A gut-check from a wound & ostomy nurse who knows the struggle is real (and real slow)
Let’s talk about something near, dear, and backed up—our bowels.
If you’re a nurse (or anyone in healthcare), you already know: Nurses don’t poop like they used to. Somewhere between the 12-hour shifts, too much caffeine, too little hydration, and holding our bladder until it feels like a personal achievement… our guts have thrown in the towel.
As a nurse, (most of them spent talking about poop more than most people talk about the weather), I’ve seen it all. From chronic constipation to stress diarrhea, to the poor soul who swore she hadn’t pooped since the last full moon—gut health is no joke. And it’s way more connected to our skin, mood, energy, and wound healing than most people realize.
So today, I’m diving deep into the constipation crisis, nurse edition.
🚫 Why Nurses Are the Constipation Poster Children
Let’s break it down, shall we?
1. We Never Sit Still (Except on the Toilet, Praying for a Movement)
On our feet all day, running from room to room, charting while standing… we burn calories but somehow forget to drink water or even breathe properly. Hydration? Fiber? Regular meals? LOL.
2. Caffeine Is Our Blood Type
Coffee to wake up. More coffee to stay awake. Maybe an energy drink for the night shift. That much caffeine can dehydrate you AND slow digestion, even though it’s technically a stimulant. Betrayal.
3. We Ignore Our Bodies
Feel the urge to poop at 9 a.m.? Sorry, you’re in wound care rounds until noon. By the time you’re free, your colon has emotionally shut down and decided to store that stool indefinitely.
4. Shift Work & Stress = Gut Confusion
Your body loves a rhythm. Your schedule? Absolute chaos. Add stress, skipped meals, no sleep, and your microbiome starts googling “How to apply for early retirement.”
💩 Constipation Isn’t Just Inconvenient—It’s a Skin + Gut Issue
This is where my love of gut health and skin care nerdiness collide. Constipation isn’t just a plumbing problem—it impacts:
- Detoxification: If you’re not pooping, you’re reabsorbing toxins meant to exit. That can show up as acne, dull skin, breakouts, and more.
- Inflammation: Sluggish bowels can increase systemic inflammation, which slows down wound healing and messes with your skin barrier.
- Hormone Balance: Estrogen is excreted via the gut. If you’re not going, hormones recirculate. Hello, mood swings and breakouts.
- Mood + Energy: Your gut helps make neurotransmitters. A backed-up colon can lead to foggy thinking, fatigue, and straight-up irritability.
👩⚕️ Nurse Truth: If you’re constipated and cranky, it’s probably connected.
🚽 What Can You Actually Do (That Doesn’t Involve Quitting Your Job)?
Yes, we’re busy. But your gut deserves more than a once-a-week courtesy flush. Here’s what I suggest:
✅ Hydrate Like It’s Your Side Hustle
Keep a giant water bottle at your station. Chug during charting. Add electrolytes if plain water bores you.
✅ Fiber Up—But Gently
Start with chia seeds, flaxseed, oats, or berries. Don’t go from 5g to 30g in one day, unless you enjoy bloating and regret.
✅ Magnesium Is Magic
Magnesium citrate or glycinate helps move things along and eases muscle tension (which we ALL need). Just start low and go slow.
✅ Move It, Even Just a Bit
Desk job? Stretch. Walk the hallway. Do squats in the breakroom (bonus: coworkers think you’re fitness goals).
✅ Poop Routine = Gut Gold
Try to poop at the same time each day. Sit. Breathe. Do not scroll. Your colon deserves your full attention.
✅ Probiotics + Prebiotics
Balance your gut flora with fermented foods (yogurt, kimchi, kefir) and prebiotic-rich foods (onions, garlic, bananas).
🧻 Final Flush: Nurses Deserve Smooth Moves, Too
Let’s not normalize constipation. Let’s normalize talking about it—and doing something about it. Because regular poops aren’t just about comfort. They’re about whole-body health—from your skin to your stress level to how well that surgical site heals.
So here’s to fiber, hydration, and pooping like a nurse who finally remembered she has a digestive system.
Need help getting your gut back on track?
Stick around. I share real talk, skin tips, gut-loving recipes, and more—straight from a nurse who’s seen the (bowel) light.
💩 Because constipation may be common, but that doesn’t mean it’s normal.
