At the core of human behavior is the need to tread the path of least resistance.

This is true for any career but especially for nursing as there are so many demands made of nurses and so little time. If there is one thing that all seasoned nurses know, it is that there are simple tips and tricks to make your #Nurselife that much easier. But if you are new to the profession, you might not know the tricks of the trade.

If you are looking for ways to better optimize your workday, we have put together a list of nurse life hacks that will make you wonder, how did I not think of that before?

Enjoy! (and maybe share your own hacks in the comments section!)

Nursing Life Hacks 

There are no shortcuts to quality care, but there are ways you can definitely be creative, confident, and more efficient. Let’s take a look at life hacks nurses will appreciate.

Body Fluid Cleanup Hacks

In nursing, it is inevitable that you will experience some type of bodily fluid accident. To help make the mess more manageable, be sure to try some of the following hacks:

• Wear double gloves to easily change soiled ones.
• Use hydrogen peroxide or baking soda for dried blood stains.
• Double mask and pair with toothpaste, Vicks Rub, or shaving cream on your nose to mask unpleasant smells.
• Smelling rubbing alcohol can help with nausea.
• Apply shaving cream to soiled skin for easier clean up.
• Place a glow stick at the bottom of a throw up bucket for easier access at night.
• Use lotion on wipes to wipe up mystery dried substances. 

IV Hacks 

Want to be an intravenous rockstar? These hacks can help you find veins more easily:

• If veins are hard to find, try tapping your hand on the space. If that does not work, try to bring a warm towel or washcloth to the area to help bring blood to the surface.
• Remember, don’t rely solely on sight. Trust your fingers to help you find veins that are tucked away.
• Nitroglycerin ointment can be a huge help in finding your “stick spot” as it helps dilate the veins.
• Promote better blood flow by having patients dangle their arms downward so as to move blood towards potential insert sites.
• If a patient has hairy arms, place a gauze square between the patient's skin and the tourniquet so as to not pull their hair.
• Use a basin as a trash can as there are a lot of pieces to throw away when starting an IV.

Daily Patient Care Hacks

As many patients cannot do a lot of things for themselves, here are some simple life hacks to help you help them:

• If they have knotted or matted hair from being in the bed, drop a few drops of rubbing alcohol to break down oils and products that might have led to the knotting. Then, brush out the knots.
• Warm up your stethoscope by simply rubbing the diaphragm with your hands to avoid giving patients a cold jolt.
• Sprinkle baby powder on bedpan seats before patients sit down to prevent their skin from sticking.
• Does the room smell? Add coffee grounds to a small cup.
• Have a lonely, scared, or angry patient? Have a therapy dog come visit. There are tons of free programs in every state.

Nurse Accessory Hacks

Keep the supply closet visits to a minimum with these nursing accessory hacks:

• To carry tape around with you, slide a roll of tape over your ear tub to rest on the binaural spring of your stethoscope.
• Place a Post-it note on the back of your badge to write down immediate room needs.
• Use tegaderm to write quick notes on, instead of writing on your arm/hand.
• Keep a protein bar in your pocket in case the day gets away from you, and you don't have time for lunch.
• Is the healthcare facility running cold? Rub Vaseline on your skin to retain heat.
• Compression socks will greatly help reduce foot pain.

Apparel and Beauty Hacks

Although a nurse’s ensemble for the workday is pretty simple, there are awesome hacks you can use to make life more comfortable — and maybe even more fashionable.

• Keep glasses from sliding around by putting skin prep on the bridge on your nose.
• Use a hair clip to wrap your mask loops around your head to avoid daily ear pressure.
• Pretreat scrubs before you wear them to avoid fading. Simply wash them in cold water and add a half cup of vinegar.
• To keep bobby pins in place, spray them with hairspray before putting them in your hair.
• Sew buttons on the sides of a headband and attach mask ear loops to the buttons for more comfortable wear.
• To look more wide eyed and awake, line your bottom waterline with white eyeliner.
• Buy matching sets of scrubs to easily get dressed in the morning but also to have replacement sets if one top gets soiled during the workday.
• Apply a drop of peppermint oil to a mask to enhance breathing and comfort. 
• Lost your hair tie? Use a glove. Cut off the bottom elastic opening and use it as a hair tie in a bind.

Nurse Self-Care Hacks

To give yourself a better work-life balance, try some of these self-care hacks to improve your life:

• Struggling to fall asleep? Take a hot bath! By taking a hot bath, your body temperature rises then falls, and this rapid temperature change relaxes your body and helps you feel sleepy.
• Get some black out shades to help you sleep during the day when working night shift cycles.
• Avoid using technology an hour before bed to help your brain shut off and not have light responses.
• Have a journal at your workstation to practice daily mindfulness when you feel you are running on empty.
• Practice reframing when things seem hopeless, unfair, or too difficult. 
• Check your food and mood relationship, and try to eat foods that add to your day, not those that make you feel sad, judged, or lethargic.
• Share your talents at work! By engaging coworkers and even your patients with art, music, or crafts, you can greatly add to their wellbeing.
• Create consistency in your daily routine; it is the path to mental health. Make your bed every morning, floss your teeth every night, and place your keys in the same place when you get home.

Nurse Life Hack Happiness: Get It? Got It? Good! 

Life hacks are endless, and like good stories, they are passed down from one nurse to another. Connect with your fellow nurses on how you can learn more and maybe even share some of the hacks from this article! 

At Nursa, we aim to provide nurses with resources and services that make their lives easier. Whether it's through our per diem app that allows PRN nurses to find jobs on the fly for the best pay or by sharing with nurses all of the knowledge they need to succeed from our extensive library, we are here for you.