurse should know
Being a travel nurse, you must’ve built some superpowers over time.
Because traveling and nursing together isn’t everyone’s cup of tea.
The long shifts, nutty hours, and continuous mental and physical labor put travel nurses under much mental stress. The latter impacts your mind and body health and causes injuries, illness, or mood disturbance.
That’s why travel nurses must practice self-care to prevent any “life” complications.
This article will reveal the 4 best self-care tips for travel nurses to help elevate your health by reducing your daily stress levels.
Manage your intake and energy
“Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.” —Hippocrates
Nurses have to handle multiple patients, and often single-handedly.
In the constant havoc, you’re more likely to sacrifice your meals at times by binge-eating a snack. Moreover, travel nurses don’t usually take lunch breaks due to busy schedules and busier patients.
Additionally, travel nurses must pay specific attention to their meals’ portion size, calories, and nutrients.
However, as a travel nurse, you must plan your timing to manage your meals. Getting your breakfast before shift and dinner after your 12 hours is not an arduous task.
Sure, it takes a little planning, but it’s doable.
Prioritize your sleeping hours
“A good laugh and a long sleep are the best cures in the doctor’s book.” Irish proverb
Look, I get it. This is easier said than done.
You’re in a new environment, a new hospital, and most likely a new bed.
Additionally, traveling can wear an RN out and make a solid 8-hours a challenge. This can make travel nurses more vulnerable to putting their health and their patient’s health at risk. Sounds scary, but lack of shut-eye makes concentration difficult.
Try taking a long nap by listening to soothing music or drinking a relaxing tea is among the self-care tips for nurses.
Of course, I don’t mean on shift. Do this on your off days.
Moreover, do you know that nurses who tend to sleep properly are more functional at work than others? According to NIH, just 20-minute single naps during the first night shift results in improved responsiveness on a vigilance task by the end of the shift.
Get your sleep…even the leprechauns agree!
Maintain your fitness
“Exercise not only changes your body, it changes your mind, your attitude and your mood.” – Unk
If you’re a travel nurse, physical activity is a part of your everyday routine, but that doesn’t mean taking you’re necessarily staying fit.
For instance, you might be working in a bustling emergency room, and another RN could be doing case management and sitting at a desk all shift. Both of you are working a 12, but you’re also using different sets of muscles that might get stiff over time.
Some simple tips?
Go for a walk for a quick five minutes. Take the stairs when at work. And better, park a bit further away to get some pre- and post-work steps in.
In both sleep and non-sleep-deprived individuals, exercising improves cognitive performance and boosts subjective alertness.
Plan your “me” time
“Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you.” – Anne Lamot
Finding things you enjoy doing are one of the best self-care tips for travel nurses.
Nurses who tend to have hobbies besides their job are creative, focused, and good at handling tricky workplace situations.
Hobbies such as writing, hiking, reading, knitting, or gardening are perfect for travel nurses.
Take time for yourself. You’re mind, body, and spirit will thank you, and it’s a performance booster.
The Bottom Line
Nursing requires one to be in good mental and physical health.
These both can be achieved by implementing the above-shared self-care tips.
To learn more about the travel nursing opportunity and cities across the country, visit Bestica Healthcare and start planning your next assignment today.
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