4 Ways Nurses Can Care for Themselves During Cold and Flu Season
Nurses can’t always be in perfect health. Healthcare is a demanding field and nurses may not feel that they can take time off if they are sick. We, here at Flowcare, outlined 4 ways nurses can take care of themselves during cold a flu season BEFORE they get sick.
1. Maintain a healthy diet and schedule routine checkups
Like your patients, you need to be sure to keep up with your own routine checkups at the doctor’s office. Getting regular blood tests and hormone checks and eating a healthy, well-balanced diet are all good ways to keep your immune system and other body systems in good shape.
According to this study from the National Library of Medicine, “Several characteristics of the nursing role and workplace – notably shift work, fatigue, stress, and suboptimal facilities and availability of healthy foods – make it increasingly challenging for nurses to maintain healthy diets.” To be able to handle the hard activities that come with being a nurse, you must be in good physical condition. If your immune system is weak, or you are undernourished, you won’t be able to provide patients with effective care and there is an increased likelihood that you will get the flu.
2. Remember to get your flu shot
Each year, new strains of the flu vaccination are released to combat the evolving cold and flu conditions. In order to receive the vaccine, it is important to maintain good health. Keep in mind that the end of October is often when nurses advise patients to get their flu shots.
The OSHA fact sheet on Seasonal Flu Vaccination states, “increasing the rate of vaccination in healthcare workers could significantly enhance healthcare worker safety and increase their productivity.” So do your part for yourself and your community and get a flu shot.
3. Consume a lot of water
If you feel like you might be getting a cold or cough, remember to take care of yourself and treat it. Don’t ignore it; even a small cold might progress into more severe upper-respiratory symptoms.
Staying hydrated is a great way to avoid colds before they start and treat them once they do. You could be dehydrated without realizing it because many people do not drink the recommended quantity of water each day. Consider worrying about not drinking enough water before you worry about drinking too much because up to 75% of Americans may be chronically dehydrated. At least eight glasses of water every day, if not more, should be consumed by you.
4. Hand-washing
Last but not least, and maybe most significantly, nurses must remember to wash their hands. During nurse training, this is repeatedly pounded into students, but how frequently do you wash your hands completely at home? Apply your nursing knowledge outside of the hospital by practicing good hygiene at home by washing hands often, using an alcohol rub, and keeping common areas clean. Additionally, it’s best to periodically take showers and wash your scrubs, preferably after each shift. Even if you do your best while at work, the cold virus can survive on surfaces like clothes or body parts.
Hire Us
At FlowCARE, we strive to provide the highest quality nurse server cabinets and a variety of other products at a low cost. Our team of experts are ready to consult, plan, design, engineer, fabricate and deliver a solution designed to save you time and fit your needs.
We know you work hard, so we work even harder to make sure you are receiving a product that’s suitable for your needs. Whether you opt for a nurse server cabinet or another solution, we work with you to make sure you’ll find a product you love.
Visit our website for more information or contact us today to discuss your next construction project.
