Unhealthy Habits of Nurses

[lynns75]

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?

[Murse91]

This is not meant to be personal. The key message is that we as nurses are role models!

[VivaLasViejas, ASN, RN]

We as nurses are also HUMAN.

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

Hey Richard, a question was asked and he responded. It's not like he just walked up to someone and spouted off.

If you disagree, fine, but there's no need to be disagreeable.

And "stop judging" is a whiny, overused retort that needs to die.

As you said, no need to be disagreeable.

Your response to Richard is as disagreeable as it gets.

[Ruas61, BSN, RN]

This is not meant to be personal. The key message is that we as nurses are role models!

It becomes way personal when you decide that ALL nurses are a role model.

You can certainly apply that to yourself but it is inappropriate and not your place to decide that for all other nurses.

I am many things, but being a nurse is just one component of it.

[OCNRN63, RN]

We as nurses are also HUMAN.

​Just not allowed to be human.

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

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?

Nurses are human beings with human frailties. If only the perfect examples were allowed to provide nursing care, we would all be in serious trouble.

I was recently treated in an ER, my nurse was morbidly obese. As a professional, that did not effect my response to her care or teaching.

I can only assume how a lay person would respond to an overweight nurse or one that smells like smoke. Hopefully, they would appreciate the care they received, even coming from an imperfect human being.

[duskyjewel]

As you said, no need to be disagreeable.

Your response to Richard is as disagreeable as it gets.

As disagreeable as it gets, really? I think you've been on this board long enough to have seen much worse. If you disagree, fine, but let's not engage in hyperbole.

[_Skittles_]

Frankly nothing I learned in school has encouraged me to live a healthier lifestyle. Eating better and exercising daily seems pretty impossible and frankly if someone doesn't want me as their nurse or doesn't think my nursing is credible I'm fine with that, but I haven't met a single patient that has had that issue with me.

On the smoking side of things - smoking is very calming. I started well aware of the dangers. I quit because work places are now requiring employees to be tobacco free. I understand not wanting employees to smoke during and before the shift, as a patient and coworker I would be pretty miffed to smell that all day and while it doesn't necessarily ruin a nurse's credibility it does put patients in sour moods and make them hate you...or worse yet they try to bum a cigarette and lighter off you!

[duskyjewel]

Frankly nothing I learned in school has encouraged me to live a healthier lifestyle. Eating better and exercising daily seems pretty impossible and frankly if someone doesn't want me as their nurse or doesn't think my nursing is credible I'm fine with that, but I haven't met a single patient that has had that issue with me.

On the smoking side of things - smoking is very calming. I started well aware of the dangers. I quit because work places are now requiring employees to be tobacco free. I understand not wanting employees to smoke during and before the shift, as a patient and coworker I would be pretty miffed to smell that all day and while it doesn't necessarily ruin a nurse's credibility it does put patients in sour moods and make them hate you...or worse yet they try to bum a cigarette and lighter off you!

That's a whole lot of rationalization in one post. Whew.

Eating better and exercising daily are impossible? Then how do you explain those of us who do it?

[Anna S, RN]

I don't care what other nurses do as far as their health is concerned. It's none of my business. I'm there to work, not judge.

[_Skittles_]

That's a whole lot of rationalization in one post. Whew.

Eating better and exercising daily are impossible? Then how do you explain those of us who do it?

I actually have an allergic reaction from working out as well as being exposed to the cold. Allergy meds don't work and it's not my detergent or fabric softener as some people suggest. So yah working out is impossible. I eat as healthy as I can, fruits and veggies and avoid processed foods and red meat but proper portion sizes aren't enough even when I pick "filling" foods and leave my mind feeling rather hazy. A hazy mind sounds like a GREAT idea for a 12 hour nursing shift with critical patients, right? -.- I love the judgement some people feel the need to give.

[MrChicagoRN, RN]

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

But of course...

Everyday I strive for perfection in mind, body, spirit

people often mistake me for Rob Lowe from Parks & Recreation, even though I'm probably 10 years his senior

the Most Interesting Man in the World comes to me for advice

Lips that touch alcohol will never touch mine

I always tell the truth, and nothing but the truth.