This week’s Nurse Report is brought to you by The IV Guy. Every nurse has the potential to be an IV superstar, and The IV Guy’s video courses are expertly crafted to help nurses elevate their IV game.

☀️Goooood morning! 

Tie those laces tight because we're on another adrenaline-pumped week of care, caffeine, and a wee bit of wanderlust. 

Welcome back to The Nurse Report—we’re like a delicious stuffed taco that won’t fall apart on you.

This week, we’re Reporting Live on: 

🍸The sober curious movement: how and why thousands of nurses are starting to sip’ on mocktails.

❤️An intriguing study on heart health trends that says women might just be sprinting to heart health with less effort. 

✈️  The renowned annual Condé Nast travel list and daydreaming of swapping out scrubs for swimsuits or hiking gear.

🍸Sober Curiosity: The Latest Buzz Without the Hangover

Grab your non-alcoholic beverage of choice—it’s time for a toast to the sober curious movement, the latest trend that’s making waves without the booze cruise.

The gist: while some folks are reassessing their nightly wine-down, research is pouring in with all the reasons why that might just be a stellar idea: from the cardio no-nos to potential brain shrinkage, the sober curious might be onto something. 

So, what’s the nonalcoholic version of an espresso martini? Just an espresso? We’re in. 

The “sober curious” movement isn’t about swearing off cocktails forever; it’s more like flirting with sobriety without putting a ring on it. Think of it as a more health-conscious sipping, where every drink doesn’t have to lead to a regrettable text or oversharing in an Uber.

Here’s the sober scoop:

🎉Less is more: Cutting back could mean waking up without the "What did I do?" dread.

🫣Not Drinking in Incognito Mode: Think of a craft cocktail without the hard alcohol– tasty, chic, and not weird in a social setting. 

🧠Organ health forward: Imagine, a world where your liver isn’t playing defense every weekend, or your brain is racking up stress with the Sunday Scaries courtesy of the hangover. 

⛔Over-consumption proof: You remember that night when one drink turned into ten? We don’t either. You can avoid that slippery slope, and even if you order a bunch of mocktails, you might only get a sugar crash. 

If anything, being sober curious is just the playful gateway drug into mindful consumption– a philosophy of being more intentional about what you put in your body. 

Sober, but social

Market trends are shaking up, too: non-alcoholic searches are skyrocketing; the market is growing and estimated to be worth $202.5 billion this year, and even completely non-alcoholic (or mocktail) bars are popping up in every major city.

The thirst for hangover-free mornings is gaining ground faster than a nurse in a code blue.

You may have seen the less glamorous side of excessive drinking first-hand or reflected in the long-term conditions of some patients; it’s not hard to get why people are making the lifestyle choice. 

🚑 It’s about waking up fresh, keeping those scrubs a bit looser, and maybe, just maybe, not needing to whisper "never again" on your way to work. 

For the sober curious among us, start with a drink diary. It’s like a reality check in written form. Do a little audit on why you want to reach for that drink. Stress, boredom, or is it just habit? 

There’s nothing wrong with a little drink here and there, but being mindful of why you’re doing what you do is a vibe. 

Sometimes the best nights are the ones without the buzz.

🥂 So, whatever your drinking habits, whether you’re a casual drinker, sober curious, or Stone Cold Steve Austin sober, here’s to making every sip, and shift, count.

❤️The Exercise Equation: Study Finds Women Get More Heart Health with Less Effort

In the grand gym of life, it turns out women might just be on the express treadmill to heart health, outpacing men with less effort. 

A recent study throws a curveball into the old "more is better" exercise mantra, revealing that when it comes to dodging the Grim Reaper, women score more benefits with fewer sweat sessions.

The gist of the study: a mere two hours and 20 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise per week is the sweet spot for women to reap maximum survival benefits. 

Conversely, men need to log in nearly double that time for the same health perks. 

Physical activity during leisure time reduced women’s risk of death by 24%, whereas it only reduced it by 15% for men. 

This intriguing tidbit comes from a CDC-backed deep dive into data spanning 20 years and over 640,000 people, with a final focus group of 412,413 participants after some serious statistical sifting.

🧐 But let’s think about the fine print. 

Yes, the study's findings are encouraging, but remember, the devil's in the details—or, in this case, the self-reported data. 

While participants diligently filled out standardized questionnaires, we all know the drill. What we say we do and what we actually do (especially when it comes to crunches and cardio) can sometimes part ways.

Before we get too carried away, let's not forget that these insights are based on leisure-time physical activity. 

That means all the running around you do at work, or the calorie-burning chaos of managing life's curveballs, isn't even counted in this equation. 

Plus, the study didn't differentiate between a 5-minute power workout and an hour-long sweat session. 

So, what's the takeaway? 

While we may be onto something big here, the journey to fully understanding how different activities and their durations impact our health is still ongoing. Let's also keep in mind that the study, robust as it is, can't pinpoint cause and effect with absolute certainty. 

The narrative of women needing less exercise for better heart health is compelling. Still, it's painted with broad strokes on a complex canvas of individual health profiles, lifestyle habits, and even the possibility of a little wishful thinking when recalling our fitness feats.

If you’re spending most of your day on your feet and moving around, that’s excellent news for exercise. A little off-the-clock exercise certainly doesn’t hurt– but listen to your body. 

At the end of the day, it’s always helpful to view each study with the same skepticism as interviews with the suspect in True Crime podcast– guilty until proven innocent.

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🧳 Adventure is Calling, and It's Using Your Name

It’s time to shake off the travel cobwebs and let the daydreams take flight because Conde Nast just dropped its "24 Best Places to Go in 2024.”  Meticulously researched and debated by Conde Nast Traveller's global editors (we want that job!), the list does not disappoint. 

💌 It's like a little love letter to your globe-trotting heart. 

From the hidden gems cradling the future of eco-tourism to the bustling city streets echoing the footsteps of history, Conde Nast’s year promises an itinerary as diverse as it is delightful. 

🇭🇺 This year, Budapest turns 150, inviting us to the party! Imagine sipping espresso in a quaint coffee shop nestled in a historic alleyway and soaking in its architectural beauty before hitting one of the many “ruin bars” throughout the city.  The next day? Some R&R at the thermal baths– it has the "City of Baths” nickname for a reason. 

🇬🇷Then there's the Cyclades, with its boutique hotel boom and easier-than-ever island hopping, making Greece the word on every sun-chaser's lips.  Trade the monitor beeps for waves crashing in the distance. 

🇬🇧And let's not forget Yorkshire, UK, where sprawling sheep-filled pastures meet a culinary scene brewing a revolution, one Michelin star at a time. 

🇨🇴🇨🇱🇬🇹In South and Central America, check out the river cruises at the Magdalena River in Colombia, the bronzed dusty roadways in Chile’s oldest village in San Pedro de Atacama, and the artsy openings and ancient ruins within lush jungle life in Guatemala. 

🇲🇺🇱🇰The Indian Ocean’s serene waters in Mauritius the eco-conscious luxuries awaiting in Sri Lanka are just a slice of the sustainable innovations and destinations setting new trends in travel. 

🇺🇸🇨🇦Or, keep it somewhat local in North America for the wildest staycation ever. Embrace the uncharted deep in Quebec’s heart and enter a world where indigenous culture and wilderness walk hand in hand. Or, escape to Upstate New York, where cozy lodgings are nestled in vibrant small towns for a much-needed sanctuary of the hospital hustle and bustle. 

Wherever you go, even if it’s just a relaxing “me day” at home, we hope you get the mental rejuvenation you deserve. 

If you ask us, travel for nurses should be listed as continued education. 

Diving into local culture and history aligns with nurse’s values of empathy, understanding, and the continuous pursuit of learning.

The sustainable tourism and conservation trend resonates with nurses’ care for well-being, extending it from individuals to the planet.

🌏 The world's your oyster; after all those shifts, nobody deserves to explore it more than you!

P.S. You can get a $250 AirBnb gift card by sharing the Nurse Report!