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Any 12hr shift nurses out there?



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I work 12 hr shifts. What has your experience been with your new lifestyle AND working long shifts??

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I'm interested in this topic bc I work 12 hour shifts as an RN and I was wondering how everyone is managing. I haven't begun the process yet but I'm on my way. Looking forward to the responses

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I work a mix of 8's and 12's, days and nights. The surgeon I started seeing advocated for no shift work, because it is hard on our bodies, but I've been doing very well.

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I work 12 hour shifts in L&D at night!

I'm a little worried about this adjustment once I go back to work. Sx scheduled for Dec 9th.

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I am a nurse and work 12 hour night shifts. It was challenging in the beginning to keep hydrated. Since the beginning I always overpack what I think I might eat (so I have a good variety) and I always have a ready to drink Protein Shake with me at all times. I rarely drink the Protein shake, but if I get super busy it's an easy way to get fluids, calories, and protein all in one.

I always drink Water on my drive into work and on my drive home- that helps with my Fluid intake.

Also, eat a high protein meal right before getting dressed. Then by the time I was ready to head out I could start drinking. That way I started my day with high protein. Then if my shift starts busy I am not behind on protein and fluids.

I think the key is to constantly be diligent and not get to distracted to eat and drink.

Sometimes I set timers on my phone.

It is definitely doable, just a little more challenging for us!!

Good luck.

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I am a 12 hour day/night nurse too. I haven't had surgery yet but will follow this thread for advise and tips too!

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I am a 12 hour nurse in the ER, hopefully doing surgery in January. I am concerned about the long hours, the lifting, and not getting enough Water in. How soon before I can go back to work?

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I'm a 12 HR day nurse..I was told 2-3 weeks off. I won't have surgery until 12/14 so I'm not sure how I'll manage after coming back. I'm really concerned about doing the Liquid Protein diet for the week prior to sx while still doing my 3 12's that week..planning on frequent small meals after and just always having a Protein Shake ready for the week pre-op

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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
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