The FIT Nurse

[NN, RN]

Hello! So while I was in nursing school, I noticed a lot of nurses were unhealthy and overweight. Yes, we have little or no time to take breaks and eat, yes, we are constantly on our feet and get too tired to go to the gym, and, yes, we neglect our own health to take care of others. But, we need to be healthy and fit in order to take care of those in need. There are no excuses. That is why I think ALL nurses should practice what they preach!

I am a new RN. I have experienced the nurse life throughout nursing school, and will continue the nurse life for many more years to come. Before I decided to become a nurse, I worked in a gym since I was 15 (I am 23, almost 24 now). I started off as unhealthy, overweight, and unmotivated. When my father was diagnosed with prostate cancer and DM2 back in 2010, our whole lives changed. Our diets and exercise habits completely did a 180. I realized that this unhealthy lifestyle we were living, was doing damage to us. From that moment on, I decided to get motivated, become healthy, and put my father on the right track to becoming healthy as well (which, now, he is free of cancer and maintaining his DM2 via diet and no meds). I asked for help from a trainer at my gym (who has now been my boyfriend for over 2 years), who got me into shape, have a clean diet, and not only lose weight, but also maintain the weight loss. Diet and exercise is a lifestyle.

I am currently the healthiest I have ever been in my life. I workout everyday for at least 1 hour, including cardio and weights. On my 12 hour clinical days, I skipped the gym because that is already a workout in itself….and let's face it, by the time we get home, we get ready for bed and sleep. I made sure to have a healthy, consistent diet on my shifts. I currently still work part-time at my gym, while applying for hospital positions. The manger and owner of the gym offered me positions as a personal trainer. I am working on getting my personal training certificate. I don't want to just be that typical” nurse. I want to be that FIT nurse, who works hard, trains hard, and is a positive example to patients.

I think that ALL nurses and those in the healthcare field should practice what they preach. How can we tell patients to take their BP meds and Cholesterol meds, if we don't? How can we tell them to exercise every day, if we don't? What type of example are we to them?

What do you guys think?

[Libby1987]

I think you are going to infuriate a lot of defensive nurses.

IME nurses as a group do not prioritize fitness and many not even diet. There was a thread a short while back asking for breakfast and lunch ideas to bring to work. One idea was a PopTart in the car. I can't remember the other ones but they were along the same absurdity. My suggestion of almonds and string cheese with a piece of fruit that I usually carry was overlooked.

[wishiwereanurse, BSN, RN]

I bet you have the same opinion with nurses who smoke...

[noyesno, MSN, APRN, NP]

Nurses have to eat their feelings, don't ya know.

[NN, RN]

people who eat their feelings, don't know how to control their feelings. Yes, as nurses, we deal with so much, but doesn't mean we have to be prompted to that negative trigger.

[cheezwizz90]

I agree with the original poster. Most nurses are extremely unhealthy and hypocritical. How can they expect a patient to become healthy when they are not healthy or setting a good example? most hospitals do have a gym. They should not charge any fees for staff to be able to work out. obesity is the major physical downfall of the human race and a huge inconvenience to the entire world. Have you ever had to take care of an obese patient? It is terrible! it ruins my entire shift when I have to take care of an obese patient. It is a drain on the entire unit. They require special equipment and I have no pity for them. Obesity is the fault of the patient every single time. There is no genetic abnormality that makes adipose tissue and calories spontaneously appear. they almost always have diabetes, they require more than one meal tray, a special bed, special chairs, more staff to complete their activities of daily living, a lot more medications, usually have sleep apnea, usually have high blood pressure and almost always have venous stasis ulcers or a yeast infection that stinks really bad. And worst of all they are usually grumpy people with poor attitudes and they are seemingly angry at people who have taken care of themselves.

Keep it real.

[nursel56]

Hi MilanTrisnaRN! This is a pretty hotly debated topic here, and normally I think it's fine when someone starts a new one. Lots of people want "real time" discussion and I agree with that 100%. In this particular case, though I'm going to post links to a couple of past threads on the topic so you can get some of the opposing perspective on this. Not trying to shut down your thread, though!

"There's nothing worse than a FAT nurse!"

How important is your 'look' as a nurse

[Libby1987]

I agree with the original poster. Most nurses are extremely unhealthy and hypocritical. How can they expect a patient to become healthy when they are not healthy or setting a good example? most hospitals do have a gym. They should not charge any fees for staff to be able to work out. obesity is the major physical downfall of the human race and a huge inconvenience to the entire world. Have you ever had to take care of an obese patient? It is terrible! it ruins my entire shift when I have to take care of an obese patient. It is a drain on the entire unit. They require special equipment and I have no pity for them. Obesity is the fault of the patient every single time. There is no genetic abnormality that makes adipose tissue and calories spontaneously appear. they almost always have diabetes, they require more than one meal tray, a special bed, special chairs, more staff to complete their activities of daily living, a lot more medications, usually have sleep apnea, usually have high blood pressure and almost always have venous stasis ulcers or a yeast infection that stinks really bad. And worst of all they are usually grumpy people with poor attitudes and they are seemingly angry at people who have taken care of themselves.

Keep it real.

For anyone who might be leaning toward this ****** attitude towards the people who are vulnerable to you, I beg you to read Gary Taubes "Why We Get Fat" and watch Dr Attia's TedTalk video.

[BrandonLPN, LPN]

Older nurses tend to be overweight and unattractive because they spend so much time eating their young.

[vanilla bean]

Oh, Milan. I'm glad to see in your role as an RN for less than a week you have decided to take many of your new peers to task for failing to meet your standards. Let us know how that finger wagging and self righteous attitude works for you when you start working as a nurse.

[vanilla bean]

I agree with the original poster. Most nurses are extremely unhealthy and hypocritical.

How dare you endorse such an unhealthy product by having "cheezwizz" in your username? I mean, you're a nurse... don't you know how hypocritical that is?

I'm sorry. I couldn't help myself.

[NN, RN]

What does any of this have to do with taking care of one's health as a nurse? I am simply prompting a topic. I do not have "standards" that people have to meet. Everyone needs to meet their OWN standards. This is my opinion. I will let you know how it is when I start working! I can't wait. Thanks for being so kinds! =)