The years of post-secondary education are some of the best years of your life. Whether you decide to do something you love or something you hate and end up changing your major a couple of times. We create life-long friendships that become family. But with, the workload, including the classes and studying can be very stressful, especially for nursing job and caregiver education in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. The stress that continues to build throughout written and clinical exams can lead students to poor health, whether it is due to sleep deprivation, not eating right or both. However, there are several things that students in nursing school can do to remain healthy emotionally, mentally, and physically. 

Eat Fast, Healthy Snacks

Nursing and PSW students are some of the bravest students. With the hustle that they are thrown into each semester, many of them find it difficult to take the time to consume the proper amount and right nutrition for their bodies. What ends up resulting from this is, fast food becomes the most convenient option. However, fast food can also be replaced by fast and easy snacks such as almonds, cashews, and fruits and vegetables such as cucumbers, blueberries, and bananas. These foods are all super easy to grab on-the-go but can keep you full while healthy. Along with that, studies have proved that these foods provide the brain with a bigger boost of energy when compared to, for example, chips or chocolate. 

It is also important to note that indulging in fast food every once in a while, is normal. With, there are healthier options students can opt for, rather than the ordinary Junior Chicken and Fries from McDonald’s. For example, students can go for a grilled chicken sandwich/ wrap and a salad rather than a cheeseburger and fries. A grilled chicken provides more for the body than the alternative burger and allows you to indulge occasionally still.  

Stay Hydrated – Make Water your Drink of Choice!

Aside from eating healthy, and nutritious meals, PSW students must ensure that they do not become hydrated. Consuming the right amount of water for your body type, and gender is extremely important in overall energy levels and other aspects of your day. For example, drinking water between meals can keep you feeling full between meals and curb away cravings for junk food. Although drinking water is one of the best ways for the body to stay hydrated, there are other sources of water intake as well, such as fruits and vegetables high in water content. In contrast, sugar-based drinks such as pop, and/or juices can curb your thirst/ hunger for a short period of time while being harsh on your stomach. As nursing and PSW students, one of the best practices is to try to avoid drinking more caffeine and substitute that for water. This can help you retain more energy throughout the day rather than experiencing the caffeine crash mid-day and having to consume more coffee throughout the day. The average body needs 2.5 litres of water a day to be considered properly hydrated. 

Fix Your Sleep Schedule

We have all experienced being students at least once in our lives, and with we can all say that one of the biggest problems that students face is sleep deprivation. This is especially true for nursing students. Sleep deprivation contributes to many health dysfunctions such as becoming easily irritable, stress, and impaired immune function. Often, nursing and PSW students find themselves getting 3-5 hours of sleep, instead of the recommended 8 hours a night; this can increase the risk of becoming distracted, and lowering your levels of energy, resulting in students turning to caffeine. Students who do not get enough sleep are quicker to make poor choices, leading to poorer health and ultimately lower grades. All of these are reasons to ensure that students, especially future caregivers to get at least 7 hours of sleep every night. Along with that, having a night routine before going to bed can improve the overall quality of sleep; for example, not drinking or eating an hour before sleep to ensure your body is not spending the time, you’re sleeping digesting the food, and instead allowing your body to rest. 

Create a Daily Routine, Be Organized

One of the best ways to stay healthy is ensuring that your day is well planned, and your body works on a routine. Future caregiver students may find that forming a schedule that includes time slots for food preparation, exercise, studying and other activities, such as socializing with friends, helps students stay task-focused and healthy. This is very similar to the night routine that was mentioned earlier and can help improve your college years. With, it is also significant that those you are surrounding yourself with, such as classmates, should be aware of your routine, if not following their own to enable you to be encouraged throughout the process.

It is also imperative for nursing students to be organized. Studies show that reading assigned materials before lectures and then reviewing them afterward helps students retain information for longer, allowing students to perform better on exams and practicums. Finally, just because nursing school is stressful does not necessarily mean that your health should take a backseat.

Caring Support Platform

At Caring Support.com, The dedicated healthcare employment platform transforming the way people search for healthcare candidates. They allow future caregivers including RN’s, PSW’s, and RPN’s to have a platform to voice their concerns and connect with others as well. Along with that, Caring Support provides caregivers with a platform to reduce the stress of finding employment following the hectic years of nursing school. If you are a recent graduate looking for employment, make sure to create your free caregiver account. Along with that, Caring Support provides a Facebook group for current and future caregivers to communicate with one another and share their thoughts and concerns.

As students, taking care of your bodies and staying healthy during nursing school can reduce your stress and ensure you achieve your goals and become a successful and happy caregiver.