Have you thought of yourself as an athlete before? Although the nursing profession isn’t directly related to sports, nurses who incorporate some of the same daily practices that athletes do will likely improve their job performance. One of these daily routines is to drink plenty of water. In this post, we’ll discuss how hydration is important to a nurse’s job and will explain how travel nurse housing can help make life easier.
Moisture makes your body better
Photo by Clint McKoy on Unsplash
As a medical professional, you’re used to encouraging others to live a healthy lifestyle.
- DON’T forget your own personal health. Drinking water or getting enough fluids helps your system with digestion, body temperature, muscle performance, skin health and more.1
- DO: Cut the sugary drinks, super salty foods and frequent cups of coffee. You’re a nurse…you know that high quantities of sugar, salt and caffeine don’t help your body perform at its peak. Water is the best solution (literally!).
- DON’T forget to bring a water bottle with you wherever you go. But first, check with your supervisor at Willis-Knighton Medical Center or whichever hospital you’re working at to make sure it’s allowed. If hospital policies allow outside water containers on-the-job, go for it! Find yourself a fun water bottle or insulated travel mug such as this one to use.
- DO stop during the day for water breaks. During a long 12-hour shift, it’s easy to forget water until you’re really thirsty. You can set an alarm on your phone or use one of the variety of smartphone apps for water reminders that are available. This is a great way to prompt yourself to get the fluids you need throughout the day instead of feeling like you have to down a lot of water all at once.
You can also work to develop habits to help you remember water intake during the day. Ideas include drinking water after every bathroom break or even when you see someone wearing a certain color.2 - DO take the pressure off yourself by having fun with your fluid intake. Many people recommend flavoring your water with fruit, herbal tea, lemon or other natural methods. Or, maybe you want to buy a cool brand of water to help encourage you. Whatever it takes, do what helps your body succeed!
Exclusive travel nurse housing solutions
Our short term rentals are designed for maximum comfort. If your work assignment brings you to Shreveport or Bossier City, consider staying in our travel nurse housing. When you choose us, you rent direct from owner and will benefit from fully furnished rentals that feature equipped kitchen area, washer / dryer units, comfortable leather recliners and more. Give Debi a call today at 318-548-6156. And grab a glass of water afterwards!!
Sources: https://www.nursechoice.com/traveler-resources/6-ways-to-stay-hydrated-while-on-the-job/, https://www.onwardhealthcare.com/nursing-resources/why-hydration-matters-and-how-to-maintain-it/, https://www.fastaff.com/blog/travel-nurse-tip-staying-hydrated-long-shifts, https://www.thegypsynurse.com/blog/stay-healthy-as-a-travel-nurse/, (1) https://www.webmd.com/diet/features/6-reasons-to-drink-water#1, (2) https://www.self.com/story/how-to-drink-more-water
