RN Health Issues

There is no obligation. I am a person who works 40 hrs/week as a nurse. My personal life is my own and I have no obligation to be a role model to my patients. That said, in inner city pediatrics and pediatric oncology, I can honestly say I've never discussed smoking or obesity with my patients. I'm more worried about, you know, people not stealing their children's valium. And I can model that behavior just fine.

Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN · Oct 8, 2014

I work in critical trauma. Like KelRN I spend exactly zero time teaching about smoking and obesity. Now I am not obese, nor do I smoke...but as I type this I am noshing on gummi bears and PB cups. I consumed 4 shots of espresso today. The only exercise I did was chase the baby. I slept four hours last night. And I'm a quite competent RN. :)

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide · Oct 8, 2014

I hate to see another slugfest break out here when there are a gazillion other threads on the same topic. Maybe if we just let this one die of its own accord, it will encourage our new member to go take a look at them. :yes:

brandy1017, ASN, RN · Oct 10, 2014

We aren't hired to be "models'', just to do the job of keeping the patients alive and well! Feel free to be the health model you so idolize. Some thoughts start a wellness committe, you can call it the healthy role model obligation committee, haha, see how many members sign up. lol If you were a nurse you would probably have a wellness option with your health insurance so sign up and be the perfect stepford nurse and you can be a role model for us nurses to follow in your footsteps. lol Frankly, I don't get paid enough to be anyone's model! I'm looking forward to modeling early retirement. lol

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Oct 10, 2014

Welcome to AN!

We are happy to help with homework....but we need to know what you think first. What semester are you?

brandy1017, ASN, RN · Oct 10, 2014

I hate to see another slugfest break out here when there are a gazillion other threads on the same topic. Maybe if we just let this one die of its own accord, it will encourage our new member to go take a look at them.

I know you're right, but I just couldn't resist giving my two cents worth. So tired of this perfectionist view of nurses. Why do people think nurses have to be perfect, noble and selfless. It just gets so old! Enough already! Nurses are just ordinary people that went to school and studied science and nursing, not angels or martyrs or role models for wellness!

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide · Oct 11, 2014

I know you're right, but I just couldn't resist giving my two cents worth. So tired of this perfectionist view of nurses. Why do people think nurses have to be perfect, noble and selfless. It just gets so old! Enough already! Nurses are just ordinary people that went to school and studied science and nursing, not angels or martyrs or role models for wellness!

breeeeeeathe.....in.....out.....let it go.....

The trouble with posts like this is that they go South in a hurry and wind up getting shut down. I know it's tantalizing, like yanking on a stray bit of yarn on a sweater and unraveling the whole sleeve, but it really is best to vent your spleen in one of the 500 other threads on this topic. And FWIW, I happen to agree with you. :yes:

Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN · Oct 11, 2014

My profoundest apologies to VivaLasViejas for doing compressions on this thread...but I had some more thoughts, and I just have to.

Being a role model for health is not part of the nursing process. The nursing process is assessment, dx, planning, intervention, and evaluation--of the pt/client. Neither is it in our job description...at least it hasn't been in any job I've had. (Maybe if we're employed as a life/health coach or something, but not for most of us who are employed in hospitals or nursing facilities.) Patients and families want a nurse who has it together, is knowledgeable and can explain what's happening to the lay person, can maintain their cool in an emergent situation, and of course has a good bedside manner. This week I took care of a young trauma pt whose boyfriend put her into the ICU. Her mom was distraught and was extremely protective, and initially would break down at the thought of leaving her daughter's bedside even to get a meal or take a shower. After a couple of days as her RN though, the mom developed a trust in me and allowed herself to leave for a few hours and take care of herself. I promise, that trust had NOTHING to do with the fact that I am a healthy weight and don't smoke or drink. It had everything to do with the care that she witnessed her daughter receiving.

Upon some more thought, I realized that even when I worked med-surg I didn't spend any time teaching about weight loss. When most days we have to make the effort to get a lunch break, there really isn't much time for teaching on overall lifestyle changes; what takes priority is teaching on things pertinent to their admission. Things like incision care, new meds, sx they need to call their provider for following discharge etc.

But say for the sake of arguing that the RN/LPN does take the time to sit down and educate on weight loss. Say that said RN/LPN is overweight him/herself. If the pt is ready to make a lifestyle change, they are going to make the effort regardless of how the nurse appears and will not make the excuse "Well the nurse doesn't do that herself..." If the pt is not ready to make a lifestyle change, nothing the nurse tells the pt to do is going to make them ready--even if she looks like an elite athlete.

Also, let's say that the RN is 5' 2" and weighs 250 lbs. All the pt can tell is that the RN weighs 250 lbs. The pt cannot accurately come to the conclusion of what kind of lifestyle the RN leads. Six months ago, she could have weighed 300 lbs for all the pt knows--she could very well have cut all refined sugar and most fat from her diet, and she could walk five miles every night and thereby REDUCED her weight to 250 lbs.

I wonder if med students ever pose these questions to practicing physicians? "I'm a champion of physicians that model healthy lifestyles. What do you think is the obligation of physicians to be health role models? How do we address topics like smoking and obesity with our patients when the doctor clearly does not take her own advice and teaching into practice?"