Unhealthy habits/Facebook posts from friends/family that make you :( ?

Nurses General Nursing

Published

I know it's NOT my job to police my friends and family... However,

My aunt just posted a photo of heavily carb-laden Chinese food plates that she (diabetic) and her husband (also diabetic) are about to enjoy. She does this all the time. I have told her this is dangerous and she needs to be careful, but now I'm just biting my tongue and hoping she doesn't get a nasty ulcer.

Also have a friend with a morbidly obese 5yo child that she buys 2 adult sized meals for (have witnessed this when I was in town to visit family... , I wondered what was causing it until I saw it first hand) . It's hard not to cringe when seeing photos, knowing how the parents feed him. Said friend does crossfit and eats healthily herself, but why stuff the child like that? Her other child is obese too. Have not said anything to this one.

Of course, there are the hoards of anti-vax friends... I just bite my tongue and move along.

Just curious what the rest of you encounter on facebook or even on a daily basis. Do you feel compelled to "educate", or are you like me and keep your mouth shut and wish you'd have said something?

Specializes in Trauma, Teaching.

It is sometimes hard to turn off the "I am a nurse and I want to fix everything I see/hear/encounter". As in those threads "you know you're a nurse when..." and people post all the crazy stuff we do outside of work (like fixing the slings of total strangers in Walmart).

It took a while, but when I'm off the clock, my nursing is OFF DUTY. Except for emergencies. Or slings in Walmart :speechless:. My facebook people are not my patients. My facebook people are not my patients. My facebook friends are not my patients. ad infinitum!

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Pediatric Float, PICU, NICU.

This is one of many reasons why I don't do social media :up:

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It doesn't bother me in most circumstances. Everyone has different values and just because health is (often) a major priority for nurses doesn't mean it is for the general population. If someone asks me for advice I'll gladly give it but otherwise, outside of work, I keep my thoughts to myself.

There are some rare exceptions to this, anti-vaccers being one. Occasionally I'll also speak out against some of the crazy fad diets and detoxes that people do, but never on social media.

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I hear you loud and clear. My mother just passed on from CHF that was caused by HT. My family and friends are constantly posting their muscle laden, fried in lard, servings large enough to stop a herd of wildebeest's recipes. I don't post back. I do try to educate about the "silent killer." I put many health related diet stuffs on my FB page, hoping that maybe some of my friends/family will notice. No, it's not our job to police our friend's FB pages, but I don't know how much longer many of these people are going to live healthy!

I had a small get together not to long ago with my sister, her husband, nieces, nephews...I noticed that my brother in law only had 1 beer when he usually had 3 (limit). I asked why and he said his doctor told him to lose weight and that he had better get his BP under control. So I brought out my trusty BP cuff and had a BP party. My sister and her husband's blood pressure were out of this world...I can't understand how they were vertical! Neither one of them wants to take medicine for it because they want to stay pill free. I told them go ahead and be pill free, but plan on joining mom in a few decades if not sooner.

There are ways to teach. I've sent private messages to some of my closer friends but to no avail. They respond with the I know, I'm trying, etc... It isn't until something serious happens, that's when people will wake up. It's true people are going to do what they want to do...that doesn't mean we can't try :yes:

As nurses we wear many hats...Keep the faith

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Specializes in Psych, Corrections, Med-Surg, Ambulatory.
I hate "99% of people will scroll past this post. If you love God, country, our soldiers and Jesus, like and share!"

Those purveyors of guilt risk banishment from my news feed. :mad:

Yes, I'm definitely in the 99% of those who keep scrolling. I consider those posts to be the cyber equivalent of chain letters.

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Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.

I wanted to broach a similar topic.

Is it just my generation & below that thinks it ok to have a passcode on your device(s) & not give it to your significant other? I don't get it. I've seen waaay too many people think it's ok to lock your phone & not let your siginificant other be able to get into it. Those people find nothing wrong with the fact that they are hiding things. Well they don't think they are hiding anything.

I have my phone locked because I have a toddler & don't want him doing who knows what on it. But my husband has the code. I just can't wrap my head around keeping something from him & thinking it's ok.

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Yes, I'm definitely in the 99% of those who keep scrolling. I consider those posts to be the cyber equivalent of chain letters.

There is a newer version. You are supposed to share a "fun game" from a FB friend's page, which is a series of questions . . . I scroll past those too.

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Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
I wanted to broach a similar topic.

Is it just my generation & below that thinks it ok to have a passcode on your device(s) & not give it to your significant other? I don't get it. I've seen waaay too many people think it's ok to lock your phone & not let your siginificant other be able to get into it. Those people find nothing wrong with the fact that they are hiding things. Well they don't think they are hiding anything.

I have my phone locked because I have a toddler & don't want him doing who knows what on it. But my husband has the code. I just can't wrap my head around keeping something from him & thinking it's ok.

Your first paragraph is unclear -- are you saying that you disagree with others of your generation and younger generations who believe it is correct to lock your phone without giving the code to your significant other?

My phone is locked; my SO has been told the passcode, but it's not something that he would remember unless he writes it down. I don't know that he's written it down. I don't know that he hasn't. His phone is locked, and the passcode is something that I can easily remember. But he sleeps with his phone and when awake, it is rarely out of his hands. So even though I have the access code, chances are very small that I'll be picking up his phone and perusing the contents. Even if I were inclined to do so, which I am not.

I think "OK" or "not OK" depends partially upon the relationship between the two individuals. Folks who are just dating -- it seems wise to lock your phone and not share your passcode. You may THINK you can trust him, but I've heard stories from my younger friends that make me shudder. If you're married, perhaps you should trust one another with the contents of your phones -- not to do so does seem to be "hiding things."

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Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.
Your first paragraph is unclear -- are you saying that you disagree with others of your generation and younger generations who believe it is correct to lock your phone without giving the code to your significant other?

My phone is locked; my SO has been told the passcode, but it's not something that he would remember unless he writes it down. I don't know that he's written it down. I don't know that he hasn't. His phone is locked, and the passcode is something that I can easily remember. But he sleeps with his phone and when awake, it is rarely out of his hands. So even though I have the access code, chances are very small that I'll be picking up his phone and perusing the contents. Even if I were inclined to do so, which I am not.

I think "OK" or "not OK" depends partially upon the relationship between the two individuals. Folks who are just dating -- it seems wise to lock your phone and not share your passcode. You may THINK you can trust him, but I've heard stories from my younger friends that make me shudder. If you're married, perhaps you should trust one another with the contents of your phones -- not to do so does seem to be "hiding things."

Yes, I am saying I disagree. Sorry for the confusion.

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There are some things in a marriage that should be respected. If the trust is not there, than the marriage is not either. I do not insist on delving into every nook and cranny of my husband's life, his files, chats, texts, etc.... If you have a need to check your husband's cell phone to feel secure, than it is what it is.

I am one of those who doesn't have an ugly green monster rearing it's head if I saw a screen lock on his cell. I am secure in my relationship and could care less what his passcode is (if he has one). That's how interested I am in his cell...I don't even know.;)

Life's short...enjoy

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Delete Facebook and be free of these anxiety inducing issues.

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Social media was once a lot more fun when it first came out- before all the political rants, everything everyone liked about people I don't know, and the overall bloat.

I found it useful to limit its use, limit your numbers of friends, comment sparingly and post infrequently.

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