MyNursingUniforms Blog

You may have heard of the term "Super Woman (or Super Man) Syndrome", a phrase that describes those people who appear to the world to be at the top off their game, juggling task after task, all while appearing to be in control and managing life's pressures without effort. In today's fast paced world, more men and women are struggling keep up with the pace of their own lives!

It is a fact that many nurses are facing work vs. rest time conflicts. As some hospitals run short of staff due to either cut backs or simple lack of staff for other reasons, nurses are faced with doing more work in a shorter period of time. This day to day physical, mental and emotional stress may lead to exhaustion, and when combined with the "outside of work" demands of everyday life and family, he or she may not have an opportunity to slow down, relax, and decompress at the end of the day. When asked how he or she is, the answer is usually something along the lines of "Busy, but that's okay. You know me, I'm always on the go." When this constant activity becomes normal and there is no time to recharge your life batteries and care for your own needs, super-hero syndrome begins – as does the trouble.

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Any shift workers who has ever worked a late night or midnight shift knows what it's like to face the challenge of eating healthy. Going home really late in the evening or early in the morning after a long night shift just when others are getting up to start their day has challenges of its own. High blood pressure, disturbed sleep patterns, hormone imbalances, skin problems, are all the result of the constant disruption of our natural sleeping and waking cycle known as our circadian rhythm. Shift work can also disrupt healthy eating patterns and cause weight gain, weight loss, upset stomach, gastrointestinal function upset, constipation, diarrhea, acid reflux and more.

Nurses and health care workers often face unique situations among shift workers. Long shifts, unexpected periods of stress, busy and very active periods of time, missing breaks, and working overtime can all add up to irregular eating habits and poor nutritional choices.

Trying to Eat 'Normally' in an Abnormal Situation

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Welcome to the New Year! Let's ring in the 2010 with a new renewed sense to increase our hygiene and prevent the spread of flu and colds. Here are some helpful reminders to get your kickstarted!

Nurses and other health care professionals spend the day surrounded by people who are sick, and since they are human, it's not uncommon for nurses to find themselves battling to stay well themselves. Considering the recent outbreaks of Swine Flu (Influenza A/H1N1), taking proactive steps to stay healthy and strong on the job is more important than ever.

Many hospitals, clinics, and healthcare facilities have created their own infection control programs. These are steps and/or processes put into practice in the event of the outbreak of highly infectious diseases and infections, and not only include practices for handling patients, but also for handling internal staff.

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Like most people, when you wake up in the morning you probably start your day with the best of intentions. You shower, fix your hair, put on a little make-up, get dressed and head off into the world looking like you are ready to take on the day. You're all together and you look and feel terrific. Unfortunately, by mid-shift you might look a little worse for wear! There are simple ways to make sure you look and feel fresh all day, and considering that nurses are the face of healthcare and that you need to look good for your patients, we've come up with some really simple and effective ways to make your personal care routine a breeze.

Rule #1 – Simplify Your Morning Routine

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Every year thousands of nurses experience back pain and hip pain as a result of "the job", from standing on their feet all day, carrying and moving equipment, moving patients, and more. Even the increase in the number of obese patients is making work more perilous, as the manual handling of heavy patients takes its toll.

Add to these day to day risks the fact that many nurses have to turn unconscious patients every hour or so and there are no lifting devices available. Most hospital rooms provide little space so lifting movements are often awkward and angled, putting the nurse in a position where she is unable to move in such a way as to prevent personal back injury.

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Nurses and those in the medical profession are often thought of as angels of mercy, always kind, always patient, and always without a rude bone in their bodies. Patients and families often come into clinics and hospitals in foul moods, altered states, upset and demanding, and countless other behaviors might be exhibited, and yet the dear and helpful staff are expected to paste a smile on their faces and simply "deal with it."

Truth be told, it's not always easy. Most nurses understand that there is usually a reason for these sometimes over-the-top behaviors, and are trained to manage unruly patients and detach themselves from taking things too personal. Still, there are those days when just one too many out of control patient can put any stoic nurse over the edge. These situations arise so often, there are even online courses on dealing with difficult patients that you can take to help arm yourself.

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When many people think of a nurse the same old mental picture pops into their mind – a nurse in a white uniform with white shoes in a hospital. Period. Is that it? Obviously not! For anyone considering a nursing career, or any nurse considering a change in career path, we've come up with a list of some of the top nursing careers to consider. In general, most nursing careers do require a degree as a Registered Nurse. Beyond this degree, the opportunities for specialization and pursuing more advanced nursing degrees are almost endless. (http://www.nurse.com/ )

Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) Careers

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A sick child. Just those few words can bring up emotions from sadness to fear to despair. For some people, the words are a challenge for change and for hope. These people are the special nurses of the pediatric unit.

What exactly is a pediatric nurse? Simply put, a pediatric nurse is a registered nurse that helps doctors and provides professional care for sick children and sick babies. These children are usually in medical hospitals, but are often seen in schools, clinics, or other places where children are. Pediatric nurses:

• Complete medical examinations
• Change dressings
• Dispense medications
• Give necessary injections
• Diagnose common illnesses
• Treat common illnesses
• Give immunizations in schools
• Perform school physicals
• Interpret lab results and test results
• Perform therapeutic treatments

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Change is inevitable and sometimes unwanted. At one time they were strong and independent, making decisions every day about their lives and their future, but now they are turning to others to help them maintain their daily lives. Elderly patients are one of the fastest growing patient bases. Baby boomers are those people who were born during World War II and from 1946 to 1964 and believe it or not, in 2006 the older group of baby boomers turned 60 years old. In fact, we can break that down to exactly 7,918 million people per day in 2006 turned 60 years old. The American Association of Colleges and Nursing (AACN) reports that there are 36 million Americans over the age of 65 and 63 percent of newly licensed nurses say that the majority of their patients are older patients.

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"How very little can be done under the spirit of fear." - Florence Nightengale

From March 1918 to June 1920 the world held its collective breath as an estimated 21 million people around the world, roughly one third of the worlds population, came down with the Spanish flu. In the United States alone, estimated death from the 1918 Influenza Pandemic range from 540,000 to over 675,000. This flu, a deadly influenza A virus strain of the H1N1 virus, attacked the young, healthy population of the world. In the fall of 1918, the pandemic came to a quick end thanks to the a combination of the virus mutating to a les deadly strain and the combined improved health care from doctors and nurses who saved thousands of lives. Nurses were pushed to the limit to save lives through out the entire pandemic.

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