Nurse Lauren: Products I Recommend

Hi there, Nurse Lauren here! Healthcare NOW Radio continues to celebrate nurses this month. Last week, I talked about 5 Self-Care Strategies for Nurses. This week I want to share with you all the products I recommend. Here are the items that I have that get me through my shifts and my life. Looking to currently thank a nurse working on the front lines? Always wondering what to buy the nurse if your life for their birthday or the holidays? Bookmark this page!

During Shift

There are many products out there that can help health care workers feel more comfortable while on the job. For me, I’ve tried out products that help my ears (when wearing a mask,) that keep my feet comfortable, and that help moisturize my hands. Here are the items that I use regularly when I’m working.

RAVEbandz
In light of the COVID-19 global pandemic, nurses’ shifts look like they never have before. Wearing a mask the entire time has been a game changer. Using a Pro – Wide Stretch RAVEbandz with buttons allows you to wear a mask for hours without hurting your ears.

Pro Compression Socks
Nurses are on our feet for hours and hours before we even have a thought about sitting down. No one is sitting around playing cards! Do your feet hurt at the end of your shift? These socks will help with comfort level while you are on your feet your whole shift.

No Crack Super hand Cream
Using Purell constantly is something nurses have always done, but now more than ever we are sanitizing morning, noon and night whether we are on or off shift. My hands get so dry from constantly sanitizing. Use this lotion to keep your hands feeling smooth.

Staying Hydrated

Remember to drink water throughout the day to keep yourself hydrated. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine determined that an adequate daily fluid intake is about 15.5 cups of fluids for men and about 11.5 cups of fluids a day for women. How do you know if you are taking in enough water? You rarely feel thirsty and your urine is light yellow or colorless.

Yeti Tumbler
It’s important to always stay hydrated, but especially during your shift. You may be running around from patient to patient, task to task, which makes it easy to forget to drink water. This tumbler will keep your water cold for hours, the duration of your whole shift! And bonus – do you prefer hot drinks? The Yeti keeps beverages warm, too!

Cirkul – Taste the Difference
Sometimes you might want something different than plain water. But it’s hard to find drinks that are both healthy and have flavor. If you are a fan of flavored waters, than the Cirkul is for you! This bottle comes with a flavor cartridge and 30+ different kinds. Fast facts: zero calories, no sugar, all-natural flavors, and no added colors.

Get a Good Night’s (or Day’s) Sleep

Do you work the overnight shift? Even though you are exhausted, do you find it hard to sleep during the day? Whether you work day shirt or night shift, during your off hours it is imperative to rest well. May is Better Sleep Month so if you’ve been struggling with resting well there are many resources this month that can help you get your ZZZs back on track. Here are some items I can’t sleep without!

Sleep Mask by Bedtime Bliss
Comfortable, contoured, blocks out light, comes with ear plugs. Perfect for daytime sleeping.

Lush Sleepy Lotion
Lather this lavender lotion on and you will… ZZZZZZ … I’m already asleep.

2020 Year of the Nurse

The American Nurses Association has declared 2020 as The Year of The Nurse. In honor of the 200th anniversary of Florence Nightingale’s birth, the goal is to encourage inclusivity and participation of all nurses, including nurse midwives, in this landmark year of activities. Thank you to all my fellow nurses who are currently on the frontline everyday fighting COVID-19.

Share your story with #YON2020 #YearOfTheNurse

Meet Nurse Lauren

This is Nurse Lauren, contributor of NursesNOW, signing off. Nurses: send this post to the people in your life who are always asking you what you need! We have one of the most important jobs in the world, so it is imperative that we remember to also care for ourselves. Taking care of yourself is no different than taking care of your patients. Any advice you would give, you should also take. Happy Year of the Nurse!