Impact of hydration and nutrition on personal performance in the clinical workplace

As clinicians we sometimes fail to look after ourselves at work. We often do not drink enough during the day or miss lunch breaks while caring for patients, and this can be particularly evident during an all-day operating list when procedures are long and complex. Some operating theatre staff do not even eat breakfast regularly. Inadequate intake of fluids or nutrition can impair performance, lead to tiredness and headaches, and may compromise both our own health and the care we provide to patients. Other high-risk organisations, including aviation, have recognised that employees must look after themselves if they are to optimise their performance. In this review, we discuss the importance of adequate hydration and nutrition at work to raise awareness that this is essential if we are to provide the best care for our patients.