As a travel nurse, you know how important it is to eat well and get plenty of exercise. In fact, you probably talk about this with your patients. However, when you're on the job, one thing you might find yourself lacking is sleep. Between the rigors of nursing, adjusting to a new city and making friends, it can be tricky to make sure you're getting enough rest. On future travel nursing jobs, you should make sleep a priority and ensure you're taking care of yourself.
Central to well–being
Sleep isn't just important for getting through the day – it's essential to your overall health. Lack of sleep can leave you feeling both physically and emotionally drained, but it can have a range of other serious side effects as well.
If you don't get enough rest, you may not be able to learn and retain information as effectively. Your concentration span could diminish, making it harder for you to pay attention. When working with patients, this can be particularly dangerous, as you might miss crucial symptoms or underlying causes of their condition. Plus, the more tired you are, the more likely you are to make mistakes. Even a procedure as simple as setting up a patient's IV can be risky if your mind isn't completely on the job.
Another negative side effect of sleep deprivation is weight gain. As a travel nurse, you already know that a healthy, balanced diet is crucial to overall wellness, but a lack of sleep can cause your metabolism to slow, meaning your body will store carbohydrates as fat, leading to a bigger waistline. And as you well know, prolonged weight gain can cause a range of other problems, like diabetes.
Over time, if you don't get enough shuteye, your stress levels could rise. Cortisol, the "stress hormone," can build up if you aren't adequately rested, leading to increased irritability and even more serious cardiovascular conditions like hypertension.
Hit the hay
Armed with this knowledge, it's obvious that you need to get enough sleep when working travel nursing jobs, but sometimes it isn't that simple. The stress and pressure of everyday life, combined with the responsibilities of being a travel nurse, can lead to insomnia and exhaustion – so what can you do to ensure you get enough rest?
One of the first things you should do is establish a set bedtime routine. Go to bed at the same time every night, as this can regulate your natural circadian rhythm and make it easier to nod off after a long day. Similarly, make sure your bedroom is free of clutter and distractions. Sure, it's tempting to check in with family and friends on Facebook when you're lying in bed, but doing so reinforces the idea that your bedroom isn't a space for rest and relaxation.
Some people find it hard to sleep when they've just had something to eat or drink. To avoid this, brush your teeth and hour or two before you actually plan on going to sleep. This might just dissuade you from snacking, which might help you doze off a little easier.
Of course, sometimes, it's just impossible to fall asleep. If you're hit with a sudden bout of insomnia, don't toss and turn for hours. Simply get out of bed and do something relaxing, like drink a cup of tea, read a good book or listen to some soothing music. After a while, you might feel your eyelids drooping again.
Above all else, make sure to take sleep seriously. Get plenty of rest, and don't forget – a good night's sleep most definitely counts as "me time!"