Working 12 hour nursing shifts in hospital with LB

[T-bonz 0]

Hi all,

I'm wondering how all you nurses out there work 12 hour shifts with the lap band. (Or, anyone else working 12 hour shifts).

I'm waiting for my insurance approval and hope to have a June surgery date. How do you eat during your shift. Obviously, there's a time constraint for "breaks," if they can be called that, during nursing shifts.

Getting in Water won't be an issue, but how do you manage to eat on days that you work?

Thanks for replying in advance!

T-bonz

[RestlessMonkey 7]

Still just a student but IMHO the band will make it easier. My doc says to eat in 30 minutes or less...and we won't be eating much. So I plan to just "take" lunch somehow (I know in some places the culture is to skip lunch, but I'm not going to do that) I figure I'll stay full longer so it will be easier than if I didn't have the band!

[Carrie_C 9]

I wouldn't worry much about it, because you are going to feel full a lot longer than you do now. It is also very hard to take breaks where I work, so I understand. I don't know if you work day or night shift, but I work days, and I have really good restriction early in the day and I usually don't eat much until later.

[ThinknHealthy 0]

Once you get banded you'll find a way to make it work for your life style. If you have a kitchen area, you might think about some frozen meals like Lean Cuisine or Smart Balance. Also you could keep handy some Protein Bars. I keep some fat free yogurt in our office fridge for a snack that will give me another 1-2 hours of satiation. Hope this helps.

[moni75 22]

Hi, I am a nurse & work 12 hours days also. On my way in I usually drink a Protein Shake, then 4 hrs. later have a quick break to have cottage cheese, drink plenty of Water have lunch and have another small snack mid-afternoon. Basically I try to have something every 4-5 hrs just so I don't start to feel like crap during my 45min commute home.

[RestlessMonkey 7]

Hi, I am a nurse & work 12 hours days also. On my way in I usually drink a Protein shake, then 4 hrs. later have a quick break to have cottage cheese, drink plenty of Water have lunch and have another small snack mid-afternoon. Basically I try to have something every 4-5 hrs just so I don't start to feel like crap during my 45min commute home.

See that won't work for people like me...my doc is adamant about NO Snacks. And he's right; when i don't snack (regardless of calorie count or the healthy nature of the snack) I lose better! BUT either way it can be worked out to our physicians specs; it's life. Thinner people make it work, we can too.

[Mamacj 0]

Great question, I have one of those nursing jobs where I never know how long I will be at work or when I will get called in on my day off. I just make sure I have things available that are ok to eat & that I like so I am not tempted to eat all those things that are so easy & so bad for us! There are quite a few banders at the hospital where I work so it helps to support one another. Best wishes for your band!

[Bea1128 1]

I'm a nursing student and I have to admit that getting in enough liquid is an issue for me. I also usually do not have the time it takes to eat a meal or snack, so I usually bring a Protein Drink and take a drink when I can. I bring a yogurt and fruit, but have yet to have time to actually eat the whole thing because obviously with the band I can't scarf anything down. I have clinical two days a week and I usually feel dehydrated on those days. I just do the best I can and try to make up for it on the other days I'm not at the hospital. It's still worth it though because without the band and weight loss, I would not have the energy it requires to keep up with the fast pace of nursing school. I love, love my band!! Good luck with your approval!

[RestlessMonkey 7]

Bea1128. don't you get a lunch break? I had 3 day clinicals and just hydrated during lunch. I'd drink 16 oz Water on way to school, have a shake for lunch and another 16 oz water, and take 16 oz water for post conference. Then I had the last 16 ounces while home. Plus while getting water for patients would often grab a quick glass for myself. It worked fine.