Back to work! oh my!

I have to go back to work on monday!
I have loved being home with the kids. I miss my coworkers but not the work.

I am so concerned about being able to stay on track at work with my vits, liquids and protein.
I think I will make sure to have my shakes if I dont have the time to eat. As anything else, I know its a learning curve.
Preop there were days at work when I start at 7am, that I dont get a brea****il 2p or after. It is so crazy in our unit some days. I work in a cardiac surgery icu and I am not the type of nurse who sits at the desk, I am  always at the bedside.
I guess I need to learn some balance.

Hope everyone has a great day!

Maria

Wow - I can see how that might be daunting. But I know that there are nurses and other med professionals who have figured it out - so you can, too!

Perhaps the best thing is to approach your own care with the same level of care you give to your patients? Like going ahead and scheduling reminders for the vitamins (I have to do that for the calcium, since I have to take it 4x/day), maybe clip some water to yourself, plan portable meals (like shakes, protein bars, cold cuts, cheese sticks, etc). Since your mind is so necessarily focused on your patient(s) you might not want to try to trust yourself to improvise with your eating. I tend to plan and pack up my food the day before so that I can actually see, at the end of the day, whether or not I've eaten everything.

I get what you're going through. I used to work the SICU & then the burn unit myself.

On another note, I know a few med professionals who've started wearing those "fit" shoes because they're on their feet so much, and everyone raves about the way they tone up their legs. I'm thinking about trying some myself, though in my current setting I'm not sure they would look professional enough. Maybe for the commute...

I know it will be an adjustment, and sometimes I think now that I used my job as another outlet not to take care of myself. I am so overwhelmed with feelings and thinking about things that have never crossed my mind before since surgery.
I have always put other people's needs before my own, my family, my friends, and my patients.
It is so weird to sit here and think about why didnt I care for myself first?

Well I guess its time to schedule another psych appt, huh? I have a lot to learn about the Maria I lost under all this weight.

Thanks so much for your input.

I have a pair of those sketchers walking shoes and I love them, I wear them everyday when I walk the dog. I dont know if I could wear them all day at work though, atleast not at this point. I am too out of shape.

~Maria

awwwww maria i understand your concerns
id be nervous too ive been home as well and its so much easier to do the things we need to do when it comes to eating, exercise im sure youll figure it out and make it work good luck

Maybe try to carry a high-protein snack in your pocket and take a bite or two on the way down the hall? I have a couple of friends who are nurses. I'm currently in school working towards becoming a nurse, so I will have this to deal with soon!

I don't know where you work, but most states have labor agreements that include mandatory breaks, plus a 30 minute lunch. Train yourself to take your breaks. You have to take care of yourself, as well as your patients. I am also a nurse, but work in an out-pt setting. Most hospitals are set up for nurses to take their breaks. You should have a 15 minute break in the AM and afternoon, as well as a 30 minute lunch. Find out what your rights are.

Thanks so much for the support. For an 8 hour shift I get one 15 minute break and one 30 minute lunch and for twelve shifts add another 15 minute break.
It is my own fault for not taking them. I usually end up with the sickest patients and I am one of the veteran nurses so I have a lot of people always coming to me for help and have a hard time saying no.
But I know this will have to change to make sure I stay healthy and strong.

Carry your vits in a little pouch and put in your pocket - and as previously suggested, put a protein bar in your pocket and take a bite every now and then. 

Can you carry water with you?  Can you make it into a protein drink so you can sip on that as you work?

Be sure to take your break and lunch.  You'll figure it out!!!

When I headed back to work, I was taking a bazillion  vitamins, couldnt take my iron with the calcuim or the C or what ever the rules were.. Now I take bariatric Fusion, orange creme flavored.  I take them 4 times a day, morning with my protien shake, lunch, dinner and bed time.  I carry them in my purse, the bottle is big, I dont care.  it gets the job done.
I also take high dosage vit D as advised by my surgeon.  Andrea U , VitaLady and M M have excellent suggestions when it comes to vitamins.
I always travel with extra servings of protien drinks.  Another way to get in protien, vienna sausages. I hate them, but its what I have to do.  When I am in a pinch, I eat them. Cheese, yogurts, cottage cheese are all good snacks. Dont know if your ready, nuts are excellent, I prefer salted almonds and sunflower the most.  And Good luck going back to work!  

what I think you will actually find is that you will become more regimented while at work and if you are already set at home, no sweat! 
I personally am a clockwatcher all day because of the vites and water and not eating 30 mins before and not drinking 45 mins after, but I think to remedy that I will find my watch that has an alarm (or I could use my phone on vibrate) to remind me.

You will do great!