RN twelve hour shifts

[KCgirl061 1,530]

Yea...my weight management doctor told me I should only be out for a week then at the orientation the surgeon said a month. So I am also wondering how long people with professions like these took off.

Same boat. I’m a surgery nurse and so am not allowed beverages in the OR! I was thinking of getting a smallish flask or a collapsible cup to keep in my pocket. My surgeon wants me off for 3 weeks.

[dillydog 73]

Been a 12 hour shift worker for 30 years, i rotate every set of shifts so it was a little rough at first, but i went back to work after 7 days no problem.

[GreenTealael 24,922]

Been a 12 hour shift worker for 30 years, i rotate every set of shifts so it was a little rough at first, but i went back to work after 7 days no problem.

Any tips on getting in all foods and liquids throughout the day?

[relateableRN 7]

Been a 12 hour shift worker for 30 years, i rotate every set of shifts so it was a little rough at first, but i went back to work after 7 days no problem.

Yes....please share any tips you have!

[dillydog 73]

I would of took off way more time at work but they tie our bonus into time missed so i could only miss 3 shift to get bonus which equates to 7 days off work since i did surgery off of my last night shift. I was eating mostly pudding, Popsicles, broth so i would keep it all handy at work and just sip Water often. When i went to puree, i would just bring lots of cottage cheese, pudding, yogurt and Soup.

[relateableRN 7]

I would of took off way more time at work but they tie our bonus into time missed so i could only miss 3 shift to get bonus which equates to 7 days off work since i did surgery off of my last night shift. I was eating mostly pudding, Popsicles, broth so i would keep it all handy at work and just sip Water often. When i went to puree, i would just bring lots of cottage cheese, pudding, yogurt and Soup.

Did you feel light headed or foggy? Did you have a lot of pain with re-positioning patients or doing procedures?

[Road2Newme3 116]

Well I was told post op I can drink 30ml every fifteen minutes. So 120ml basically an hour. But if I am in a patients room I can’t be sipping Water while trying to get an IV or putting a foley in

That's temporary, I'll be 3 months post op and can get down a 16oz bottle on my 45 minute drive to my clinical site. I'm a RN student and this was my concern as well about the eating and drinking. Just keep water in the break room and sip it when you get the chance. It's a learning process for sure! Good luck, let me know if you have any other questions!

[GreenTealael 24,922]

That's temporary, I'll be 3 months post op and can get down a 16oz bottle on my 45 minute drive to my clinical site. I'm a RN student and this was my concern as well about the eating and drinking. Just keep Water in the break room and sip it when you get the chance. It's a learning process for sure! Good luck, let me know if you have any other questions!

I'm almost 4 months post op and can drink 16.9oz in about 10mins if I need to.
Your ability to drink more in a short period of time MAY increase the further out you get.

[dillydog 73]

Did you feel light headed or foggy? Did you have a lot of pain with re-positioning patients or doing procedures?

I work in oil refinery but its physical sometimes and never really had a problem. I did have some dizzy spells bit most of that was coming off bp meds.

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[summerset 5,261]

Things are not as complicated as people seem to make them sometimes.

How do nurses, physicians etc. on 12 or 24 h shifts find time to eat and drink after WLS? In the same way they did before WLS.

Don't create a problem where there is non.

[KCgirl061 1,530]

Things are not as complicated as people seem to make them sometimes.

How do nurses, physicians etc. on 12 or 24 h shifts find time to eat and drink after WLS? In the same way they did before WLS.

Don't create a problem where there is non.

So tell us... how DO healthcare providers eat and drink while on shift?

Here's my answer: sometimes the DONT. We know we're running around dehydrated and sometimes have to shove whatever food we can in the short amount of time we can find.

If at least 3 nurses have commented on this thread that its a concern because we see the reality of our jobs and know that all day "Sip Sip Sip" isn't a luxury that we have THEN ITS A VALID CONCERN. Look at the suggestions other nurses have given: get it in on your commute in. They know.

But hey, thanks for your "helpful" comment.

[relateableRN 7]

Things are not as complicated as people seem to make them sometimes.
How do nurses, physicians etc. on 12 or 24 h shifts find time to eat and drink after WLS? In the same way they did before WLS.
Don't create a problem where there is non.

Out of curiosity, are you a nurse? Sometimes I can go a whole twelve hour shift without drinking any Water I will be that busy. Or I will chug half a water bottle and walk away for four or five hours. I can’t slowly be sipping water while I am inserting an IV or doing wound care or answering questions of a concerned family member. So this is a legitimate question I have, of how fellow nurses managed this.

[kakatlady612 1,053]

I think I mentioned being a STNA before, well my last job was at Wally World. PCP wanted to put me on Lasix, told me to take it at 9:30-10 am, I said that won't work, I either was cutting fabric or on a register, neither one could I excuse myself from and WW doesn't encourage yellow rivers on their floor. Although I could keep a Water bottle under my cutting table area it was rough to get coverage for a potty break. If I got there, it seemed like I got immediately paged back, they never seemed to remember how valuable I was at pay raise time.

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[Jene Jene 7]

I’m an ED nurse that works 12 overnights. I went back to work 3 weeks after surgery and really didn’t have any issues getting in enough fluids. Anytime I was sitting and charting I would sip. Like someone already mentioned, the farther out from surgery you get the faster you can take in fluids. They actually move through your pouch fairly quickly. It seems daunting, but it is doable!!

[relateableRN 7]

I’m an ED nurse that works 12 overnights. I went back to work 3 weeks after surgery and really didn’t have any issues getting in enough fluids. Anytime I was sitting and charting I would sip. Like someone already mentioned, the farther out from surgery you get the faster you can take in fluids. They actually move through your pouch fairly quickly. It seems daunting, but it is doable!!

Thanks! That’s helpful. I think when they are telling you all that stuff and then you think about how it is when you are at work it seems so overwhelming and like you won’t be able to do it. Did you have a lot of pain like with moving patients, etc?