Let's talk hydration!
One of our jobs as nurses is to ensure our patients are drinking enough fluids, unfortunately we don't always do the same for ourselves.
Whether that is because of strict policy, busy days, or hopes of not having to use the restroom too much through out your shift, nurses and many other healthcare professionals do NOT hydrate themselves properly.
We learned, often more times than we can count, the importance of fluids. From preventing kidney injury to preventing headaches and all that's in between; water is an essential key player in our well-being!
Dehydration can cause...
>> inability to concentrate
>>> constipation
>>>> headaches
>>>>> dizziness
>>>>>> lethargy
Throughout clinical and working I picked up a few tips from other nurses or by experience with ways to stay more hydrated and focused on your patients well-being & safety!
1. Time it out!
We live off of timing *everything* for our patients; medications, turns, rounding! As nurses/students we need to time our drinking habits! If you can't keep a bottle at the station or with you, try to make a quick 5 second trip to the break room to drink up some water q2 hours!
***Always keep hydrated on your days off as well and be sure to drink first thing when you wake up for the day.
2. Eat the right stuff!
Water based fruits and veggies in *ALL* of your meals will give you extra fluids without having to drink them. Foods like apples, grapes, melons, cucumbers, celery, etc. On the days you work you should especially try to limit salty and fried foods if you can... if you can't do that be sure to increase your water intake.
3. Avoid dehydrating drinks!
Things like pop... as refreshing as that may sound, it's high in sugar which uses up your water supply on top of the dehydrating effects of caffeine! ***If you need the caffeine stick with tea, coffee, or my favorite "super nurse go go juice" and then just add a cup of water for every cup of coffee/tea/go-go juice
4. Electrolytes!
These are important to replenish during busy days or when you working up a sweat because they help your body function! Unfortunately, most people turn sports-drinks that are high in sugar and chemicals like Gatorade or Powerade. Which almost defeats the purpose of hydrating because of all of the processed sugar hiding inside! And to be honest... those drinks always make me feel bloated, heart burny, and blah when I'm done.
The best thing to replenish is to find something with healthy and organic ingredients (like I have pictured below from my walk today). You want something with no artificial flavors, no preservatives, no artificial sweeteners, and no artificial colors... something back to the basics! The hydrating juice I use has a small amount of organic and natural sugar (beet sugar), all natural flavors, and the right amount of electrolytes (calcium, magnesium, sodium, and potassium) to keep you hydrated and your body running to it's peak performance! I can tell you from my experience that I do not get the blah, heart burn, still feeling dehydrated feeling from this drink! It's light, it's refreshing, and it tastes good!
Water & electrolytes help your body and brain function at their best. Hydrating and doing good self-care will help you from feeling fatigued and keep you focused throughout your shift, which keeps your patients safe! I know it's hard to find time in your busy day to take a drink break, but it's important for not only you but your patients!
Have any of your own tips?? Comment and let me know! I'd love to see them and try them out myself!
