By Affiliate Shereese Maynard, of The MayHAC Corporation
On January 30th, Olivia Katrandian of ABC News cited a University of Maryland study which concluded that up to fifty-five percent of surveyed nurses are overweight. The study, conducted in 2004 measured the BMI of 2103 nurses. Reasons given for the overwhelming numbers ranged from work schedules to job pressures. The study concluded the condition of nurses is not only affecting their own health but is affecting the quality of care.
We look to health care providers for advice and guidance regarding care and preventive health measures. Most often, our first encounter with the primary care physician is through the nurse. I don’t know if I completely buy into the theory that stress of the job and irregular hours are making nurses fat; part of a nurse’s education involves nutrition. Admittedly some nurses work long hours, some on shifts nobody would want just to provide for their families. However, to risk your health by eating poorly and then running off to a night shift seems pretty silly. Nurses can’t provide for their families if they’re not there.
Nurses have a greater responsibilty to set an example for those to whom they provide care. Heart disease, diabetes, and related illnesses are on the rise in our area. We all have to do our part to set better examples for each other. And it does matter. I’m often offended when I discover a physician who smokes or a nurse who’s overweight. Its not that I’m the poster child for health but I hold those professionals to a higher standard. Be the example. Providers who employ nurses can help. Why not encourage nurses to live healthier lifestyles by way of incentives? Earlier this year I announced an initiative whereby my complany will buy lunch for any employee who walks to buy a healthy lunch. The program is completely voluntary but has had good results. I’ve seen the greatest disparity in home care nurses. Home care nurses aren’t required to run around as much as facility nurses. They’re usually assigned to one patient as opposed to the dozens of patients assigned to facility nurses. Home care nurses should endeavor to make healthier meals to take to shifts and lay off the sugar.
At the end of the day, we want our nurses to be healthy. We want to know that the person providing care is less likely to have a heart attack than we are while providing that care. We also want to believe the advice we’re receiving from our nurses. If the nurse is fit, the advice might stick!