Imagine a weigh in as part of your employment application… followed by a reassessment throughout the year. Could this be a reality in the future? Since hospitals stopped hiring smokers - it does bring up the question: How far could employment requirements go?
Whilst hospital staff should be shining examples of health and happiness, the reality is, we are really just normal people; Some mothers and fathers, many of us struggling to manage long shifts combined with our other responsibilities.
Nurses work long hours, and throughout the day must put their needs aside for their patients, making it especially hard to stay healthy. I do believe it is possible to stay healthy and fit on the job. However, it does take a tremendous amount of planning, focus and discipline.
Some argue that patients will not accept our advice or education when they think we do not care for our own bodies as they think we should. In this situation, stick to the research and facts. Regardless of your own health issues, it does not have any effect on your patients.
Her point about patients being put off by obese nurses isn't totally valid , IMHO. People don't always take health advice for many reasons. They aren't ready, don't want to hear it etc. It isn't only obese nurses, I have heard people say--"She looks like she is just out of high school what does she know about having a baby? That nurse is so old she doesn't remember what is like to be a new mom. What does a man know about postpartum depression?" Mostly when patient doesn't want health advice, it is more about them than about the nurse or provider.
I just watched the video and do not understand the comments slamming the OP. She is saying exactly what you all are saying. Did you watch the video?[/quote
Yesss. This video us anti- body shaming. I just want her to put her hair up, but I am old, plush and grouchy. Are nurses allowed to wear long hair at work these days? Talkin' about areas with sick people, not desk jobs.
Surface level aesthetics of the speaker is so captivating :)
That said, i'll respond with this story, i fractured my leg as child and my provider was over weight. When we left the hosptital i ask my mom; "can we really trust a fat doctor" She said "well son do what they say but don't do what they do"
This is actually already happening. At my old place of employment you have health screenings annually - BMI, BP, labs (sugars, cholesterols) - and you were given a rating. And depending on the rating, you had to do certain things - follow up with the nutritionist, doctor, etc. - throughout the year. It doesn't mean you were required to be healthy, but as an incentive (or punishment, depending on how you look at it), your insurance rate was higher or lower based on your rating. For example if you are a smoker, you naturally got a higher score on the rating scale, and your premium was higher than someone who wasn't a smoker. You can reduce your premium by doing their cessation program.
This had more to do with the insurance company then the employer. I use to work for a very large insurance company. My role was a "health coach", when people didn't meet certain biometrics, BMI over 27, high stress, unhealthy eating habits, etc... they would be encouraged to participate in health coaching. The incentive was usually a monetary reward at the completion of the program. If you were a smoker you were REQUIRED to participate in quit coaching. If the smoker didn't participate then their premiums would increase substantially. This was a way to help keep the insured out of the insurance company pocketbook.
Agree with much of this post! Honestly, though, I would love to hear more from someone who actually came to be fit after the struggle of being overweight and then getting fit and healthy, especially someone who is say, over 35 or 40. It was much easier when I was in my 30s than it has been at my age now. I am working out, reducing calories but it's been a hell of a struggle. My daughter is eating the same way I am and has lost 35 pounds. Yes, I am teaching my kids how to make better choices and it's sticking. It's just hard for me to take advice from someone who has not likely walked my walk yet and has not hit the challenges that peri-menopause brings. The video is very well-meaning and I get the message and yes, we can do better and should. But again, I would like to see someone who has already made changes and succeeded, and came back from overweight struggles, show us how they did it.
But that may just be me.
50's
Post-menopause
Three kids
Worked full-time as a single mom
Verified celiac
History of anxiety and depression
Lost 45 pounds gluten-free low-carb, it was not easy
It's an ongoing effort to eat right, minimize what I shouldn't eat and get out and move after a long day and other things have to go by the wayside, just can't do it all
That's not to say what worked for me would or should work for anybody else, we all have our own personal set of circumstances
If they do, they'll have to do away with shift work and other stressors, since these contribute to obesity.
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That said, if a facility wanted to help improve employee health, there are a lot systemic changes that can be made from the top with no change in the employee's lifestyle. Social determinants and all that.
I think you did a nice job on your video. 😊ðŸ‘We all make choices. I chose a job that I commute an hour each way to, 4-5 days per week, plus call. I chose to attend school full time. These choices sometimes leave me tired and stressed. However, I also choose to eat healthy foods and make sure to get my 10,000 steps as frequently as I can. We cannot control all aspects of our health, but we are not powerless either. The average nurse's BMI may be 27.2, but I don't think that's outlandish, when the average American woman's is 26.5. We need to take care of ourselves so that we can have the stamina to care for others.
If we did this, we would lose a lot of good people, even in the nursing school phase. Many of my fellow students, including myself, are overweight. We are intelligent, consistent, confident, students, and 2 of us overweight students are at the top of the class. While grades dont indicate nursing skill, they do show dedication. I wouldn't have applied to nursing school if I knew I couldn't get a job because of my weight.
I agree; I know I weigh more than I should at my height but I will never be one who is at a perfect weight for my height; my problem was not overeating or lack of exercise; hormonal problems relating to POD and hypothyroidism as well as metabolic issues relating to my diabetes. I was in hapkido 4 to 6 times weekly as well as full time floor nursing when I began to gain in my abdomen; my legs have always been heavy due to long walks, bike riding etc growing up. I have tried diets, increased diet monitoring for diabetic diet, etc. Only place I can lose weight is in my chest and face, lol So frustrating to look like I am 6 months or more pregnant and back fat and not be able to do anything to get rid of it. Before my hysterectomy I would gain every month only in my abdomen due to my period hormones according to my doctors -from looking like 4 to 6 months pregnant to looking like I'm overdue to give birth. Still have the belly but almost no boobs since they're the first to go when my weight goes down. Guess my point is remind yourselves and your patients that when you see someone who is overweight it does NOT mean they are over eaters or don't care for themselves.
Yeah! It would be nice if we got longer than 30 min (if you can get away that long) for lunch. Able to hydrate and use bathroom regularly. They tell us if we feel sick call out. But only allowed to call out twice a year LOL. They tell us to hydrate and be healthy. But no time to hydrate. Or no drinks allowed in the station. It's like......???????
imenid37
1,804 Posts
Her point about patients being put off by obese nurses isn't totally valid , IMHO. People don't always take health advice for many reasons. They aren't ready, don't want to hear it etc. It isn't only obese nurses, I have heard people say--"She looks like she is just out of high school what does she know about having a baby? That nurse is so old she doesn't remember what is like to be a new mom. What does a man know about postpartum depression?" Mostly when patient doesn't want health advice, it is more about them than about the nurse or provider.