What Not to Eat at the Beginning of Your Shift

Page 1

What Not to Eat at the Beginning of Your Shift As a nurse, you generally have to work odd hours for long periods of time. While some nurses can easily adapt to their new working schedule, others may find it difficult to deal with the situation. Humans are designed to be active during the day and to sleep at night. Inverting the sleeping pattern can have a negative effect on the overall health of a person and eating the wrong food can further leave you feeling lethargic. So if you want to optimize your performance and stay active during your twelve hour night shift, make sure you indulge in the right eating habits. Staying away from the certain foods will help you stay energetic and allow you to serve your patients well. Avoid sugary food For a night shift worker, dinner plays an important role. What you eat will have an effect on your performance at the job. While you may love giving yourself sugary treats, it is not the best source of nutrition. Related: Licensed Practical Nurses(LPNS) As a nurse, you need to stay alert and active throughout your shift. Eating cakes, pastries, cookies, and candies will spike your blood sugar level, thus producing high levels of insulin and giving you instant energy. However, this is a short term energy boost and you will start to feel sluggish after some time, which will decrease your performance. Don’t abuse caffeine People often choose to drink heavily caffeinated beverages to stay awake during their duty hours. While caffeine products do have stimulating effects, they can also have some side effects. Drinking too much coffee right before your duty hours will encourage urination, thus making you rush to the bathroom every now and then. Instead of a large frappe or an extra shot of double latte, try drinking iced tea, lemonade, apple juice or coconut water. Excess of tea and coffee can lead to insomnia, acidity, and restlessness. The importance of protein Nurses often indulge in bad eating habits, leaving them constantly hungry. Sometimes, they indulge in junk food, at other times they eat food devoid of proteins. Protein help a person stay and feel full for a long time, so including protein in your diet can keep you energetic during your shift. Try to include food such as tofu, meat, lentils and nuts in your diet for added benefits.


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.