MAINTAINING A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE ON ASSIGNMENT

First impressions are not just reserved for job interviews or meeting the parents, nurses are under the microscope every minute of their shifts. As healthcare professionals, nurses and therapists alike, are constantly scrutinized by patients to demonstrate evidence of living a healthy lifestyle. Patients who feel that their healthcare providers believe in the advice that they readily distribute are, in turn, more likely to follow their suggestions. After years of education, nurses are well versed in healthy practices, but always eating right and getting out of the house to exercise is often easier said than done, especially on a travel assignment. Incorporating some simple changes into your routine may help jump start your commitment to a healthier lifestyle.

Eat Right, Shop Smart

According to the Life Supplemented Healthcare Professionals Impact Study, 87 percent of nurses report trying to eat a balanced diet. Keeping up this habit is essential to fueling the body with a full range of necessary nutrients, controlling weight gain, and producing energy. And who better than a travel nurse or therapist, with his/her demanding shifts and unfamiliar environment, to receive a little boost of energy?

Eating right begins with shopping smart, whether at a restaurant or a grocery store. Whenever possible, avoid processed foods and opt for low-fat versions of certain ingredients. (Substitute low-fat for original when buying products like mayonnaise, sour cream, and even hot dogs - the difference is subtle at best.) Store brands of your favorite snacks may seem appealing from the shelf of the supermarket for their discounted prices and identical packaging to their more expensive alternatives. But make sure you read the label, as these generic products may not offer the same nutritional benefits as their name-brand counterparts. As for the golden rule of food shopping, steer clear of the grocery store when hungry. While nothing motivates a trip to the market like an empty pantry and a grumbling stomach, hunger stimulates impulse buying.

Supplement Your Diet with Vitamins

No one knows better than healthcare professionals the effectiveness and simultaneous risks of prescription medications. Likewise, Life Supplemented found that 32 percent of nurses pass up prescriptions and turn to natural alternatives. The study reports that 89 percent of nurses regularly take multivitamins or supplements as sources of nutrients and preventative measures to health problems. Natural supplements, when taken appropriately, are helpful to fill in the nutritional gaps that the occasional unbalanced meal or certain dietary restrictions (i.e. lactose intolerance, vegetarianism, Celiacs disease, etc.) may produce.

Exercise

Only 67 percent of nurses exercise regularly. Indeed, busy schedules, crowded cities, or inclement weather on a travel nurse’s assignment may not leave ample room for traditional forms of exercise like hitting the gym or jogging through the park, but there are plenty of ways to get your adrenaline pumping in the comfort of your home, at work, or on your commute. Invest in some inexpensive home exercise equipment like a medicine ball, exercise video, or elastic stretch band. You can squat, lunge, and stretch your way to a healthy lifestyle with no crowds and your favorite music playing in the background- don’t forget to put down your weights, crank it up, and dance around! Nevertheless, sometimes the best exercise is free; do some crunches or push ups, and walk everywhere. Forgo a ride on the bus or elevator for a brisk walk to work or a sprint up the stairs.

At-home exercising may not provide enough motivation to work out for some people. If getting in shape and staying healthy is not enough of an incentive, perhaps the forgone monthly membership fees at a local gym will push you to lace up those dusty sneakers. Fitness Pillars online highlights the benefits and drawbacks to many of the country’s major sports clubs with exercisers citing Life Time Fitness as the best overall and YMCA as the most value for your money. But, ask around! Find friends who are frequent gym goers and listen to their opinions of their local gyms. Although working out and staying healthy are your primary concern, don’t forget that gyms have different goals. Gyms are businesses constantly searching for new clients; so, listen to their sales pitch but ultimately refer to your contract for terms, billing, registration, and cancellation procedures.

Relax

Whoever said “laughter is the best medicine” turned a mere observation to an age-old adage. In fact, Healthcare Traveler Magazine cites that daily laughter creates happy body chemistry while relieving stress, lowering blood pressure, and boosting the immune system – even if you fake it. So watch a sitcom or go out with your funniest friend, because a good travel nurse knows that when it comes to minor setbacks in the workplace, new living environment, or with loved ones at home, confidence and a sense of humor are the perfect remedies to keep issues in perspective and move on.

Although the best rest for your body is sleep, only 65 percent of nurses say that they get ‘enough’ shut-eye each night. Regardless of your ability to garner the recommended 6-8 hours a night, there are other soothing ways that travel nurses can de-stress. Try stretching every morning and evening to alleviate any built up tension, take time to close your eyes and meditate following taxing situations, or draw yourself a bath after a long shift. Visit Travel Nursing Hub for 22 more ways for nurses to relax.

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