Sleep. Yes, every nurse would always say they need sleep. In whichever angle you would look at it, Nursing really requires a considerable amount of long-term energy. Consequently, with loads of work and pure mental activity, nurses on duty, no matter how much we hide it, would sometimes (If not all the time) feel the need to catch a quick zzzz.
Ending up at the Chief Nurse's office or filing an incident report due to sleeping on the job would be the last thing we would like to happen. Hence, here are some tips on how to avoid feeling drowsy while at work:
1.) Never skip breakfast. Okay, if you are a daytime nurse, then always try to eat in the morning, it is the most important meal of the day. It will give you the required energy to survive the day.
2.) Talk with your colleague. I know we already do this everyday, and some may even think this would only give us less time for our patients, but hey!Talking drives away the boredom and the monotony of the work. So go on and chat it out, just make sure you don't miss that round-the-clock paracetamol of your febrile patient!
3.) COFFEE. COFFEE. No need to explain about this. I know we've all had a relationship with coffee since we started out our job.
4.) Don't eat a lot of sugar. Although sugar-filled snacks give a boost for a short period of time, they will make you sleepier when they wear off.
5.) Do stretching in between your work. Perhaps, a quick arms and legs extension while charting will do.
6.) Hydration is key. Keep a bottle of cold water close to you. It does not only help you feel refreshed and energized, it can also do wonders that energy drinks and carbonated drinks can't do.
7.) Take deep breaths. A breathing technique can also help you stay awake. Start breathing in and out through your nose and pull your belly toward your diaphragm. Try to do this quickly to feel more alert. You can do it on your lunch break.
8.) Sleep is sleep. Sleep can never be replaced by anything. Before going on to battle, always make sure that you have spent ample time sleeping to energize your mind and body.
These are just few tips to help you survive the calling of your bed, and the list just goes on. On top of it all, make sure that you are still happy with your job to keep you going. - And stay awake while your head nurse is around!
--------------------------------------------
Follow us on Facebook
www.thefilipinonurse.net
The filipinonurse.net is always on the lookout for interesting stories about Filipino Nurses worldwide. If you know of a Filipino nurse who should be featured here, please feel free to send us a message via our Facebook Page.
0 Comments