Nurses: Learn How to Make Time for You

American Sentinel University’s healthcare blog, ‘The Sentinel Watch,’ launched a new eight-part nursing blog series: ‘Back to U – Karen’s Corner’ available at http://www.americansentinel.edu/blog/2015/07/20/karens-corner-so-youre-going-back-to-school-at-your-age/ and guest blogger, Dr. Karen Whitham, assistant dean, undergraduate nursing programs shares her personal experiences about what it’s like going back to school mid-career and offers valuable insight about balancing work, life, and school to earn an advanced degree for career advancement.

This is part eight of an eight-part series.

When you’re in a helping profession like nursing, it can be very hard to make yourself a priority. But as the airline stewardess will tell you before every flight, you need to take care of yourself first before taking care of others.

As healthcare professionals, we owe it to ourselves and our patients to practice what we preach. How can we advise patients on nutrition and exercise, if we can’t find the time to do so for ourselves?

Delegate what you canWe like to tell ourselves that we don’t have time to exercise. But how much time do we spend doing things we could delegate?

Are you packing lunches for your children because they can’t do it for themselves, or are you overcompensating for the fact that you’re not a stay-at-home parent? Do you insist on doing the laundry because no one else can, or because you like it done a certain way?

Think about what you can delegate that will give you the time you need to take care of yourself.

Plan and prep healthy mealsIf you plan your meals a week in advance, you’re more likely to come home with the items you need to put healthy food on the table at home and at work.

Be on the lookout for dishes you can make ahead. Make a little extra so that eating leftovers can save you time in the kitchen.

Keep your refrigerator stocked with grab-and-go items that are good for you:  crunchy carrots, broccoli and cauliflower mixed up in a container. Keep fresh fruit and nuts around. Stay ahead of the hunger curve, by eating smaller, healthier meals throughout the day.

Put fitness on your scheduleWe often make the mistake of thinking that a small amount of exercise won’t do any good, but that is simply not the case.

Fifteen minutes of stretching each day can do your body a world of good, saving you the pain, time and expense of treating chronic conditions that will arise if you ignore your body.

Likewise, a small amount of cardio exercise three times a week will not only help you avoid heart disease, it will give you more energy and increase your metabolism.

My best advice is to start small and put it on your schedule. If you can find a workout buddy, this helps too. Most of all, if you miss a workout or have to cut one short, remember every little bit of exercise makes a difference. So get right back up on that horse and ride!

If you’ve ever dreamed of earning your BSN learn how American Sentinel can help make that dream a reality and earn your BSN in under one year and for less than $12,000.

American Sentinel University offers market-relevant, high-quality nursing degree programs, including a CCNE-accredited RN to BSN program that is ideal for nurses who want to expand their knowledge base, become more marketable and enjoy greater career stability and mobility. The RN to BSN can be earned in less than one year and for less than $12,000. Learn more about American Sentinel University’s RN to BSN degree program at http://www.americansentinel.edu/nursing/rn-to-b-s-nursing or call 866.922.5690.



About American Sentinel University 
American Sentinel University delivers accredited online degree programs in nursing (BSN, MSN, and DNP) and healthcare management (MBA Healthcare, MS in information systems management, and MS in business intelligence and analytics). Its affordable, flexible bachelor’s and master’s nursing degree programs are accredited by the Commission for the Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), of One Dupont Circle, NW Suite 530, Washington, D.C., 20036. The DNP program is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) of 3343 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 850, Atlanta, Ga., 30326. The university is accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission, DEAC, 1101 17^th Street NW, Suite 808, Washington, D.C. 20036, (202) 234-5100, www.deac.org



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