'Unhealthy' nurses...bad examples?

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Specializes in CT ,ICU,CCU,Tele,ED,Hospice.
It wasn't me who made that comment, and I agree that one can be both outwardly attractive and a competent nurse. However, one can also have weight management issues and be a competent nurse as well. How ironic that in one breath you protest being stereotyped and in the very next breath, you apply a stereotype yourself! The vast majority of overweight nurses I know are well able to handle the physical demands of the job. If there are those who can't, their situation should be addressed individually by management... just as thin nurses who may have difficulty with the physical demands of the job should be. The whole point is that weight, thin or heavy, doesn't equal competence. It just doesn't, and no amount of spinning will make it so.

excellent well said

banditrn

1,249 Posts

I don't think that a person's outward appearence has anything to do with beauty - it's their spirit that makes them beautiful. And some outwardly beautiful people can have an ugly spirit.

Sometimes, tho, it takes awhile to come to that realization.

leslie :-D

11,191 Posts

I don't think that a person's outward appearence has anything to do with beauty - it's their spirit that makes them beautiful. And some outwardly beautiful people can have an ugly spirit.

Sometimes, tho, it takes awhile to come to that realization.

while to others, it's a no-brainer.

i guess it all comes down to as to how one defines beauty.

to judge a person, based on their physical appearance, is short-sighted.

i guess it takes all kinds, sigh.....

leslie

Elisheva

200 Posts

I'm sure I'll get lots of static for this, but you gotta wonder about the mindset (healthy?) of a nurse in the first place. What other kind of professional with a degree:

1. Works 12 hour shifts/nights/weekends/holidays?

2 Accepts that taking BS from doctors/patients/families/other healthcare workers is just a part of their job ?

3. Works daily in an enviroment of feces/urine/blood?

4. Subjects themselves to contaminated needlesticks, exposure to HIV, Hepatitis B, and every bacterial contaminant known to man on a daily basis?

5. Accepts the possibility of liability every moment of every shift and for years to come?

6. Accepts work loads that are unsafe for both nurse and patient as a matter of routine?

7. Does it for less pay than a plumber?

Does that sound healthy?

Specializes in ortho/neuro/general surgery.
I'm sure I'll get lots of static for this, but you gotta wonder about the mindset (healthy?) of a nurse in the first place. What other kind of professional with a degree:

1. Works 12 hour shifts/nights/weekends/holidays?

2 Accepts that taking BS from doctors/patients/families/other healthcare workers is just a part of their job ?

3. Works daily in an enviroment of feces/urine/blood?

4. Subjects themselves to contaminated needlesticks, exposure to HIV, Hepatitis B, and every bacterial contaminant known to man on a daily basis?

5. Accepts the possibility of liability every moment of every shift and for years to come?

6. Accepts work loads that are unsafe for both nurse and patient as a matter of routine?

7. Does it for less pay than a plumber?

Does that sound healthy?

It's a grungy, thankless job but somebody's gotta do it.

momo'3

12 Posts

Specializes in Long term care, Hospice.

In an ideal world, all nurses and doc's etc..... would lead perfect healthy lifestyles. We live in an imperfect world and make the best of it. In my mind being human makes us good nurses, we're the ones who watch out for the "whole person". The fact that some of us are more visably imperfect doesn't make us ineffective.

momo'3

12 Posts

Specializes in Long term care, Hospice.

Reminds me of a quote from my late-great Dad, "It takes all kinds and unfortunatley there are all kinds!"

SillyLilly

209 Posts

Im overweight.....not too bad now that I have lost some weight. Actually starting as a nurse extern helped that since I was walking around for 8hrs-compared to an office job before that.

I always laugh though, at when we have inservices or meetings or anything like that in a hospital, they always serve us Pop, Cookies, Chips, Donuts.......

Specializes in Education, Acute, Med/Surg, Tele, etc.

I pay no attention to that...each nurse is an individual and have a right to it!

I got flack one day when a patient caught me in the hallway after a smoke break as I was going to my locker to freshen up (I will put on fabreze, mints, and even change my shirt/pants if necessary!). She got mad that I was a smoker and didn't want me to care for her. I said FINE! SO after a few minutes of another nurse that wasn't as funny and light hearted she asked for me back! I came in, discussed things with her...and she understood that this had NOTHING to do with my ability as a nurse, just a bad habit I have...and thankfully the only one!

I am cool with acceptance of many different things...and I am a true believer than NURSE is secondary to individual person!

jeanine622

4 Posts

Do a search on this board-you'll find numerous threads on this topic.Most ended up locked.As for me-I don't really care if my doctor smokes or my president screws around (or if my DOCTOR screws around either)-just as long as they are competent to perform their duties.I think my persoanl life is just that-unless I am impaired on the job.

ditto...........AMEN!!

ortess1971

528 Posts

Specializes in OR.

I find it so ironic that nurses are supoosed to be examples of healthy living when:

1) Most hospital cafeterias serve horrible ,unhealthy food

2) You can actually get in trouble for calling out sick

3)When exactly are we supposed to make doctors appointments if we work days and often have to work later due to short staffing?

4)My last semester of nursing school, someone ran over my left foot with a bed-ended up with a chip fracture. I actually swore my patient to secrecy because I knew that I couldn't attend clinical in a cast or ortho shoe and I had 3 weeks of school left.

5) Many of us either overeat to deal with stress and sadness(I'm guilty of this) or smoke. Granted, these are bad for you but it's either that, or have a breakdown and I don't think you get any time out for breakdowns...they simply tell patients and visitors "just ignore that lady in scrubs that's rocking back and forth and muttering to herself.." I have started going to the gym again-I'm trying to get my nice figure back...I had the nicest legs and butt back in the day!

Tweety, BSN, RN

34,248 Posts

Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.

I think my experiences as a nurse have helped motivate to me become as healthy as I can be at the moment. I know the end stage misery of COPD, so I don't smoke. I know the end stage misery of obesity and being 40 years old in CHF and unable to walk to the bathroom, so I try to maintain a healthy weight. I try to eat 5 to 10 servings of fruits and vegetables daily and restrict saturated fat because my nursing experiences has motivated me to.

Of course I'm human and have my vices and problems and am by no stretch of anyone's imagination a role model for anyone. I make my individual choices for myself and choose not to judge my fellow nurses. For me and me alone it would be very difficult to take care of a COPD patient and run out and smoke without it nagging at me pysche in some way. :)

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