Smartphone and tablet apps can clutter your screen and bombard you with unnecessary notifications—or they can make your life as a nurse much easier and less stressful. But with literally millions of apps available, how can you tell which ones are winners and which are total duds?
Luckily for you, we’ve done all the research and rounded up 13 apps that nurses should download today.
Here are 13 must-have apps for nurses!
#1. Eponyms
Ever have the name of a disease on the tip of your tongue, but couldn’t remember the term? Eponyms is for those moments. The app contains 1,800 common and obscure medical terms and offers full-text search as well as 26 categories you can browse. Plus, you can star any eponyms you constantly forget for easy reference and use the “learn” mode to teach yourself new terms.
#2. Medical Spanish
If you don’t speak Spanish, then this app can help you learn relevant medical terms and/or communicate with patients who do. The app includes over 6,000 entries over multiple categories such as subjective/questions, objective/instructions, assessment and plan, and basic Spanish. As a bonus, the app does not require Wi-Fi and works offline.
#3. MediBabble Translator
For those nurses who need to translate more languages beyond Spanish, MediBabble is a free, professional-grade medical translation tool that is currently available in five languages—Spanish, Cantonese, Mandarin, Russian, and Haitian Creole—with more coming soon. Spanish comes preinstalled, and the other languages can be downloaded inside the app for free.
#4. NCLEX Flashcards
This app helps nurses-to-be study for all aspects of the National Council Licensure Examination test: Safe and Effective Care Environment, Health Promotion and Maintenance, Psychosocial Integrity, Physiological Integrity, and General Review. The app also offers five different learning modes—Study, Slide Show, Matching, Memorize, and Quiz—to help you learn the 2,400 flashcards loaded on the app.
#5. Skyscape Medical Library
Skyscape has partnered with more than 35 publishers to offer more than 400 “greatest hits” pieces of content from the most trusted medical resources. The free base version of the app includes Skyscape Rx (comprehensive information on thousands of brands and generics), Skyscape Clinical Calculator (medical calculator with more than 200 interactive tools), Skyscape Clinical Consult (evidence-based clinical information on hundreds of diseases and symptom-related topics) and Skyscape MedBeats™ (news and information tailored to your specialty). Other premium pieces of content are available for an in-app purchase.
#6. Pill Identifier
Drugs.com’s searchable database comes in app form, covering more than 24,000 Rx/OTC medications found in the U.S. You can search by imprint, drug name, shape and color, and the app will return information including drug images, description/indication, pregnancy category, CSA schedule, strength, and Rx/OTC availability.
#7. Nursing Central
Don’t be fooled by the old school icon. This app gets rave reviews from nurses everywhere. As the name suggests, Nursing Central combines five best-selling resources (Davis’s Drug Guide, Taber’s Medical Dictionary, Davis’s Laboratory, and Diagnostic Tests, Diseases and Disorders and Prime PubMed) all in one app. It’s an efficient, easy-to-use, one-stop-shop for many of the most common questions that nurses have.
#8. Taber’s Medical Dictionary
Speaking of Taber’s Medical Dictionary, this resource also comes as a standalone and is worth highlighting on its own merits. Taber’s contains over 65,000 terms, 1,200 photos, 32,000 audio pronunciations, 100+ videos and more than 600 patient care statements. The app also goes beyond definitions, providing nutrition and alternative therapy, medical abbreviations, symbols and units of measurement, immunization schedules, nursing diagnoses, and updates.
#9. Nurse’s Pocket Guide
Nurse’s Pocket Guide provides all the information you need to look up the signs and symptoms of medical conditions, identify the associated nursing diagnoses, and develop appropriate plans of care. The latest version of the app includes updated NANDA-I 2015-2017 diagnoses as well as NIC/NOC classifications. The app can be downloaded to your device and then used offline, so you can reference it even when you don’t have an internet connection.
#10. Medscape
The classic medical information website for clinicians can also be downloaded to your phone in the app form. The app allows you to look up medications and dosages with the Drug Reference Tool, research adverse drug combinations with the Drug Interaction Checker and find evidence-based patient care information with the Disease & Condition reference. The Medscape app also offers the latest medical news as well as other helpful resources, including step-by-step procedural articles, medical calculators, a pill ID tool, image collections, formulary information, and more.
#11. PEPID
PEPID has provided clinical and drug information to healthcare providers, hospitals, and schools for more than 23 years. The company’s app combines information about drug interactions and allergies, medical calculators, a pill identifier, a note-taking function, and more into a tool that one reviewer said: “you’ll use as much as your stethoscope.”
#12. Med Mnemonics
A mnemonic is a short rhyme, phrase, or other mental technique that makes information easier to memorize. This app comes with more than 1,900 mnemonics to help you learn terms, symptoms, and more, and it also includes the ability to add your own mnemonics to your personal version of the app. You can even submit your own mnemonics for potential inclusion in the next version of the app.
#13. NurseGrid
Nurses are notorious for their complicated, shift-based schedules, which is why a couple of RNs created NurseGrid, the first calendar just for nurses. The app lets you easily add shifts, share your availability with your manager, sync with your favorite external calendar, swap shifts with colleagues, add shifts from up to eight different worksites, and message both individuals and groups within the app itself.
If managing your schedule feels like a job in itself, NurseGrid can make things way easier on you and help remove some of the headache. From translation to dictionary references to calendars, these 13 apps cover a wide range of resources that nurses rely on every day. As a nurse, you’ve already got enough on your plate to juggle, so let these apps help you make your life easier. You deserve it!
HEY NURSES! Remember to sign up for your FREE COPY of “The Nurse’s Guide To Health & Self Care” E-book in the sign-up box below! (scroll down)
About The Author
Deborah Swanson is a Coordinator for the Real Caregivers Program at allheart.com, a site dedicated to celebrating medical professionals and their journeys. She keeps busy interviewing caregivers and writing about them and loves gardening.
I am a second-career RN who took an unconventional path into the nursing profession.
I began my first post-college career as a medical device sales representative selling medical equipment to hospital operating rooms. Then after nearly ten years in the business, I decided to go back to college and earn a Bachelor of Science in nursing.
I hear about nurses becoming second-career medical device or pharma reps all the time. But I have never known anyone who worked in medical device sales and then went back to college for a nursing degree. Not once.
Here is my journey from budding journalist, to corporate sales manager, to nurse – and the lessons that I have learned along the way.
As a young college grad, my priority was making money.
After graduating with a BA in Journalism in 1999, I was ready to start making money. After all, I was broke and tired of being poor. I was also passionate about living a healthy lifestyle, so a sales job in the healthcare field seemed like a natural fit.
Throughout my decade career in sales, I worked for a Fortune 500 company and a few startups. I covered vast territories and at one point even spent almost an entire year living out of a hotel. It was a lot of hard work, but the money was there.
But I got better every year, despite a gnawing feeling that my calling was somewhere else. My twenties flew by before my eyes.
One day after a lot of soul searching, I finally decided to go back to school and earn a BSN. My sales counterparts couldn’t believe I would leave the medical device industry after what most would consider a very financially successful career. I tried to explain the best I could – that I wanted to be a part of something bigger than myself. And medical sales just wasn’t doing it for me anymore.
At 22, my priority was making money. I knew if I worked hard in medical device sales I could earn more then most college grads my age.
I wanted to jump into procedures as a part of the medical team.
Even though I wasn’t an actual healthcare professional at the time, I got to work in hospital operating rooms and observe almost every kind of surgery. It was through those experiences that I learned I wanted to be more genuinely clinical – instead of just repeating a sales pitch with each new physician who gave me the time of day.
More specifically, I wanted to jump into the procedures where I was selling products and be a part of the medical team. Not sit and wait on the sidelines for hours until they used the product I was selling (if they used it at all).
More importantly though, I was continually drawn to help people and learn life-saving clinical skills. I was tired of going home every day feeling as if I wasn’t doing enough with my life to make the world better.
Sounds a little cliche, I know. But this little voice in my head kept telling me that one day all I was going to say about my life was that I was a “salesperson.” And I wanted more than that.
So one day, l quit my career and went back to school to earn my RN.
Nursing school is the hardest thing I have ever done in my professional life.
I paid my way through my nursing prerequisites and another college degree. And let me tell you – college is so much more expensive now then it was in 2000. I was lucky that I had significant savings from my prior career to help get me through.
In addition, I also worked as a bartender at night – sometimes until midnight – and then had to be at a clinical rotation by 0700 the next morning. I studied nonstop for three years. Nursing school was so much harder than medical sales, or my first college degree, for that matter. I didn’t even know school could be that hard.
Still, I pressed on, feeling like I was going to get kicked out at any moment for failing a test (and 1/4 of my cohort did get kicked out, its a miracle I wasn’t in that group). To this day, nursing school is the most challenging thing I have ever done in my professional life.
This photo was taken at my first clinical rotation in nursing school.
I worked as a Certified Nurses Assistant in nursing school.
I worked as a CNA during my last year of nursing school, and I both loved and hated it. It was such an honor to give care to my patients in some of the worst times of their lives. It was primary, basic care – and it was important! I tried to give my patients humility. I helped people feel human when they felt invisible.
But being a CNA was also so challenging- both physically and physiologically. This is because for the first time in my life, I was not at the top of the food chain. I sometimes felt like just a staff person boss around. No longer did I have my salary plus commissions, my company car and expense account, my catered lunches, my bonuses, and my stock awards at the end of the year. And I missed that.
I finally attained my RN, BSN title.
After three years of nursing school and a lot of sweat and tears, I finally graduated with my BSN. I began my career specializing in a neuroscience and stroke unit and earned certifications as a Stroke Certified Registered Nurse and Public Health Nurse. In 2017, I started a new phase in my nursing career as an emergency room RN.
As a nurse, there is always an opportunity to learn.
While being a nurse is exhausting and I have moments of extreme burnout, I do feel that nursing is my calling. I am a closet science geek and love cerebral stimulation that I get as a nurse. I have had the opportunity to see more disease states, complex injuries, and unusual diagnoses then I ever could have imagined even existed. It would not be an exaggeration to say I learn ten new things every day at work.
To top it off, I am surrounded by some of the most intelligent people I have ever met. Many of my co-workers have the same drive for helping people I do. They motivate me to keep learning.
I am thankful for the professional experience I received in the corporate world as a medical device salesperson.
My experiences have given me a much different perspective than many of my nurse peers. And I see my experiences as a huge advantage for my professional development.
Working in the medical sales industry gave me valuable business and communication skills. I met a lot of great friends with whom I still have close relationships with. My organizational and time management skills are much more fine-tuned, and I learned how to be a professional in the workplace.
I just like to think of myself as being a little more well-rounded now. After all, the businesswomen in me still exists. But now I have the clinical prowess and expertise to match.
HEY NURSES! Remember to sign up for your FREE COPY of “The Nurse’s Guide To Health & Self Care” E-book in the sign-up box below! (scroll down)
I would love to hear stories from other second-career nurses. What did you do in your first career, and how did you know you wanted to be a nurse? Leave a comment below!
This post for helping nurses find new quick and easy workouts that they can fit into even the busiest schedule.
Nurses know more then anyone that there are so many benefits to exercise. It helps our minds, bodies and souls because it:
Helps to control weight
Reduces the risk of heart disease
Manages blood sugar and insulin levels
Improves your mental health and mood
Strengthens your bones and muscles
Improves your sleep
And most importantly, it releases hormones that make you feel good!
But as a busy nurse, it can be so hard to find time to exercise, especially since the average workout class lasts about 60 minutes.
The good news is that there are lots of workouts that can easily be done at home on your own time whenever you have a few free minutes. Below are seven ideas that will help you squeeze in a quick & effective workout with minimal equipment and time.
So, take off your scrubs, put on your workout clothes and get moving!
7 Quick And Easy Workouts For Busy Nurses
Here are 7 quick and easy workouts for nurses to fit into their busy schedules:
Bodyweight Exercises
Think you must to get to the gym and lift weights for an hour to get stronger? Think again! As the name implies, bodyweight exercises use your bodyweight to build strength, no equipment necessary. Bodyweight workouts can focus on the upper or lower body or combine them both for a total body workout.
You’ll do moves such as push-ups, squats, lunges and tricep dips that rely on your body weight and proper form to work your muscles. These moves either don’t require equipment at all or can be done using items around your house, such as a sturdy chair. Some people also like to use an exercise mat to provide a bit more cushion.
Running
While running is often associated with training for a marathon or distance, it can also be a remarkably efficient workout for those who don’t want to spend hours exercising. Running for just 20 or 30 minutes will get your heart rate up and your blood pumping, and all it requires is a pair of supportive running shoes.
If the weather doesn’t permit you to run outside, see if you have access to a gym—even the smallest, most under-equipped workout room usually has at least one treadmill. And if you dislike the repetitive nature of running, create a music playlist or download a compelling podcast so you can get two things done at once as you move.
Plyometrics
Plyometrics, also called jump training or plyo, is another form of an intense and efficient cardio workout. Exercises include the squat jump, tuck knee jump, lateral jump, power skipping, vertical jump, lunge jump and more. These explosive movements get your heart rate up and burn calories in a short amount of time.
A word of caution: The intensive nature of plyometrics means that this workout isn’t the best choice for everyone, especially those who have lower body or back issues or those who are new to working out. However, if you’re already in good cardiovascular shape—say, you’ve been running a lot and you’re looking for some variety—plyometrics is definitely worth checking out.
Kickboxing
Boxing requires a lot of equipment. You need a punching bag, gloves, hand wraps and so on. Certain versions of kickboxing simplify this approach, allowing you to practice without all the equipment (sort of like shadowboxing). As the name suggests, kickboxing focuses on powerful kicks, with the hands and feet being used as the main contact points.
This karate-inflected style can be used as self-defense, but it’s also a very popular workout class both online and in real life. If you’d like to get out some aggression and stress while getting in a workout, simply Google “at home kickboxing workout videos” and plenty of results will pop up. You may feel a little silly punching and kicking the air at first, but you’ll be sweating in no time!
Aerobics
Aerobics is a catch-all term that refers to any activity that strengthens the heart and lungs, such as walking and swimming. Some aerobic exercises require a lot of time or equipment–or both—but plenty of others can be done at home whenever you have a few minutes. Lots of online cardio workouts fall into the aerobics category and they often have a theme such as step or dance.
Classes usually range in length from 10 to 60 minutes, so you can choose whatever suits your schedule. Make sure you check that no equipment is required before deciding on an aerobics workout. Some don’t require anything at all besides tennis shoes, while others may use a step-up box, light hand weights or other small equipment.
Abs
In their original form, very few ab workouts require weights or other equipment (though you might want to use an exercise mat to provide a bit of cushion and keep you from slipping during core work). From planks to crunches to sit-ups to leg lifts to toe touches to oblique twists, there are literally dozens of ab exercises you can do at home whenever you have a few minutes free in your schedule.
If you need some inspiration, there are lots of ab workout videos available for free on YouTube to get you started.
Body weight exercises are a fast and easy workout for busy nurses.
HIIT Workouts
High intensity interval training (HIIT) is more of an approach than a specific type of exercise. HIIT involves giving your maximum effort to exercise for a short period of time (usually less than a minute) followed by an even briefer rest period.
You may also have heard of Tabata, which is a specific type of HIIT workout that follows this pattern: eight rounds of 20 seconds of exercises at maximum effort and then 10 seconds of rest. HIIT can be used for bodyweight exercises, plyometrics, running—pretty much any workout you can think of. HIIT is a great way to shake up the pace of your workouts and increase their intensity and efficiency without eating up more of your precious time.
Now, its time to get moving!
If you’re a busy nurse who’s crunched for time (and really, who isn’t over scheduled these days?), check out one of these workouts to fit exercise into your day. Any workout is better than no workout, so even if you only have a few minutes, make them count!
HEY NURSES! Remember to sign up for your FREE COPY of “The Nurse’s Guide To Health & Self Care” E-book in the sign up box below! (scroll down)
Deborah Swanson is a Coordinator for the Real Caregivers Program at allheart.com, a site dedicated to celebrating medical professionals and their journeys. She keeps busy interviewing caregivers and writing about them and loves gardening
Looking for a thoughtful yet practical gift for the nurse in your life?
Nurses do so much for patients without getting much (if any) appreciation for their incredibly hard and selfless work. Giving a nurse a thoughtful and practical gift that they can use on the job lets them know that you appreciate how hard they work to help others during some of the worst times in their lives. These gifts are perfect for Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, birthdays, Christmas, nursing school graduation, or any other special occasion.
How We Chose This List of Practical Gifts For Nurses
Our team read through a ton of user reviews and star ratings to develop a list that makes your life easier and provides information to help you make a good decision on buying a practical nurse gift. Choosing the perfect RN gift requires some extra considerations to ensure it meets the unique needs of a nurse.
Many nurses don’t drink nearly enough water during their 12-hour shifts and then go home wholly dehydrated. Therefore, nurses need a good water bottle to bring to work with them every single day! Water is essential for life and good health, which is why a quality Hydro Flask Water Bottle makes such a great gift for nurses of all experiences and specialties.
Why We Love This
The Hydro Flask Water Bottle is a high-quality water bottle that can be used for many years and still look brand new. It is made out of food-grade stainless steel and is BPA-free. Also, it has excellent insulation, which prevents condensation from forming on the outside of the bottle.
But the best part about the Hydro Flask Water Bottle is the TempShield Insulation, which keeps beverages at the same temperature for many hours (hot drinks for 6 hours & cold drinks for up to 24 hours!).
Regular coffee mugs just won’t work for busy nurses working with patients. For one, nurses are seldom in the same place for more than a few minutes. And it would be great if their coffee could be the same temperature when they finally got back to take a sip of it!
Why We Love This
The Contigo Coffee Mug is a popular choice among many nurses (myself included – I have had one for the last four years). It has a leak-proof lid (when closed) for on-the-go activities. In addition, drinks stay hot for up to 7 hours and cold for up to 18 hours with vacuum insulation. This brand even comes with a lifetime warranty.
It is no secret that becoming a nurse is a personal calling and requires a lot of grit and compassion from those who enter the profession. Nurses deal with patients in some of the worst times of their lives and deal with both life and death situations. It never hurts to share some inspiration with one another!
Why We Love This
Chicken Soup For The Soul: Inspiration For Nurses consists of 101 heartwarming stories that encourage, inspire, and reassure nurses that their patients and families appreciate the nurse’s compassionate service. Nurses can use all the help and encouragement they can get, and this book of personal stories helps remind nurses why they became a nurse in the first place.
Many nurses I work with in the emergency room have the Raptor Shears, and we use them frequently in emergency situations. You can hook it to a belt or secure it using the pocket clip. Also, the Raptor Shears have a 25-year limited warranty, which could last through a nurse’s entire medical career or longer. This tool is an amazing and practical gift for a nurse.
Why We Love This
The Rapture Shears are six tools wrapped into one:
It is vacuum insulated and designed for both cold and hot beverages – so you can drink the perfect temperature liquid all day long. Also, the cup prevents any sweating on the outside of the cup.
Starting IVs is one of the most challenging and stressful clinical tasks that nurses will learn during the first few years in the profession. A vein finder is a great gift for nursing students, new nurse graduates, and even seasoned nurses who need a little extra help with starting an IV.
Why We Love This
For patients who are a difficult “stick” (as we call it in nursing), it is so helpful to have a vein finder in the back pocket. This is a very practical gift for nurses because many patients need an IV to receive fluids and other medications.
Compression socks must be a part of every nurse’s uniform because they help keep nurse’s legs healthy! Years of working on one’s feet for 12-hour shifts can be hard on the body and contribute to various venous issues. Luckily, wearing quality compression socks can help nurses prevent varicose veins, leg swelling, and decrease muscle soreness.
They work by squeezing the blood in the legs like a garden hose back up the leg, thereby increasing blood circulation. Many nurses even say that compression socks help keep their legs noticeably energized after a long shift.
Why We Love This
By giving a nurse a set of compression socks, you are letting them know that you care about their health and well-being. What a great message to send!
If you are looking for a funny gift to make a nurse laugh, here it is! Any nurse receiving a Nurse Coloring Book: Sweary Midnight Editionwill find a little truth and humor within the pages. After all, being a nurse can be very stressful, and a laugh-out-loud book that can be shared with others for hours can provide a lot of well-needed stress relief. It would make a great gift for recent nurse graduates, new nurses in the field, or an experienced nurse as well!
Most nurses learn very quickly that they need to prepare and pack their own food for two reasons: 1) hospital food gets old quick and usually isn’t very tasty, and 2) packing a healthy lunch in advance ensures that the nurse will eat healthier throughout their shift. Otherwise, when lunch comes and they are so exhausted, there is a chance they might reach for some not-so-healthy options.
Why We Love This
The Baloray Lunch Bag is waterproof & leak proof. This brand claims to keep food cold or warm for more than 6 hours. It is also super easy to clean and is very lightweight.
Practical Gifts Nurses Will Love!
Tips To Consider When Picking a Practical Nurse Gift
When choosing a practical gift for a nurse, consider their daily work routine and the challenges they face. Here are some factors to consider and ideas for practical gifts:
Functionality:
Select items that serve a useful purpose in their work or personal life. Think about items that can make their tasks easier or enhance their comfort.
Comfort and Ergonomics:
Nurses spend long hours on their feet, so gifts that prioritize comfort can be appreciated. Consider items like supportive footwear, compression socks, or ergonomic accessories like back cushions or footrests.
Organization and Efficiency:
Nurses need to stay organized and manage their time effectively. Look for gifts that help with organization, such as a nursing-specific planner, a smartwatch with scheduling capabilities, or a high-quality clipboard or pocket organizer.
Tools of the Trade:
Nurses often rely on specific tools and equipment for their work. Find out if there are any tools or gadgets they need or would like to upgrade. Examples include high-quality stethoscopes, penlights, or portable pulse oximeters.
Professional Development:
Supporting ongoing education and professional growth is valuable. Consider gifting subscriptions to medical journals or nursing publications, online courses, or certifications relevant to their area of expertise.
Personalized Accessories:
Customized gifts can add a personal touch. Consider personalized name tags, engraved badge holders, or custom-made nursing-themed jewelry.
Remember, everyone’s preferences and needs may vary, so it’s a good idea to consider the individual nurse’s interests, style, and specific job requirements when selecting a practical gift.
Practical Gifts For Nurses Frequently Asked Questions:
What gift to give nursing staff? When considering gifts for nursing staff, it’s important to think about their needs and preferences. Here are some ideas:
Personalized items like custom-made name badges or engraved stethoscope charms.
Practical items such as comfortable shoes, compression socks, or ergonomic equipment.
Relaxation gifts like spa vouchers, aromatherapy diffusers, or massage tools.
Gift cards for their favorite restaurants, coffee shops, or online stores.
Books, journals, or subscriptions related to healthcare or personal interests.
Care packages with snacks, healthy treats, and self-care items.
What are simple gifts for nurses?
Simple gifts for nurses can still be meaningful and appreciated. Consider the following options:
Handwritten thank-you cards expressing gratitude and recognition for their hard work.
Small treats like chocolates, cookies, or homemade snacks.
Inspirational or motivational quotes in the form of wall art, keychains, or desk accessories.
Stationery or office supplies that can be used at work.
Pocket-sized notebooks or planners to help them stay organized.
Gift certificates for a coffee or tea break at a local café.
What do you get a healthcare worker for Christmas?
When choosing a Christmas gift for a healthcare worker, consider options that show appreciation and provide relaxation or enjoyment during the holiday season. Some ideas include:
Cozy blankets, socks, or slippers for warmth and comfort.
A subscription to a streaming service or audiobook platform for entertainment.
A gift certificate for a spa day, massage, or wellness retreat.
A personalized ornament or holiday-themed decoration.
A gourmet food basket or a selection of their favorite snacks.
A quality water bottle or travel mug to keep them hydrated on the go.
A book or journal for leisure reading or personal reflection.
What do you get a nursing staff for Christmas?
When selecting a Christmas gift for a nursing staff or team, it’s thoughtful to choose items that can be shared and enjoyed collectively. Here are a few ideas:
A catered holiday lunch or dinner for the entire nursing staff.
A festive gift basket filled with treats, snacks, and beverages.
Group activities or experiences such as a team-building outing or holiday party.
Customized mugs or tumblers with the nursing staff’s names or a special message.
Donations to a charity in the name of the nursing staff, supporting a cause important to them.
A heartfelt thank-you note or card expressing appreciation for their hard work and dedication.
Is it appropriate to give nurses a gift?
Yes, it is generally appropriate to give nurses a gift as a way to show appreciation for their hard work and dedication. However, it’s important to consider workplace policies and guidelines regarding gift-giving. Some healthcare organizations may have specific rules regarding the value or type of gifts that can be received. It’s advisable to check with the nursing staff’s supervisor or human resources department to ensure compliance with any regulations in place.
Every nurse is well aware of the exponential stress that comes with patient care during a 12-hour shift. However, it’s disheartening to see that many nurses fail to prioritize their own well-being with the same tenderness and kindness they extend to their patients. (I have previously discussed the importance of nurses incorporating yoga into their routines.)
Yoga encompasses more than mere physical exercise; it offers caregivers a means of practicing self-care and promotes their ability to provide even better care for their families, patients, and themselves.
Restorative yoga serves as an invaluable tool for nurses to reconnect with themselves and facilitate the rejuvenation of their bodies following a demanding 12-hour shift dedicated to patient care.
(The information on this post is not meant to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease and is meant for educational and informational purposes only. You should always consult your physician before starting any exercise program. You can read our disclosure policy here.)
Here Are 7 Easy Restorative Yoga Poses For Nurses:
#1. Child’s Pose (Balasana)
Child’s Pose
Health Benefits of Child’s Pose For Nurses:
Releases tension in the back, shoulders, and chest
Helps alleviate stress and anxiety
Stretches the spine
Relieves neck and lower back pain when performed with the head and torso supported
Gently stretches the hips, thighs, and ankles (gently is the key)
Stretches muscles, tendons, and ligaments in the knee
Calms the mind and body
#2. Happy Baby Pose (Ananda Balasana)
Happy Baby Pose
Health benefits of Happy Baby Pose for nurses:
Opens hips, inner thighs, and groin
Releases lower back and sacrum
Stretches the hamstrings
Relieves lower back pain
Calms the brain
Helps to relieve stress and fatigue
#3. Supine Spinal Twist(Jathara Parivartanasana)
Supine Spinal Twist
Health benefits of Supine Spinal Twist for nurses:
Brings blood flow to the spine, hips, and shoulders
Stretches the hips, glutes, abs, back, chest, shoulders and neck
Opens the upper body
Helps alleviate lower back pain
Helps correct poor posture
#4. Reclined Goddess Pose (Supta Baddha Konasana)
Reclined Goddess Pose
Health Benefits of Reclined Goddess Pose For Nurses:
Opens the shoulders & chest
Opens the groin, inner thighs, and hips
Helps relieve stress and anxiety
#6. Legs Up The Wall Pose (Viparita Karani)
Legs Up The Wall Pose
Health Benefits of Legs Up The Wall Pose For Nurses:
It reduces edema in the legs and feet
Relieves tired leg muscles
Helps reverse the effects of gravity and may help digestion
Yoga makes you feel good. And you deserve it, nurse!
Nurses need to experience what it is like to feel good in their own skin. Yoga empowers nurses to create a happier, healthier, and more productive work environment by making us the best version of ourselves.
For better or worse, nurses serve as role models in the healthcare community. We need to practice what we preach. Why would a patient listen to our advice on how to live a healthy life if we are not living one ourselves?
Here Are a Few Tools to Get You Started With Your Yoga Practice:
I love this yoga mat. The quality is very good for the price. I have this exact mat in my living room and after two years, it still looks brand new. It is soft with a relatively nice thickness compared to other yoga mats I have tried. In addition, it has nice grooves that keep the mat in place.
Yoga straps are useful for all levels of yoga practice and can provide support, help with alignment and improve posture. In addition, I love the Manduka cork yoga blocks because I have had mine for six years, and they still look brand new! Unlike foam blocks, these don’t disintegrate over time due to sweat and regular use. They are also heavier and more sturdy with a trustworthy grip. It is a good idea to purchase two because many yoga poses require the need for two blocks.
Preparing for 12-hour shifts as a registered nurse requires some prearranged groundwork and organization at home to ensure my day starts off on the right foot. As a working mom, I know I will be gone for a large chunk of time, so I do my best to make sure things are correctly set up at home the day before.
Additionally, as an ER nurse, I know how important it is that I take good care of myself so I can continue to give the best possible care to my family and patients. After all, I can’t expect others to listen to my health education if I don’t take my own advice and stay healthy too. No excuses!
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My top 4 working mom health tips:
#1. Grocery shop and prepare all meals in advance
I grocery shop every three days, so I can prepare meals for my toddlers and for each of my 12-hour shifts at the hospital in advance. To avoid scrambling at the last minute, I always make sure everything is ready and packaged to go the night before.
I prepare several options for the kid’s breakfasts, lunch, and dinner, including:
Avocado or almond toast
Bananas, apples, kiwis, various berries
Black bean or chickpea pasta
Cheese squares
Veggies straws with hummus
Veggie/fruit smoothies
Chicken
Eggs
Sautéed veggies
Also, one day per week, I make a big batch of quinoa or brown rice and keep it handy in the fridge for quick meal preparation. When I need it, I add veggies, nuts, seeds, dried cranberries, olive oil, tempeh, or whatever else I have in the fridge at that moment. This is so convenient because I can whip something up quickly for my work lunches, and I also have it on days I’m home with the kids.
The Nutribullet is by far my favorite meal prep tool.
To say I use it at least twice a day would be an understatement! This is my #1 working mom health tip. I make everything from veggie smoothies, to salad dressings, to soups and blended coffee drinks. It makes my life so much easier, especially now that we have kids and time is limited.
I have a vegetable and berry smoothie with one tablespoon of Maca powder, flaxseed or hemp seeds for protein, and acai powder. I alternate my veggies between broccoli, spinach, or kale. For the berry part: strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries, although sometimes I’ll add half a banana or mango. I also make several mason jars (16oz) of overnight oats on Sundays with a variety of flavors:
blueberry/strawberry/raspberry
peanut butter and maple
banana and walnut
almond and raisin
Then I’ll either add ground flax seeds or chia seeds for extra protein and antioxidant benefit. And I’ll top with a dash of cinnamon. These make such an easy breakfast to go!
#2. Sleep as much as possible before a 12-hour shift
12-hour shifts usually end up being closer to 14+ at the end of the day. And, many studies show that working 12-hour shifts is damaging to nurse health due to the length of time that nurses end up working. An increased risk of depression, anxiety, obesity, cardiovascular disease, and even some cancers have all been researched and publicized.
Since the shifts are not getting shorter anytime soon, the best thing that nurses can do to take care of themselves is rest as much as possible before shifts. Therefore, I make it a huge priority to get at least 7-8 hours of sleep before shifts. (This was so much easier before we had kids!)
A few things I use to help me sleep better at night:
Eye mask and earplugs. After having kids, I realized that I am an incredibly light sleeper. Even the slightest noises wake me up in the middle of the night. Sometimes I have difficulty falling back asleep again, which is so frustrating when I work a 12-hour shift in the morning.
Restorative yoga poses. I keep a yoga pillow and a yoga mat right next to the bed that I use for restorative yoga poses about 20 minutes before I try to go to sleep. It helps me decompress me from my day, check-in with myself, and put me into a snugly and sleepy mood.
A yoga pillow is great for restorative yoga poses!
I always feel so much better when I get my heart rate up on my days off. The benefits of exercise have been well documented; it is essential for nurse self-care. It is no secret that regular exercise helps control weight, boosts overall energy, improves your mood, and decreases stress levels. Not only does exercise benefit the nurse personally, but it also allows nurses to have the stamina to give better care to patients as well.
Need to blow off some steam after a stressful day? A yoga session or brisk 30-minute walk can help. Physical activity stimulates various brain chemicals that may leave you feeling happier and more relaxed. Which, in turn, will help manage caregiver burden and help you feel your best.
For me, yoga has been a total game-changer for my stress levels. But it’s also great to change up the routine a bit, and I enjoy escaping with my headphones for a run and listening to music. Whatever you do is great, as long as you do it!
A blue tooth headset is great to use for a run or brisk walk.
Those who know me know I’m fanatical about compression socks. Wearing compression stockings helped me work all the way through two pregnancies, and I continue to wear them to this day. They help keep your legs energized, prevent varicose veins, and keep your ankles and feet from getting so swollen after being on your feet all day. Plus, they come in the cutest styles now.
But with a little preparation and focus on your well-being and time management, you can be both a healthy nurse and mom and give great care to your patients. It’s time to focus on nurse self-care!
We hope this list of working mom health tips for 12-hour shifts helps to make your life a little easier. Please leave a comment if you have anything you would like to add!
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Yoga Blocks (With Strap Included)
In conclusion
