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Healthy Nurse, Healthy Nation™ Blog - Nurses, Get Better Sleep And Improve Your Heart Health 4307

Sleep may feel like a reward, especially after working a 12-hour shift. But it’s more than just a luxury. Sleep plays a critical role in how your body repairs itself and functions. Not getting enough can be detrimental to your health — particularly your heart health.  

Added by Holly E Carpenter, RN, BSN Blog Rest 01/20/2023
Healthy Nurse, Healthy Nation™ Blog - Trailing Thoughts? Expert Advice On How To Worry Less And Sleep More 4137

“Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about.” – Wendy Mass Not only are our “battles” challenging while we’re awake, but they can also disrupt our sleep. Americans continue to lose precious sleep due to daily struggles. The daily struggles of nurses across the country are compounded even further with the pandemic. They ...

Added by Holly E Carpenter, RN, BSN Blog Rest 03/16/2022
Healthy Nurse, Healthy Nation™ Blog - Your Diet Could Be Affecting Your Sleep 3167

By Ms. Amy Highland Your body needs sleep to regulate emotions , fight off infection , and heal from daily use and stress. If you're struggling to get a full seven to nine hours of sleep, what you eat and when you eat it could be part of the problem. The right food choices (and meal timing) help fuel your body with the nutrients needed for better (and more) ...

Added by Holly E Carpenter, RN, BSN Blog Rest 03/05/2019
Healthy Nurse, Healthy Nation™ Blog - Thriving During The Night Shift 1970

Nurses who work overnight face unique issues. In fact, The National Sleep Foundation reports that overnight shift workers are more likely to suffer from heart disease, weight issues, and may even have more common colds than daytime workers. These issues may stem from a lack of the overall amount of sleep, not being able to spend quality time with ...

Added by Holly E Carpenter, RN, BSN Blog Rest 08/27/2018
Healthy Nurse, Healthy Nation™ Blog - The Importance Of Taking Vacation 150

                                      Nursing is a rewarding profession, but the empathy we feel for our patients and the care we put into our jobs can take its toll. That’s why it’s important to make sure we care for ourselves and take adequate breaks . Another way to ensure we are getting the rest and renewal we need is to make an annual or twice-yearly vacation a priority. ...

Added by Aieda Solomon Blog Rest 07/10/2017
Healthy Nurse, Healthy Nation™ Blog -  How Can You Fall Asleep Faster? 108

Lack of sleep can cause you to make mistakes while at work or in daily life in general. Are you having trouble falling asleep? Try these 12 tips  from Jackie Levin, board-certified holistic nurse and founder of Leading Edge Nursing.  

Added by Aieda Solomon Blog Rest 07/07/2017
Healthy Nurse, Healthy Nation™ Blog - The Case For Taking A Break 38

Jacklynn Lesniak MS BSN RN NEA-BC, Chief Nursing Officer and the Senior Vice President of Patient Care Services at Cancer Treatment Centers of America ® (CTCA) at Midwestern Regional Medical Center (Midwestern) shares the case for taking a break. CTCA has pioneered innovative practices around nurse rest and rejuvenation and has seen significant ...

Added by Aieda Solomon Blog Rest 05/24/2017
Healthy Nurse, Healthy Nation™ Blog - Sick And Tired: The Case For More Sleep 11

Less than a third of nurses get 7-9 hours of the recommended sleep time per night. Demanding schedules contribute challenges to achieving a good night’s sleep, but it's important to recognize why we should make the case for more sleep. Read this blog to understand why. (Editor's note:  this blog was published in 2017, some of the statistics cited may be ...

Added by Todd Fahlberg Blog Rest 02/08/2017

Explore Other Blogs By Domain


Safety
Your safety matters. This domain covers a wide range of topics - from staying alert at the wheel to safe patient handling and mobility.
 

Rest
Rest breaks and healthy sleep are not only restorative - but are key to your health and to providing safe patient care. This domain addresses strategies and guidelines for restorative sleep, workplace breaks and napping, and managing shift work.

Quality of Life
Your work, home life, family, and other commitments frequently compete for your time and attention. This domain focuses on the elements that improve the quality and balance of your life including your physical, financial, social, emotional, and spiritual well-being.

Physical Activity
Nurses are often on their feet all day but fall short of recommended national guidelines for physical exercise. This domain includes strategies for overcoming barriers for guidelines and meeting exercise guidelines.

Nutrition
It isn't easy to find time for healthy eating. On average, nurses consume less fruits, veggies, and whole grains than other Americans. This domain covers recommended guidelines for dietary health, managing diet at work, and overcoming barriers to nutrition.

Mental Health
The nature and stresses of the nursing profession can take a toll on your mental health. This domain deals with your psychological affect and health. Mental wellbeing practices, stress relief resources, and personal stories are just some of the assets included here.

Most Recent Comments

I have no trouble sleeping! I work the night shift, so I do all my shifts together and then all my off days together. This allows me enough time to sleep & recover and remain energy. When I return to work!
Eating healthy, exercise, preparing for sleep are all important considerations for me to rest well. 
I clicked on this because I could use a vacation right now or even look forward to one. Work has been super stressful the past few months and I just need a getaway. I'm in a lot of credit card debt and I feel like going on a vacation right now/planning one will be kind of selfish and digging myself a deeper hole with my debt so my new goal is to pay off 75% of my debt befo...
Fortunately, I fall asleep quickly. Even when I don't think I'm sleepy, once I shut my eyes I just start sleeping (and maybe snoring). The nights when I can't sleep it like absolute torture. I just want to cry. I used to take Dream Water which was a melatonin type supplement. It really helped me sleep throughout the night but now I just don't need it anymore. #h...
No one likes a Hangry nurse.  It's important to have something to eat during 12 hour shifts, your brain needs glucose to fire.
Vacation planned for end of August and I can't wait!! I will NOT be checking work emails either.