Unhealthy Habits of Nurses

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What are your thoughts on nurses participating in unhealthy habits. Does it bother you if a fellow nurse smokes or if they are overweight? Do you feel any different as a patient if your nurse walks in and is overweight or smells like smoke? If you were/are a nurse who smoked/smokes or who had/has a weight problem, did everything you learned in school about health prompt you to make any changes? If so did the changes stick?

Ok, kids, play nice or Mama COB is gonna have to swing some bat here!!

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So the degree the nurse earned, the experience she/he has, and the excellent patient care he/she provides is not credible because they're fat or use tobacco?

Never thought I'd thank God for a.board of nursing, but I'm happy there's an entity that judges our merit by our qualifications and not our waist lines.

My response wasn't meant to assert that the nurse has no merit. I'm simply stating what this scenario would look like from an outside perspective.

The nurse may have the adequate information or even be an expert on the topic yet the patient won't listen beyond what they see. Otherwise I'm on board with what you said.

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Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

Where's the beating-dead-horse smiley when you need him?

Really, this topic has been done to death and it never ends well. The best thing would be for the OP to meet with and interview practicing nurses, but of course that takes time and effort. Nevertheless, I will suggest it and hope that he or she actually learns something from going through the process. Not everything can be learned off the Interwebz.:no:

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Where's the beating-dead-horse smiley when you need him?

Really, this topic has been done to death and it never ends well. The best thing would be for the OP to meet with and interview practicing nurses, but of course that takes time and effort. Nevertheless, I will suggest it and hope that he or she actually learns something from going through the process. Not everything can be learned off the Interwebz.:no:

Oh, but her teacher told her to do this.

Unless this assignment is REALLY designed to show how people will get ridiculous arguing over hot topics (and raising the same stereotypes in doing so, time and again), there will be no info to gain here.

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Specializes in Psych, LTC/SNF, Rehab, Corrections.

Meh.

Of course, there's credibility.

Most nurses know that they're wreaking havoc when they overeat/drink to excess/smoke/take drugs. They do it ANYWAY. That's not strange. It just makes them no different from anyone else.

Most pt's act out of ignorance. They can't connect the dots.

The nurse just says, "Hey you're having issues because of this, that and the other. Fix this and quality of life should improve'.

Meanwhile, the nurse as a patient doesn't have to wonder. They already know why they're swelling or SOB and their bp's through the roof.

Most nurses that I know take care of everyone BUT themselves. Not sure why that is.

Recently had an aunt die

(she was that ornery "Crusty Old Bat" nurse for decades, LOL. When I passed boards, she wanted me to apply at her job. I said to myself, "Hell, naw....! You will not be MY nurse supervisor." I picked her brain from afar but I wasn't about to throw myself in the midst of that tornado. She was hardcore. She would've nitpicked me to tears. I worked under one of her daughters as a CNA and rec'vd the finger-wagging lecture of a lifetime about leaving a soiled brief on the floor that I'd thrown at the trashcan and missed. "When you become a nurse --" she began. That was enough! )

who behaved the same way. Had blood clots among other things but stopped taking care of it - stopped going to the doctor, wouldn't get her stress test, etc... - but would lecture her kids and give out medical advice to everyone who appeared to need it. "You need to elevate your legs." ; "You need to go get that checked out." "You need to decrease how much you eat." ; "You need to ---"

Her son had surgery and she was literally his nurse for several months.

No one countered her because she was right. The family was surprised when the cause of death came out, though. I KNOW that she knew what was going on with her. Her sister, 73 years and still nursing (people in my family age well and are spry in their old age. Black don't crack, honey! ) also a nurse, and daughter, a PA, agree with that assessment. They blame her doctor. I don't. She didn't fight for life, for a reason. I suppose I'd have to be a 77 year old to understand these things but I believe that some people just plain get tired of living.

That a nurse with HTN is telling your fat "two double meat Whataburgers away from a stroke" self to work out more often and decrease salt intake doesn't make what they're saying...any less truthful. That a nurse WON'T follow their own advice has nothing to do with the pt. If you, the pt, think so? You've completely missed the point.

Anyway, I work out. I run. I don't look at tubby nurses and shake my head. People self-medicate, are fat, are sedentary, chainsmoke, etc...for all kinds of reasons. To make an issue of it is petty and ridiculous. We all have our vices. We all have our crosses to bear.

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My response wasn't meant to assert that the nurse has no merit. I'm simply stating what this scenario would look like from an outside perspective.

The nurse may have the adequate information or even be an expert on the topic yet the patient won't listen beyond what they see. Otherwise I'm on board with what you said.

You equated a fat nurse/smoker nurse teaching about diet or smoking cessation is equivalent to a homeless person teaching about finances...and went on to insist that their teaching lacks 'credibility'- your words, not mine.

To hell with the degree they earned. Disregard the experience and insight they may have on the subject because *GASP* they may be in the procesd of quitting smoking/losing weight themselves. Lets just judge on face value. Lol!

I don't know why you assume that diet teaching is better recieved from someone fit. Its about gaining the trut of the patient. You can have a body like Ryan Gosling...if you don't have my trust and meet the patient on a level that they can respect and recieve warmly, then nothing you say is going to get through regardless of your appearance or personal habits. And that ability to genuinely touch and teach people doesn't require a fit body, it takes time and self introspection.

Image isnt everything m'dear!

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Specializes in hospice.
You called me disagreeable but proceeded to call me whiny? Lol k.

No, I said the words you chose were an overused, whiny retort. But you go ahead and read it through your grievance glasses.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
Where's the beating-dead-horse smiley when you need him?

Really, this topic has been done to death and it never ends well. The best thing would be for the OP to meet with and interview practicing nurses, but of course that takes time and effort. Nevertheless, I will suggest it and hope that he or she actually learns something from going through the process. Not everything can be learned off the Interwebz.:no:

deadhorse.gif
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Have you ever heard that first impressions can significantly impact a relationship?

Well in this case, since you focused on appealing to the patient and forming a trust, if the patient has a negative and judgmental view of you then forget it.

No matter how revolutionary your care is. The fact is that people are motivated and inspired by ideals.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

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Specializes in Gerontology.

I guess that to be a nurse you should be:

a non- smoker

The perfect weight

a vegetarian, maybe even a vegan

a non- drinker

exercise every day, even those days you work a 12 hour shift

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Specializes in CEN, CFRN, PHRN, RCIS, EMT-P.
I guess that to be a nurse you should be:

a non- smoker

The perfect weight

a vegetarian, maybe even a vegan

a non- drinker

exercise every day, even those days you work a 12 hour shift

I actually know many many nurses that fit this criteria......sadly I'm not one of them :D

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