A weighty issue

[gerry79]

Was fooled into thinking that I was in good shape! The miror lied to me! At 6 foot 4 inches and 216 lbs I thought for a 39 year old ex wanna be athlete I was doing well. Then I read my lab results from my physical and I was shocked! ALT 65, triglyceride 378, total chol 277! I realized that I need more cardio, less weights, and a lot less McDonald, Unos pizza (the best), and eggs over easy for breakfast, lunch, and dinner! I am not yet a nurse (starting school soon), and I hear how physically demanding it is, so I will need to be in tip top shape for the long haul! Great post 3rdshiftdude!!!

Gerry

[mattsmom81]

Those of you who are at the gym and strengthening are very wise indeed. Keeping strong and healthy benefts everybody....and definitely helps nurses avoid injury from repetitive stress of patient care and lifting in the strange positions we get into at the bedside.

As a nurse I don't feel any 'pressure' to maintain a healthy weight, but intelligence forces one to look at the data and conclude it is good for ALL to live more healthy lives overall. Being very human means I don't always do what's good for me.

I agree that our life experiences can help us be more empathetic towards our patients. My injuries and chronic health conditions (if I choose to share this about myself...some are obvious some are not) make me more 'human' to many of my patients, more approachable and they seem more comfortable with me than some of my thin, younger coworkers. When we are more approachable and 'less perfect' we can sometimes be more a helping presence to today's frightened, unsure hospital patients.

When my family members are dealing with end of life issues, sometimes it helps when I share my own experiences at MY parent's end of life. The interpersonal role of nursing taps into our own human experience. It doesn't require perfection, just openminded connection to other human beings dealing with their own life problems. :)

[kea6783]

I think it is even more than a weight issue. I feel pressure just to live a healthier lifestyle overall. Like the previous poster said, I also deal with lives that are very fragile and full of illness. I think the pressure I feel might very well be self-induced pressure, but how can I encourage lifestyle changes, if I am not willing to abide by some of those changes myself. So, to answer your questions, I would have to say yes.

I noticed you said you work with Veterans, just curious to know if you work in an Army hospital as a civie contractor or not??

[RNPATL, DNP, RN]

I noticed you said you work with Veterans, just curious to know if you work in an Army hospital as a civie contractor or not??

I actually work for the VA hospital in my local area. Have only just started with them, but love it.

[luvallbabies]

As a nurse, do you feel pressured to maintain a healthy weight because you are looked upon as a role model?

I haven't read thru all the responses but I was worried about the weight issue,w/ having all 4 of my kids at the same hospital almost every single nurse was way way waaayyy overweight in the mother baby unit,, I would like to work in the delivery unit but I was worried that in that part of the hospital , maybe work was to relaxed and the nurses just gained weight sitting there doing paper work while every 4 hrs bringing pt their meds????please correct me if I am wrong

[kea6783]

I haven't read thru all the responses but I was worried about the weight issue,w/ having all 4 of my kids at the same hospital almost every single nurse was way way waaayyy overweight in the mother baby unit,, I would like to work in the delivery unit but I was worried that in that part of the hospital , maybe work was to relaxed and the nurses just gained weight sitting there doing paper work while every 4 hrs bringing pt their meds????please correct me if I am wrong

I don't think it has anything to do with being relaxed, it's just that being busy and working wierd hours you don't eat a balanced meal. You could be busy and eat very little but if its the wrong food, you keep extra weight.. Ex. A: ME! Well, being busy and living the student life.