Healthcare is one of the most demanding professions. However, the irony is that those who provide healthcare often fail to keep up with their health due to the job’s overwhelming nature. Shortage of staff, the spread of infectious diseases, and hectic work shifts are only a few of the broad concerns that affect the well-being of healthcare professionals at the workplace.
Healthcare professionals struggle every day with several issues. They battle their fatigue, odd hours, and wellness issues that at times get the best of them. Moreover, considering the on-going pandemic, healthcare workers are at the epicenter of danger and are required to take care of their health and safety more than ever. Whether you are a nurse, doctor, or technician, it would be best if you took good care of your emotional and physical health. It holds the key to provide the best healthcare services to patients in need.
If you are a healthcare professional who has been struggling to maintain your health, then worry not. We have compiled a list of tips that can help you stay healthy and fit during your exhaustive work schedule.
Always be equipped to protect yourself
Medical workers are more exposed to viruses and bacteria than anyone else. Therefore, they need to be cautious about protection against various types of harmful bacteria, germs, and viruses. However, nurses give more time and attention to patients during their treatments and are thus more prone to infections than anyone else.
Professionals who have acquired an online masters degree in nursing work in healthcare facilities as clinical nurse educators or nurse practitioners. It would be best to use personal protective equipment (PPE) properly at all times. These include masks, gowns, eye shields, and gloves specially designed for a healthcare facility. Also, medical professionals need to wash their hands frequently with a medicated soap to secure themselves from any harmful infections.
Exercise whenever you can
Healthcare professionals have their hands full all the time to their hectic job. Nevertheless, you should find time to incorporate some form of physical exercise into your routine. Physical activity is an excellent way to keep the body active and to ward off the effects of work-related stress.
Taking out time from work and doing a brisk walk or sprint. You don’t have to lift heavy weights, but a basic circuit routine will also help. Yoga is also an excellent way to exercise both the body and mind for augmented effects. This way, professionals can balance their productivity and maintain their health while also providing healthcare to others.
Avoid unhealthy habits
Too much of anything is not good for health. Similarly, immense amounts of coffee intake or smoking can lead to disastrous effects on your mind and body. Consequently, causing headaches, fatigue disturbs body organs and increasing stress. Therefore, medical professionals should limit their caffeine intake to two cups a day and avoid smoking or drinking to function efficiently.
Moreover, you should maintain a balanced diet. Consider cutting down junk or snacks, and focus on clean eating. Many medical conditions are a direct result of what we eat. What’s the point of preaching to others what we don’t do ourselves?
Fix your sleeping patterns
Some medical professionals do graveyard shifts and are often interrupted by the pager throughout the night. The result is a troubled sleeping pattern. As an adult, you should try to get at least six to eight hours of sleep throughout the day to function correctly. Less sleep weakens the immune system, causes various chronic diseases, and decreases workplace productivity. The latter can become a matter of life and death in a healthcare facility.
Maintain work-life balance
A healthy work-life balance is crucial in any professional’s life. However, maintaining this delicate balance can get tricky as a healthcare professional. When emergency calls, one has to go!
Extensive work hours, stress, and emergencies often cause healthcare professionals to burn out quickly. Consequently, they experience a lack of job satisfaction and mental breakdown, making it challenging to maintain a healthy work-life balance. To strike a balance between the two, find ways to pull yourself out of the hospital setting. Catch up with friends and family or engage in a recreational activity. It is essential to prioritize activities that are not related to work to make the most of your professional and personal life.
Stay sane and manage stress wisely
Due to this job’s overwhelming nature, all other health tips resort down to one essential piece of advice: to stay sane and manage stress properly! Each day will be a new beginning, with various new cases and patients. Healthcare workers need to learn to let go of some things and realize that they cannot fix every situation. It does get devastating for some professionals at times. However, the key is not to lose it and understand that you did your best. Emotional health is as important as physical health. Therefore, a positive outlook will help them relax and disintegrate stress.
Conclusion
In a nutshell, healthcare workers often forget to practice what they preach. In the pursuit of delivering the best quality patient care, healthcare, they often ignore their well-being. According to the study conducted by Southern Cross University, out of over 6,000 nurses, 30% experienced some chronic illness such as obesity and heart disease. This is an eye-opener for all healthcare professionals to realize that they must stay healthy to deliver effective patient care. As a rule of thumb, always remember the advice you give your patients and try to follow it.
