Battling Fatigue as an LPN
A career as a Licensed Practical Nurse, or LPN, often involves working long hours, handling overwhelmingly heavy workloads, and dealing with a variety of difficult patients each day. Because of all this, fatigue can be a common problem among nursing professionals. However, and fortunately, there are many ways to battle fatigue as an LPN. Shared below are some of the most effective methods to do that.
Be Careful of What You Consume
You may or may not already know that consuming sugary foods and products containing caffeine can help boost your energy level. However, the problem with consuming these types of products is that if you consume too much of them, your fatigue can only worsen. In fact, many people experience what is known as a body "crash," which leaves them feeling even more sluggish than before.
Thus, it is best to steer away from sugary snacks and products containing caffeine on days that you are scheduled to work. If you are craving a snack or feel like you could use an energy boost, try such natural foods as 100 percent fruit juice, berries, apples, low-fat yogurt, peanut butter, granola, or nuts instead. When snacking at work, keep in mind that eating too much of anything can also contribute to lethargy.
Create and Maintain a Regular Exercise Regime
During your LPN training, you learned that regular exercise is great for the heart and lungs. What you need to realize is that this is not just true for your patients, it is true for you too. Inactivity not only increases a person's risk of various health issues, but it can also make a person extremely sluggish.
Now, you may be thinking that you do not have enough time in your daily schedule to exercise every day. If you are, know this that this is simply not true. You do not have to partake in a lengthy and exhaustive exercise regime. Just taking a 20-minute walk around the block or dancing to a favorite CD can help to get your heart pumping and increase brain activity.
Sleep as Often as You Can
Most doctors recommend that adults get at least eight hours of sleep each night to help maintain emotional and physical health. Unfortunately, this is not always possible for persons who work in the medical profession. With that said, there are some things you can do to ensure that you get the rest that you need. Try out one or more of the following tips to see which ones work best for you.
- Take Advantage of Every Opportunity to Sleep
- Turn Cellphones and TVs Off Before Trying to Sleep
- Play Some Soothing Music to Encourage Sleep
- Consider Purchasing Blackout Curtains if Necessary
- Consider Declining Invitations to Late-Night Events
- Avoid Caffeine and Sugary Foods Before Sleeping
- Take a Relaxing Bath Before Sleeping
Practice Regular Stress Management Techniques
Stress is a common and sometimes unavoidable problem associated with nursing careers. Furthermore, chronic stress can lead to a variety of health issues including extreme fatigue. However, if you practice regular stress management techniques such as those listed below, you can overcome your stress and help keep fatigue to a minimum.
- Partake in Deep-Breathing Exercises
- Perform Stress-Relieving Exercises Such as Meditation or Yoga
- Allot Some Time to Something You Enjoy Each Day
- Leave Work Concerns at Work (Separate Work from Home)
- Create a Network of Supportive Friends
- Seek Out Professional Counseling if Necessary
