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Are Nurses Setting a Bad Example for Their Patients?

Last Updated 2 16, 2012

As I was driving to work one morning, I passed two of our local hospitals. Standing outside of both were several people smoking. About half of those people were hospital staff, including nurses. The other half were visitors, patients, etc. It occurred to me that while we encourage others to make healthy lifestyle choices, we are also subject to the same temptations of smoking, overeating, alcohol and drug use.

Let me begin by saying that this article is not intended to be judgmental or a sermon to those who engage in those habits. We are all adults and free to make whatever choices we wish. There are, however, some instances in which we do need to view our actions through the eyes of our patients.

A variety of research studies have been done in recent years which examine the health habits of nurses and the impact that they may have on patients.

For example, we know that the prevalence of obesity in the general population in the U.S. has increased significantly over the past twenty to thirty years. We also know that obesity can put individuals at a higher risk for the development of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, mobility issues, etc. Education of our patients with regards to these risks and the importance of weight management and exercise is an ever increasing part of our role as nurses. A relevant question, therefore, is whether nurses who are overweight or obese are as likely as those who are not to advise patients about weight loss.

In fact, studies have generally shown that although the vast majority of nurses concede that obesity is a diagnosis which requires intervention, a large majority of nurses do not pursue this issue with obese patients. The reason for this isn’t exactly clear. Perhaps they are uncomfortable discussing this with their patients, or perhaps they feel that they lack the credibility to have that conversation due to their own appearance. Another possibility is that the nurses themselves need more education and validation of the health risks that obesity can cause.

Another condition of concern in the nursing population includes the physical and emotional complications from stress. Many nurses work in stressful environments, taking care of everyone else before taking care of themselves. We know that the physical effects of stress can include insomnia, gastric ulcers, heart disease, headaches, fertility problems, and eating disorders. Other negative effects include disruption of family life, anxiety, and a reduction in the quality of life. We know that it is important to advise our patients that they should listen to their own bodies with regards to stress management and relaxation therapies, yet we typically do not take our own advice in this area. We teach the concepts of holistic nursing care to students, yet we do not always lead by example when it comes to our own health. Perhaps we need to be better role models for our patients as well as students and new nurses with regards to how we acknowledge and manage stress in our lives.

Stress may be a factor in the prevalence of smoking in the nurse population. We know that it is unhealthy. We know that caring for a patient after a “smoke break” while we still smell like cigarettes isn’t a good idea, no matter what the patient’s diagnosis. Do we really expect patients to listen to advice from us on the need for smoking cessation when we smell like an ashtray?

We are on the front lines of patient care. We often spend more time with patients than any other category of health care provider. We are not immune to diseases caused by our own health habits any more than our patients are immune. One of the basic tenets of an effective nurse/patient relationship is trust. The question that we need to ask ourselves is “Will our patients trust and believe us if we demonstrate in ourselves the same poor health habits that we tell them to change?”

Nurses, are we setting a bad example for our patients? Please leave a comment below sharing your thoughts!

About the Author: Lanette L. Anderson, MSN, JD, RN, is a writer, speaker and nurse educator. Lanette has been in the nursing profession for almost thirty years and has served on a variety of committees with the National Council of State Boards of Nursing and committees for the Council on Licensure, Enforcement, and Regulation. Lanette is passionate about nurse education and is currently an instructor with two online universities, as well as a teacher at the University of Charleston in West Virginia.

Click here to learn more about Lanette Anderson.

Nurses, if you enjoy writing on nursing career, education or lifestyle related issues and are interested in becoming a NurseTogether.com contributor, please click here.

Tags:holistic nursing, nurse health, nurse patient relationships, nurse smoking cessation, nurse wellness, nurses and exercise, nursing career, nursing profession, patient advocacy, patient care, patient education, professionalism in nursing

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Recent Comments (there are 32 comments)

Lanette, as one of the Nursetogether contributers myself, I enjoy reading your articles. They are thought provoking and great reads! Thank you for your input!

Posted By: Janet I on 12 17, 2010

We need to be more creative in our thinking in order to address many of these concerns. If the overweight nurse talks with a patient about weight control, the message will probably not be received well. The same goes for having a 'Twiggy' nurse discuss weight control. We should use our resources (our peers) to find the one who has successfully addressed the weight problem and can then be a model of what can be accomplished. The same goes for talks about smoking. I have never smoked and thus have no idea of how hard it can be to stop. I do know of several nurses who are former smokers. They would be my choice to talk to the patient (and family) about the challenges and rewards of smoking cessation.In any aspect of marketing health and wellness (one of three things nurses should be marketing well), we need to be aware of how we present the topic. Features are nice (your lungs will be better if you stop smoking) but people want to know the benefits (what's in it for them). When you talk with people about the benefits (being able to walk their daughter down the aisle, enjoying retirement activities, etc.), you give them a personal goal will motivate them in what can be a long journey.

Posted By: Donald W on 5 10, 2011

I agree with Donald, there are better ways to "package" how we teach not only our patients but own about the dangers of bad examples as Lanette mentions here. Sad thing is that most nurses I am working with considers "nursing" a job and therefore are just going through the motions of their routines. Do they care about patients? Absolutely-- compassion is one thing that all great nurses have in common, but as far as actually taking it to the next level and considering themselves as "role models" or "examples" of healthier living? Not so much. I would be hard press to find one nurse who can say he/she is an example of the kind of healthy living we all should be following. BUT, with this said, I am glad that we are addressing it and yes, I should know better than to have burgers and fries 3x a week for the convenience of it... Thanks for addressing

Posted By: Margie T on 5 26, 2011

Since when are nurses anything but human first? Yes this article is thought provoking and calls nurses to be aware of how we can be seen as improper role models. But honestly I think our patients know how hard it is to make those tough changes, or they would have done it already. An obese nurse can tell an obese patient just what it takes as he struggles with the same problem. I have seen this in action, to the point where this "mirroring" effect worked to strengthen the obese nurse's resolve and he lost over 100 pounds. We are human, imperfect, trying at the end of the day to pay the bills and make a difference in peoples lives while we may struggle in our own. I think our patients get that. We all need help to become our better selves and it takes work. Its true that in teaching, one has to be ready to learn and sometimes its our patients who are the catalysts and we can walk the talk because of their need to change. This career choice doesn't make us perfect, nor is there a prerequisite that makes us so. Life happens to all of us, and its the way we respond to adversity that maybe a career in nursing gives us an advantage...to overcome because of our training, and in doing so, become that inspiration to others.

Posted By: susan p on 5 30, 2011

Nurses need to be respected and allowed to care for themselves to demonstrate this to patients. Nurses who are not given chance to eat undisturbed for even 15 minutes,forced to take unsafe assignments,coerced to work overtime,forced to take call time are not able to have balance home work life. When workplace does not punish nurses who call in for ill child,saying I am too tired to work longer,I have family activity,there will be improvement in nurse self care. Unfortunately,the era of employers valuing nurses is past. Nurses are interchangeable cogs and are unfortunately showing the signs of devaluation. It is foolish to tell nurses to suck it up and be a better example for patients without improving the workplace. Over 34 yrs I have seen nursing degrade into job that I will not endorse or participate in.

Posted By: Cheryl C on 5 30, 2011

I thought article excellent. While I do smoke, when I worked in hospital and had to go outside it did not feel right. I "gave up" smoking until I was in car on way home. Stress of hospitals nursing almost klled me. Those in higher positions could have cared less. Finally it impaired my work and I left for community out-pt jobs. Nursing is not a vocation. It is a special career where you do put others before ourselves. As a single person I was loked upon to do holidays as I didn't have a "family" But i did parents and sibs of a tight knit family where occasions such as holidays were spent together. Still are although fols have passed. I worked every Christmas eve for 17 yrs. Was it my choice or my obligation. As a nurse of forty yrs I see a great change With all this Electronic nursing i dont see a lot of nurses having time for pts Quick in and out pleasant nice men and women but not able to be "there". In last 3 yrs I have been a pt. too many times and have noticed this change.Has effects of modern nursing effected us as examples for patients I feel it has, not that nurse dont want to spend time too busy with equipment dragging computers around waiting for meds from what I call med wall. I was only nurse many times in my youth with 20-30 toddlers to care for not all were ill many waiting for clearance to go home and stays were longer. I always had time though for a kiss good night as this was before parents were allowed to stay with kids. Not our faults we are interchageable cogs just bodies ontime sheets The upper echelon should have to work with us as they used to do maybe they'd get point and we would have time for patient "care".

Posted By: anne h on 5 31, 2011

The way Nursing is today, I would not dare to have a negative comment about their weight or whether they smoke or not!! The field, especially in the areas of medsurg and ER ARE SO STRESSFUL WHO CAN BLAME THEM FOR HANDLING IT BY OVEREATING OR SMOKING?

Posted By: Marie M on 6 01, 2011

It does not matter where you work in nursing you are expected to do so much with so little. I never had problems quitting before I was a nurse.Since I've gotten so stressed that i no longer care what my patients think of me

Posted By: wendy b on 6 02, 2011

Sadly, I have to agree with the majority of my colleagues responses to your article. I still believe the best nurses will find some time to prioritize their patient assignments. I also believe in these increasingly stressful economic times,when we are all being asked to do more with less it's more than necessary that at any given time the rules of Professionalism (and I'm not referring to credentialing)will be the best role model to our patients. I.e. Whether you are the environmental control housekeeper or the Dr. on a unit, working and respecting all of the members on your team will set the best example to our patients in regards to healthy attitudes. Everyone brings something to the table, and if everyone is on the same page...I believe patients will be more receptive and take us more seriously, then the learning will be more effective.

Posted By: Diane B on 6 02, 2011

Mostly, because they eat not only their young but also their co-workers. Yes, their personal habits are horrendous. But, they constantly fight about not taking patients, who does what, who can do the least work.

Posted By: gail f on 6 02, 2011

As Cheryl C. says, nurses who are not allowed to eat or take breaks are not likely to make good examples for good health. Most nurses work 12+ hours a day, often with no breaks or lunch. Try working at a fast pace from 0645 AM to 0800 PM with no breaks, no lunch on a hot floor and see if you feel like exercising, or even eating. I force myself to drink, knowing that I am usually dehydrated when I get off work.. And some of us are going to sitters to pick up children who need our time and attention. Even our bathroom breaks (I say "break-S loosely, because it's often just one) are not breaks, because we are expected to read updates of things the administration wants us to do while we're performing bodily functions. Also, we have very little time to develop a trusting relationship with our patients that allows us to broach such a personal subject. There is pressure on us to get patients out the door the minute the physician writes dismissal orders--I've been verbally warned for letting a COPD/cardiac patient remain in her room until the AC in her house was fixed (about 5PM) even though dismissal orders were written at 11AM. Between admissions and dismissals and the paperwork involved in each, it's almost impossible to actually take basic care of the patients that you have. Very little real teaching gets done in a hospital setting. And if a patient takes offense if you do try to educate-heaven help you. Administratior sure won't.

Posted By: Ellekat2 on 6 02, 2011

I myself am an RN of 41 years who still possesses a extreme amount of compassion for my patients. I do agree with Marie M with advent of nursing administrations today patients are referenced as clients where the reputation of the instuition "we" represent is by far more important than what nurses themselves believe we should be teaching our patients. It isn't tolerated to have a "negative comment" about a patient's weight, addressing smoking cessation , nor any other major health issue. I myself no longer smoke, am not obese, don't do illicit nor pharmaceutical drugs, and practice exercise daily. I also agree even though I am temporarily not working due to a car accident( I will be back soon). I agree if the upper echelon would work with us physically would agree it is impossible to give even adequate safe patient care. May God help us and our patients for there needs to be a major overhaul made in the nursing profession before no one wants to enter the field!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted By: Mary T on 6 02, 2011

To take care of themselves, nurses must have regular hours, breaks, lunch breaks--all the things we don't have. Try working 14 hours straight at full speed with one bathroom "break" and see if you want to exercise, or even eat, when you get home. Nurses and aides are treated shamefully by the "health conscious" employer. Every new administration feels a need to beat up on the nurses a little more--a few more scheduled hours here, a few fewer benefits there. Then there is the matter of having time to establish a relationship with the patient so that they will take your information seriously. The physician or office nurse is in a much better position than a hospital nurse is to effect positive change in a patient's life than is a hospital nurse. We are under great pressure to "turn over" the rooms the second the physician writes dismissal orders so they can send staff home. Once I told a woman she could stay for a few extra hours because her AC was being fixed (COPD/cardiac pt) and the director freaked and was calling me names because I told the patient she didn't have to leave immediately. And that bathroom break? Adminnistration puts things they want us to read in the bathroom so we don't even really get a break then--we supposed to be reading the info on the bathroom wall while we're there. When someone complained, they actually laughted at us. And yes, I'm looking for another (non-nursing) job--got an offer today, in fact. I think it's better-a govenment job. I think I'll take it.

Posted By: Elle B on 6 02, 2011

And please don't leave L/D sometimes you don't get to go to the washroom for hours the charting has taken over pts care its all about the money not the pts

Posted By: Barbara P on 6 02, 2011

Excellent article. I feel that nurses know better than to be subject to worldy addictions and should (at least in their presence) present as a good role model for healthcare when giving care to those who look to you for answers. Would you feel comfortable being treated for lung cancer by an MD who smokes a pack a day, knowing that is how you got the disease in the first place?

Posted By: Janie S on 6 02, 2011

As nurses we work in the industry of "a pill for every ill." To be honest, I sometimes find it difficult to practice this form of nursing care because I don't believe in this approach to healthcare. How many times have you heard the pharmaceutical industries sell us on annual flu shots as "the only way to stay healthy?" Many of our illnesses can be avoided by following basic healthcare and hygiene practices as simple as bathing daily, frequent hand washing, brushing your teeth, drinking 8 glasses of water, adequate elimination of bowels, 8 hours of sleep minimum, physical activity of 30 minutes or more, connection with family and friends, eating healthy, organic home cooked meals with family/friends, engaging in hobbies/talents/activities with free time to name just a few. All these things done on a daily basis could probably do a pretty good job of preventing the flu without an annual flu shot. Especially when the flu shots are based on a mere "guess" of what the CDC presumes will be the most prevalent strains for the coming year. A flu shot probably helps some, but it is not for everyone. Much like many of the other unnecessary medications prescribed year after year to patients as they become sicker and sicker. Most of these things are impossible to accomplish with the brutal 12 hour work schedules and other factors so effectively mentioned above by some of my colleagues. When I worked full time 12 hour shifts I had the worst insomnia. How is it possible for anyone to restore and maintain their health when one is not even sleeping? I agree that nurses should be role models for practicing good healthy lifestyles. The way to do that is for nurses to be educated on taking care of ourselves and having available resources to accomplish that. Work/life balance is the key.

Posted By: Dianna D on 6 06, 2011

I received a BS in Nursing with Distinction in the Major; Summa Cun Laude and National Honor Society in 1972. Did anyody ask me if I had a BS when I applied for my first nursing job? NO! So, I immeditately realized nursing is just a blue collar job that didn't care about anything except whether you had an RN license or not. Nursing School was a nightmare and those ridiculous Nursing Care Plans that nobdy ever did again since they later all came out in boiler plates and were only necessay to comply with JACCHO accredation and not REAL pt care. In nursing school after 2 years of real college(all As); my first nursing instuctor asked us to sing "Bridge over Troubled Waters" and then told me to spit out my gum. I thought I was in kindergarten again. In general it was obese, homely, nun-like nursing instructors who hadn't practised in 25 yrs;, that when they could ding me on petty little subjective nonsense as I was the only student in my class that had never worked in a hospital before ,THEY DID. However, objectively I always had the highest test scores. I only received fair objective, helpful, didactic support and instruction from my young, fit, attractive well-educated instructors who were not threatened by my looks or popularity with all the doctors. I knew quickly I did not want to associate let alone work the rest of my life with some of these back-stapping females in a blue collar job after I had academically worked so hard and wasted countless hours on the "scientific rationale for warming a bedpan". PLEASE?? So I continued taking additional REAL science classes while working in hellacious part-time nursing jobs in order to obtain my Masters in Environmental Engineering from UC Berkeley and worked with predominately males and well educated non-threatened females. Compassion for patients? When was the last time administation, the appreciative doctors, some of the lovely families,and some of your friendly, coworkers (who are, in general, ever so eager to give you up if they think they will score brownie pts), cared or been compassionate to you??? And most importantly, isn't it the doctors' primary reponsibility for patient education during MD office visits NOT hospital nurses' when pts are sick in the hospital and trying to recover from surgery or cancer or major ilnesses. You bet nurses are bad examples; high drug and alcohol addiction, obesity and not of abundance of compassion for their coworkers. I did return to Nursing after 33 yrs when the Prisons were paying >$100,000 to do nothing; so please don't even tell me Nursing has gotten better; IT IS MUCH WORSE AND MORE STRESSFUL than ever. I thank my lucky stars I retired at a high salary with a pension for my last yrs in hell. I do believe the author has NO CLUE and her time would be better spent discussing the deplorable treatment of nurses without pensions and how it is the physicians responsibility for patient education. I have never heard anybody remotely suggest that the tiome to consider major lifestyle changes are when you are sick in the hospital. Maybe this author has heard or been taught something differently?? But you go ahead and make "your fellow nurses" feel guilty about not leading perfect lifestyles while they are trying to eat lunch, empty trash, wheel ptsd to the cars, arrange for cabs for pts, do mandatory overtimes ans return the next day without 6 hrs of sleep, take a bathroom break, etc., etc., and TEACH HEALTHY LIVING. By the by, Do You know that Florence Nightengale took to her bed for 50+ yearsa after her return from the Crimean War because she was a hypochodriac. I read her "NOTES ON NURSING" she opened the windows. Brilliant, before that her wards had the highest morbidity and mortality rates; she had to do something to save face as she was an aristocrtat working in what was considered "a lady of the night job" category NOT AS THE LADY OPF THE LAMP! I praise the nurses who are just trying to survive and do the best they can and have to listen to all this ivory tower proselytizing about POORLY THOUGHT OUT GUILT LADEN ideas. How about a worthless care plan for nurses on this Lanette? Certainly, you have better causes to champion as new nursing graduates are not being hired and older nurses without pensions are taking on heavier workloads with sicker patients. Lanette, I belive most nurses are stressed to the max; and realize unlike you, apparently that the patients are aware of their unhealthy life choices and I emphasize choices. And I am sure their loved one are constantly nagging them about it and since hospitals are so big on "Tell US HOW We Are Doing?" complain about your nurse slips; what nurse wants to waste her limited resources. Hospitals employ dieticians and respiratory therapists who are just as able to provide this service and if it is so necessary than I recommend hospitals hire "Lifestyle Coaches", provide mandatory healthy living in-hospital videos and discharge information. Please break the vicious cycle of dumping blame on nurses! You nurses in the ivory towers who were totally unsucessfull in your attempts to encourage all RNs to get their BSNs in the late '60s to '90s (money talks and BSNs walk) should focus how to help the RNs in the trenches not belittle more!

Posted By: Anne H on 6 06, 2011

As nurses,we are one of the most trusted professional groups out there and I feel that is because the public knows we nurses have our flaws like they do. I, also, feel the public knows that even though the over weight nurse or nurse they have seen smoking is taking care of them, that nurse cares and wants better for them. I feel as an over weight nurse (who struggles w/ stress in and out of the work place) I have every right to speak to my patients about the struggles of stress management and weight management. When I speak to my obese patients about these things, I am up front with them about the struggle they will face and the pit falls out there. Because I have searched for what will help me manage my stress and over eating, I have a larger resource base to provide material to them. As several of my colleagues have pointed out the environment of nursing is not conducive to healthy habits. As for your question on trust, I think you underestimate the average patient.

Posted By: s c on 6 06, 2011

Regardless of your own wt it is a nurses' responsibility to teach pts about good health. If you are overweight, admit your own struggles. If you are not tell then pt what works for you. Avoiding the issue altogether won't help anyone including yourself and assumes pts aren't mature enough to handle the truth. They are and they really need our help!

Posted By: Cathy R on 6 05, 2011

Of course the patients won't change their behavior if they can clearly see that the nurse is doing the same unhealthy thing. They're not stupid.

Posted By: Diana H on 6 05, 2011

Cheryl C hit the nail on the head. I can be a good example when I can also have humane working conditions.

Posted By: Patricia J on 6 04, 2011

I am a 73 y.o. retired psych nurse and although I spent years teaching "healthy lifestyle" to our chronically mentally ill and more years trying to get it across to my clients when I directed an outpatient substance abuse program, I discovered that my patients were so bogged down with other huge problems like trying to support themselves (shelter and food) and deal with other people, that staying healthy was something they had forgotten they had learned about in grammer school! The best I could do was keep my weight within normal limits, share with them about how I had dealt with the biggest stressors in my life and demonstrate a sense of humor in its truest sense, the ability to poke fun at myself. I stressed exercise and sunshine a lot because it does wonders for your serotonin even if it doesn't get rid of all your adipose tissue. When I retired I worked several "retirement jobs" and still have two. If you can be successful at nursing, believe me, you can be successful at any job. So you all keep your chins up because we who can't do it anymore really appreciate what you are going through!

Posted By: Sharon E on 6 04, 2011

How about pointing out that not only working 12 hour shifts with one bathroom break, then having being told that if you dont have your bsn by 2013, you can look for another job, then for nurses week we have a huge Derweinschnitzel truck in front of the hospital feeding nurses chili dogs, fries, and soda.

Posted By: Pat R on 6 04, 2011

I love this article and how it stresses the role of nurses as examples to our patients. there is truth in the fact that nurses do not talk about the dangers of obesity and smoking is that they themselves are probably the culprit themselves. All nurses should be aware of the pitfalls of this epidemic and should try their best to do anything in their power to stay fit and quit smoking. Maybe then they would be comfortable to speak about the dangers of Smoking and Obesity. Not only would they have self esteem, it feels good too.

Posted By: Cesar V on 6 03, 2011

wow Anne H you said a mouthful!!!! and all so true. the work of nursing is pressured to achieve great goals with a minimalist supply line of resources and time. from the ivory tower of administration and the educational elitism of the teachers who could not carry a month of the workload let alone a few days. i am in the emergency department and believe that the admin team are so pressed for numbers on the discharge and waiting times that they do not truly understand that there are many facets to the work we do. the idea that the physician would do the job they are required to do, along with dietician, primary care doctor and office staff, in regards to education and monitoring these changes is built upon that relationship. but the reason that idea does not fly is you have enetered physician in the mix... they are to busy looking at youtube videos and stock prices on the internet to be bothered by the need for pt education. oh yes and if the nurse had time to look at the internet? corrective action and termination for unauthorized use of hospital equipment. the sad thing is the smokers are the staff that have worked through the system to take their respiratory treatments 4-6 times in the 12 hour shifts....along with break times and lunches...sometimes giving them an extra hour away from the floor. wow a full hour lanette....you cant tell me thats an advertisement for refreshment! all in all this article borders on the nurses eat themselves theorists who are most likely not working the trenches but sure come up with great ideas on how to make that work better.... probably also thinking that healthcare is a right and not a privilege (paid for) hey lanette? have you made that application for Joint commission inspector yet? to the true believers, in the trenches in the health care war, fight on; as we are the hope of this nation in its need for care

Posted By: jon b on 6 13, 2011

I agree with everything said. I would not listen to someone who obviously did not practice what he preached. However in the acute hospital setting we are teaching about rehab, meds, smoking (I am a stroke nurse) and on the obesity and poor eating habits. I don't believe people see themselves as obese and would listen to a skinny vegan about it. It is a much deeper long term many facited problem that is better dealt with in the outpt setting. I usually would only have time to say hey you are going to die if you don' loose weight and give them a diet book and referral. We now have lifts in our pt rooms (ceiling). Then you have the skinny people who live on coffee and "smokes". We try - and start it but in most hospitals we are not the answer. I do think we should be role models but that is all individual.

Posted By: Brenda T on 6 16, 2011

I find that it's usually people who don't work in direct patient care that make blanket statements about the nurses who do. Work 3 12s in a row at a busy inner-city hospital and then we'll talk about what's "wrong" with nursing!

Posted By: Angie M on 11 25, 2011

I'm pretty sure though that regardless of how often I work out or what I eat, it's not going to stop someone from ordering a cheeseburger in their room.

Posted By: B L on 1 18, 2012

Being a nurse motivated me to quit smoking. I do however, lack the motivation to pack a normal everyday sandwich :( instead, I will get Subway! The convenience of eating at the cafeteria or grabbing something on the go is a problem not just for me, but for my co-workers.

Posted By: Brandy R on 1 18, 2012

Nurses get maybe 10-15 minutes to eat something, if the floor is staffed. Maybe a bathroom break BID, work overtime for call offs, no self time. So we eat junk food, smoke or drink due to stress, and don't sleep well due to lack of time. Yes, I am obese. I am working on it, I know the risks and teach my patients and share ideas that I am using. I am human too.

Posted By: Toni g on 1 21, 2012

Why would anyone in their "right" mind discuss their personal habits with a patient? It isn't their business or anyone else's...if we need to make changes in our personal lives most of us are aware of it anyway, and generally will handle it when we are psychologically and otherwise prepared to handle it...

Posted By: Syl G on 2 16, 2012

@Pat R, oh so its the medical industries fault that is causing nurses to be overweight due to the expected working hours? Give me a break! There is no excuse in eating healthy and being physically active. I work night shifts and I take courses in the morning. but i still manage to take my OWN health seriously (workout 3-4 days a week).I am so glad to have encountered this article!Obesity is on the rise here in the U.S. by being overweight by eating poorly and thus overweight isn't setting a good example to paitence who wish to be healthy!

Posted By: healthyliving86 on 2 24, 2012