Long shifts can be a pain. Literally! Have you ever had a long workweek and found that your ankles were swollen, your neck was stiff, and your body just ached all over? While some pains can be tolerated or eased with medication, others linger and can affect you both mentally and physically. And when it comes to naming worst offenders, we’d like to nominate back pain as being the worst.

Any chronic back pain should be evaluated by a specialist. But if you’re just trying to get through your shift, then we suggest trying one of these tips for dealing with a backache:

- Ice it. During the first 2-3 days of pain, put an ice pack on your back to help reduce inflammation.

- Heat it. After an initial 2-3 days of icing your back, switch to using a heating pad or taking hot showers. The heat will help the muscles to relax and loosen.

- Hydrate. Make sure you are drinking plenty of water. Minimize your intake of alcohol and caffeine. Dehydration does strange things to people and can often make body pain worse.

- Keep moving. Although you should avoid lifting heavy objects and doing twisting motions with your spine, it is essential to keep moving. Otherwise, your muscles will begin to tighten and stiffen. Ask your doctor which exercises are safe for you to do and make sure to do them at least 15 minutes a day.

- Get some shut-eye. Getting at least 8 hours of sleep a night will help your body to prioritize the healing process. Try some relaxation techniques (meditation, deep breathing, etc...) if you have trouble falling asleep.

- Stand up straight. Your momma was right when she told you to quit slouching! Good posture helps to relieve general back pain. (Bonus: practicing clenching your abdominal muscles throughout the day. A strong core will help to improve your posture!)

- Replace your shoes. Are your shoes worn out, too big, too small, without padding, or lacking in heel and arch support? Improper footwear affects posture and spinal placement. Skip the ballet flats, high heels, and flip-flops for a week and instead wear your gym shoes. Or, head to a footwear speciality store to have your gait and foot shape analyzed for proper footwear.

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Yes, your lunch break is a coveted time of getting away from your hectic workday. You’d be crazy to use that time for anything other than a relaxing meal, right?

Well, you could be wrong. Especially if you’re not able to find enough time to work out before or after work. After all, doctors and health advocates recommend an hour of exercise a day! Exercise that can help to manage weight, fight disease, improve mood, and boost energy.

Too tired or busy to get a workout in before or after your shift? Check out these top ways to maximize your time and exercise on your lunch break:

1. Pack a liquid lunch and go for a walk during your entire lunch break.

2. Take 15 minutes and do some intensive cardio (jogging, cycling, etc...). Try intervals of 30 seconds at top intensity and 90 seconds of catching your breath.

3. Find the stairwell and do 30 minutes of stair-climbing.

4. Do 10 minutes of chair squats (sitting and standing from your chair in quick repetition).

5. Try wall push-ups (face a wall, place your palms on the wall, lean in, and push back to standing) until your arms burn.

6. Alternate a minute of abdominal exercises (such as crunches) with a minute of stretching for 10 total minutes.

7. Talk to your supervisor and colleagues and get everyone to pitch in on hiring a yoga or Pilates instructor to teach on-site lunch break classes.

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Nurses are always kind, patient, compassionate, angelic beings who selflessly sacrifice their time and continually speak words of affirmation to everyone around them... Right? Yeaahhh...

Okay, maybe you know a few nurses who don’t fit the above description. Or maybe you know a lot! Either way, the nursing profession ‘aint exempt from foul moods, grumbling, complaining, and even full-out rudeness. And while everyone has their moments, some people seem perpetually stuck in a bad mood rut. So what do you do if you’re stuck with a coworker whose attitude is more devilish than divine? Before retaliating (or catching the bad mood bug yourself) try one of these tips for dealing with your coworker’s bad mood:

- Set mental boundaries for yourself. If your coworker starts to say something negative, then remind yourself that you have a choice of whether to let it affect you or not.

- Focus on something positive. After dealing with a bout of your coworker’s negativity take a moment to think of everything that you are personally thankful for.

- Avoid mocking, gossiping about, or making sarcastic remarks in response to your coworker’s mood. This can cause his or her negativity to escalate.

- Consider talking to your coworker. If you have a close relationship with the person then you may be able to gently challenge him or her to set aside negativity and refocus on the job at hand. Or, you may just want to ask him or her what’s wrong and be a listening hear.

- If you feel you are being harassed or that the chronic rudeness is affecting your job performance, then speak to your supervisor. Be sure to keep track of your coworker’s offenses and exactly what is is said or done.

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It’s National Nurses Week! And it’s not too late to do a liiittle something extra to celebrate. After all, you know how tough and draining the nursing profession can be! This week, take a moment to commemorate your hard work and the dedication of your colleagues. Not sure what to do? Check out these Nurses Week office celebration ideas:

1. Use National Nurses Week as a kick-off for a fundraiser. Give the donations to a local charity in honor of a nominated nurse from your organization. When promoting the fundraiser, highlight the efforts and hard work of the nominated nurse.

2. Bring in extra baked goods, notepads, special pens, coffee mugs, etc... and leave them in the break room for your colleagues. Consider giving a special gift card or thank-you note to a coworker who has gone above and beyond the call of duty.

3. Compile a trivia sheet with info on famous historical nurses and a timeline of the history of nursing. Print up copies and pass them out to coworkers. Have copies placed in the reception rooms at your medical institution.

4. Get in touch with local businesses and see if you can snag discounts or coupons for you and your fellow nurses. Often, community business owners are willing to offer RNs special deals during Nurses Week.

5. Contact your local newspaper and see if they have done a write-up about National Nurses Week. If they have, ask for a copy of the article so that you can post it in the break room. If they haven’t, suggest they do a write-up spotlighting a deserving nurse.

6. Join our Facebook Contest with Giveaways EVERYDAY!

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Join Scrubs123.com in celebrating National Nurses Week on our Facebook Page!

National Nurses Week as deemed by the American Nurses Association begins each year on May 6th and ends on May 12th, Florence Nightingale's birthday. In addition, National Student Nurses Day & National School Nurses Day are also celebrated this week. The nursing profession has been supported and promoted by the American Nurses Association (ANA) since 1896. National Nurses week was originally created to recognize the great difference Nurses make in our communities.

Scrubs123.com wanted to celebrate Nurses Week in a BIG way this year, for no other reason than to show how much we LOVE Nurses! Join us on Facebook for a chance to win prizes daily - We can't wait to see you there!

Mother’s Day is just around the corner! Have you got your gift picked out? You know, flowers are nice, but a little cliche. Chocolates are good, but only if she’s not dieting. And while it’s definitely recommended to get her a heartfelt (or cheesy) Mother’s Day greeting card, we suggest doing something a little more. Something like giving her a gift that is useful, lasting, cute, and eye-catching. And if your mom’s a nurse or medical practitioner then your Mother’s Day gift dilemma just got a little bit easier!

Check out this Mother’s Day gift guide for all scrub-wearing mommas:

For sore feet in need of some extra TLC... Try Oxypas | Jade - Comfortable Nurses clogs. Breathable and super comfy!

For toting stuff back and forth to work... Take a look at Medline | Totes | Large Go Green Recycled Polyester with Zipper. They come in an array of spring colors and are extra roomy.

For fun... Check out this adorable Medline | Dolls | Anastasia The Nurse Doll! Perfect for displaying on a desk, shelf, or collectibles cabinet.

For relief from dry, chapped skin... Get some Remedy Skin Repair Cream (4 oz.). It’s extra hydrating and is a top choice among medical professionals.

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