'Unhealthy' nurses...bad examples?

[fifi2323]

I hope this post doesn't offend anyone,but I have noticed a lot of the nurses I know are overweight,smokers or both. Obviously people become nurses because they completed school,and are qualified to do their jobs,which has nothing to do with physical appearance or vices.

Its common knowledge that smoking and/or obesity can kill you,but I would think those in the healthcare field would have a more acute idea of how health is jeopardized by these things. I am asking one out of curiousity,and secondly because I myself am overweight. I was just wondering if anybody has ever gotten any flak from patients or higher-ups? Or do you feel you aren't taken as seriously because of how you look,or because you need a cigarette break? I hope this hasn't happened,since its discriminatory and wrong,but we all know that doesn't mean much!

[gwenith, BSN, RN]

thread closed for interim - under moderator review.

[gwenith, BSN, RN]

this thread has been reviewed and problematic posts have been removed. unfortunately that also means that some, excellent posts that were valid and reasoned responses to the problematic posts were also removed, as they would have made no sense in relation to the new continuity of the thread. we apologise to any member inconvienced and hope that the continued discussion of this topic remains fruitful and polite.

[leslie :-D]

I Am A Nurse And A Smoker. But I Am A Good Nurse, And Can Still Educate Patients On The Effects. I Consider That My Personal Life. As Far As It Being A Bad Example, If I Quit Does That Mean All Of My Patients Would? I Think Not. Competence And Professionalism Is Way More Important, I Think Pt's Would Agree.

this is where i struggle.

i too, am a smoker and also an excellent nurse.

one has nothing to do with the other.

but honestly, i do feel like a hypocrite when educating pts against smoking.

fortunately, i'm a hospice nurse so all my pts are dying- not much need in educating.

i remember in earlier yrs, listening to my doctor educate me on the importance of healthy wt., no smoking, moderation, etc., and looking at her, morbidly obese- she lacked credibility.

it had nothing to do with her abilities as an md- she was awesome and was highly competent.

but yes, she lost me when she started preaching about the importance of healthy lifestyles.

she was even sob when walking around her office.

so yes, should i ever work in a specialty where i need to do pt education, i will seriously strategize as to how to educate w/o feeling hypocritical or losing credibility.

so many of my hospice pts w/lung or bladder cancer, had asked me if i smoked.

i meekly responded in the affirmative.

i truly felt shame, esp knowing it was their smoking that was their demise.

this thread has made me think alot, about my personal responsibilities as a nurse.

much for me to reflect on....

leslie

[amygooch]

Can you say Donald Trump. That just jumped out at me.

I think we're all in agreement that appearances can be misleading--to the good or to the bad.

I don't know anyone, myself included, whose behavior is completely consistent with their knowledge, their wisdom, or their beliefs. We all fall short of what we want to do and be. We do things we know we shouldn't and don't do things we know we should. But at some point, the healthiest thing you can do is to stop beating yourself up over whatever imperfections you're struggling with and simply be who and where you are.

Therein lies a peaceful acceptance of what is real. And with that can come the ability to make changes out of freedom rather than compulsion. You no longer have to strive and flail to be acceptable because you already are, warts and all. You can see your faults and know they are not YOU.

When this happens, other people begin to relax around you because you don't need their approval to feel good. The irony is that in this new conditon, you're far more likely to have their approval. You just won't neeeed it to be happy.

I'm attracted to people with wisdom and sense and humor and skill and a repertoire of good jokes and a collection of fabulous recipes (along with the willingness to make them) and a silly streak and competence and an appreciation of simple things (like me on some days) and, well, you get the picture.

Turn-offs are people who are chronically angry, arrogant, boastful, scheming, jealous, vengeful, unforgiving, incompetent, careless, rude and twisted. I can still care about people who have these traits, but sometimes I have to love them from a distance.

No mention of appearance in either category.

Miranda, I just have to tell you that I totally LOVE your writing style!! You expressed every thought I had, and others that I would have only had if I was as smart as you, but that I totally agree with!! :) Thanks for expressing "our" thoughts! Hugs, Amy

[Corvette Guy]

this is where i struggle.

i too, am a smoker and also an excellent nurse.

one has nothing to do with the other.

but honestly, i do feel like a hypocrite when educating pts against smoking.

fortunately, i'm a hospice nurse so all my pts are dying- not much need in educating.

i remember in earlier yrs, listening to my doctor educate me on the importance of healthy wt., no smoking, moderation, etc., and looking at her, morbidly obese- she lacked credibility.

it had nothing to do with her abilities as an md- she was awesome and was highly competent.

but yes, she lost me when she started preaching about the importance of healthy lifestyles.

she was even sob when walking around her office.

so yes, should i ever work in a specialty where i need to do pt education, i will seriously strategize as to how to educate w/o feeling hypocritical or losing credibility.

so many of my hospice pts w/lung or bladder cancer, had asked me if i smoked.

i meekly responded in the affirmative.

i truly felt shame, esp knowing it was their smoking that was their demise.

this thread has made me think alot, about my personal responsibilities as a nurse.

much for me to reflect on....

leslie

Leslie, that was an excellent post! The honesty and applicable personal experiences you shared shed great light on what I've been trying to communicate on this thread from the beginning.

Thank you!

[leslie :-D]

Leslie, that was an excellent post! The honesty and applicable personal experiences you shared shed great light on what I've been trying to communicate on this thread from the beginning.

Thank you!

thank you, cg.

i find that my kids, my pts, the guy down the street, end up helping me help myself and in turn, enables me to spread the wealth.

it's not just about nurse/pt, but about our relationship w/man.

and back here on earth...... :)

leslie

[darkclown]

I can't speak about weight as I've always been thin. However as an exsmoker of 28 years I can tell you that smoking is no simple vice or lifestyle choice. It is a DRUG ADDICTION!! It is also a disease, one that has killed more people than all the wars put together. If you think terrorism or AIDS are the big threats on the world stage, think again. I often wonder if doctors shouldn't be sued for not providing the proper remedy to their pts who come to them seeking an effective treatment. I belive the medical community as a whole contributes overall to the confusion surrounding smoking by prescribibg the very drug the pt needs to quit taking ( nicotine replacement therapy). As for nurses who still smoke, knowlege has never been a cure for an addiction. As a nurse, I knew enough about smoking to be ashamed of what I was doing. I would sneak out and smoke in my car and try to hide it. I would never carry a pack of cigs in my front pocket for pts to see as I see nurses at work do now. I guess I'm much to vain.

[HD11]

I also can't stand not being able to breathe around coworkers becasuse they smell like an ashtray.

dude i soooo agree with you. im finishing up my BSN right now...yay ONE MORE SEMESTER. anyway, it really stinks when you are going to class and have to walk through a cloud of smoke. :wink2: .

i feel your pain.

[Nurset1981]

It feels like it always comes down to this. I am overweight and extremely intelligent, competent and basically fabulous. =) Nursing is the only place that I've never felt put down because of my size. Aren't we trained to be objective and accepting and treat people regardless of what brought them to us. Shouldn't we apply that same courtesy to our co-workers? If a 51 yo overweight man died because of and MI are you gonna tell his wife and kids that he died beacuse he's fat? Don't you think he knew that and his family knew it too? People make choices and choose to live by them. You can't force your ideals or your morals or your way of life even if you know its not right. We are here to preserve life as best we can with the tools we have. Not to pass judgement.

PS. Ever try and lift up a 350# pt with a skinny nurse? lol...don't want to offend the skinny nurses!

[ImShelly31]

Ask me if I want a thin, lousy nurse or an overweight competent one?

AMEN AMEN!

[PamUK]

I dont see any reason why a nurse should follow a healthy lifestyle any more than a builder should have a superb house or an accountant should be finanacially savvy or a firefighter have smoke alarms in his house. As long as they are competent when they do the job that they are paid to do, thats all the general public can ask for

[ckben]

I dont see any reason why a nurse should follow a healthy lifestyle any more than a builder should have a superb house or an accountant should be finanacially savvy or a firefighter have smoke alarms in his house. As long as they are competent when they do the job that they are paid to do, thats all the general public can ask for

you don't see why an accountant should be financially savvy or why a firefighter should have smoke alarms in his house? really???