Nutrition and Nightshift Nursing

 

Nutrition and Night Shift Nurses

I have always wondered if any studies had been done on nutrition and working night shift, particularly nursing. The hospital environment is not always conducive to healthy eating habits. Cafeterias are not open, and even if there were extended hours, having the time to actually go there and buy food is often an issue. Bringing food from home is usually the option for many nurses when working 12-hour shifts. 

    While preparing food at home is a good way to make healthier choices, due to the long hours and fatigue when doing several shifts in a row, it doesn't always happen. Nurses still need time to go shopping and prepare food before their long shifts. According to (Horton Dias, C. et al. 2020), working nighttime shifts has a definite impact on unhealthy eating. Actually, having adequate time to sit down and eat is another issue brought up by a couple studies. Nurses make a habit of eating at the nurses' station, for example, when they sit down to chart, because it may be the only time they have time to sit. Well, many regulations do not allow eating in patient care areas (Horton Dias, C. 2020). Management may be emphasizing taking a break, but the reality is, this is not always practical. 

    The normal circadian rhythm is controlled by the brain, and it affects things like immune system strength, digestive function, and cell repair/regeneration (Tucker, S. 2020). When this circadian rhythm is disrupted, we become more vulnerable to illness and disease. Proper nutrition can help protect our bodies by strengthening our immune response and promoting good health. Nurses who work night shift in particular, want to eat healthy, but don't always have the opportunity. 

    I started using an app called Yuka. This app allows you to scan the barcode on groceries to see the nutritional value and the overall rating for "healthy". It also tells you whether or not it has a lot of additives that could be harmful. The screenshot to the right shows one example of the information that comes up when you scan the barcode. I started using the app to make better choices with nutrition; especially with long night shift hours and having gone through some health issues myself. This product is healthy, but it does require being kept in the freezer until ready to eat, so it was not always my first choice. 

    

I emailed Julie at Yuka to tell her how much I loved her app! It is very addictive. I got a few co-workers hooked on it as well. We are always looking for ways to make some sort of changes in our health, even if it's a small thing. 

I did find some things at the grocery store that do not require refrigeration or freezer, and they became game changers for me. I lean towards a plant-based diet when I can because articles, I have read claimed that more of a plant-based diet gives our bodies those important qualities like antioxidants, anti-inflammatory and nutrition packed. I try to take fresh fruits and vegetables to work, but again, it is not always feasible due to the need for refrigeration or at least a cooler bag. 

        These Protein Bowls by Tasty Bite are an example. They do not require refrigeration, and can be eaten as is, or heated up. Tasty Bite also makes meals in pouches that only take 60-90 seconds to heat up, and in general, most of them score high on the Yuka app for protein, nutrition and limited or no harmful additives. 

One of my other "go-to" foods is this ready to eat overnight oats by Brekki. It scores high on the app for nutrition and no additives. It obviously requires a cooler bag or stored in refrigerator, but it is a good quick healthy alternative that can be eaten in a pinch! 

Working night shift or any shift at the hospital, for that matter, can be challenging for nurses to stay on track with healthy eating. One of the articles I read mentioned the presence of "free food" being around, like cookies, candy, pastries, pizza, and other things that are often brought in by management, peers, or appreciative family members. (Horton Dias, C. 2020). The convenience of these things makes it easy to grab and go rather than taking the time to sit down and eat what was brought from home, even when nurses try to be healthy. 

    In general, making healthier choices with food is a small change nurses are able to do. If they can get passed the usual obstacles of time constraints, storage ability, designated areas for eating, and convenience, perhaps there could be a positive impact in the health and well-being of night shift nurses. 

Hospital and Shift Work Influences on Nurses’ Dietary Behaviors: A Qualitative Study - PMC (nih.gov)

Nursing, night shift, and nutrition (myamericannurse.com)

Sharon Tucker, P. A.-C.-B.-C. (2020, June). Nursing, night shift, and nutrition. Retrieved from American Nurses Association: https://www.myamericannurse.com/nursing-night-shift-and-nutrition/

Horton Dias, C. &. (2020). Hospital and Shift Work Influences on Nurses' Dietary Behaviors: A Qualitative Study. Workplace health & safety, 68(8),, 374-383.