Nursing can be physically taxing on the body, putting your health, and ultimately your finances in jeopardy. This can all be avoided by taking steps to being healthy, wealthy, and wise.
Every nurse needs to be healthy, wealthy, and wise to sustain a long, productive, and financially rewarding career.
How is this achieved?
Taking care of yourself: This means losing the extra 20 lbs you’re carrying by making healthier food choices and exercising. Taking care of yourself also includes cutting out bad habits such as smoking and binge drinking on the weekends. Getting enough sleep is also important and everyone should strive for at least 7 hours per night. Nurses are also notoriously known to not drink enough water when working. Drink up and aim for at least half your weight in ounces daily. Water helps aid in weight loss, flushes out toxins, and keeps you from getting UTI’s during those long shifts.
Saving for the future: Everyone, nurse or not, needs to have a savings account. There are many types of savings accounts, but for the sake of simplicity nurses need to have at least two. The first major account you need a retirement fund. Take full advantage of your employers company match if they have one…it’s free money! The second account you need is an emergency fund. Experts suggest having at least 3-6 months worth of living expenses in this account, but you can start with saving $1,000. If something unexpectedly comes up; ie: loss of employment, sickness, vehicle breakdown, ect, you will have the money and won’t be near as stressed due to finances if you didn’t have an emergency fund.
Education: Education is the key to getting ahead in life and in your career. I’m not necessarily talking formal education here, although formal education has its place. The type of education I’m talking about is the life-long learning that a nurse must do to keep up with advances in healthcare. Be proactive with your education and seek out new learning experiences that will make you a valuable asset to the healthcare team. If you’re in an environment and someone is offering to train you on a new skill…do it! More education may lead to more money for you in the long run, helping you meet your wealthy goal more quickly.
In addition to working as a FNP, Nachole Johnson is a freelance copywriter and an author with her first book, You’re a Nurse and Want to Start Your Own Business? The Complete Guide, available on Amazon. Visit her ReNursing blog at www.renursing.com for more ideas on how to reinvent your career.
Want to lose pounds or maintain a healthy weight as a nurse? Try crowdsourcing a solution. That’s the practice of soliciting ideas from a large group of people, especially when done online. Here’s why: We’re often so close to our own problems that we need to reach out to others for viable strategies.
That’s one reason that support groups, such as Weight Watchers (in-person or online versions) or Spark People (online community), work so well. In addition to the emotional reinforcement, there is an educational component. You’ll gather ingenious tips, tricks, and tools from various folks who are dealing with your same issues. You’re sure to find some solutions that will be effective for you and your lifestyle.
Here are some strategies that nurses say they’re employing to stop — or slow — weight gain. Which ones will work for you?:
> Absolutely no food or drink at the the nurses’ station or anywhere, for that matter, except the staff break room.
> Always take a lunch break. Remember: No one is going to die because you got away for lunch.
> Encourage vendors, doctors, and patients to bring healthy treats, such as fresh strawberries or tangelos.
> Leave all means of easily paying for food in the cafeteria at home and always pack a lunch the night before.
> Assign healthy meals to a partner or older kids to cook on work days. As long as they get specific instructions and you shop together it can work out.
> Reminding yourself: Neglecting self-care leads to indulging in comfort-eating later.
> No eating goodies on the run during a shift. That leads to eating a full meal later because the calories consumed don’t register.
> Instead of comfort food when doing “bad” shifts, substitute indulgences like a massage or session in a hot tub.
> Stop feeling like a hypocrite telling patients to watch what they eat and reduce stress when you aren’t doing it.
> Nurses run at full speed over long shifts with no breaks. Your body is flooded with cortisol, making all those calories convert straight to fat. Pledge to slow down and take better care of yourself.
> Ask yourself and other nurses this question: What can nurses do to protect themselves, individually and as a profession, from poor eating habits and weight gain?
> Start packing healthier snacks for yourself .. cheese strings, sliced apple or veggies, yogurt… things that you can grab easily and snack on.
> Remember this: Nurses need to take breaks and not allow themselves to work to the point of not being safe to themselves or their patients.
> Drinking a lot of water (and other zero calorie or healthy liquids) helps you feel more full.
What strategies have been working for you? Let us know — we’d love to hear your success stories.
See Our Champions of Nursing Diversity
Sign up now to get your free digital subscription to Minority Nurse
