20/12/2011 - Should Nurses Be Healthy Role Models?

#Nurchat to discuss “Should nurses be healthy role models?” – 20/12/2011 8pmTweet

So as we are nearing Christmas and this is the last #NurChat of the year we are going to be discussing if nurses should act as healthy role models.  This is very apt as we enter the new year as it is traditionally a time for lifestyle changes – so what resolutions will you make?  Do you feel that as a nurse you should not smoke, exercise regularly and eat sensibly?  Or do you feel that this is not applicable at all?

An article on the Nursing Times website earlier this year by Steve Ford quoted Paul Miller Managing Director of Leicester City Community Health Service Business Unit as saying“We are out there promoting healthy lifestyles, but actually a lot of our staff are not doing what they are trained to do and actually ignoring their professional knowledge, completely and utterly”

In 2008 the QNI launched a campaign called Nursing No 1 - to encourage nurses to adopt healthier lifestyles some links to articles about this campaign are below, And in regard to this years Flu campaign which focussed on getting staff to have the flu jab Dame Christine Beasley Chief nursing Officer for England stated “ as trusted nurses and midwives, you all play a key role in helping people make decisions about their healthcare. By getting vaccinated yourself, you are then able to discuss the vaccination with your patients and clients from a first hand perspective “ This clearly shows that nursing bodies are concerned about nurses health and about nurses being good role models

So should we as nurses be expected to live healthy lifestyles?  Is this a realistic expectation ? Or should we be free to make our own lifestyle choices regardless of the impact on public health?

Thank you to @Hollybest1 for this great end of year discussion.

Click on the picture to download a prinatble PDF for notice boards

Below are a few links to articles that you may like to read prior to the discussion.  Please feel free toadd to this is you find anything else that is relevant and useful.

District nurses setting a rubbish example on public health - Nursing Times

A messgae for nurses and midwives - Dame Christine Beasley Chief Nursing Officer for England

Barriers to healthy eating in the nursing profession: Part 1 - Nursing Standard

Barriers to healthy eating in the nursing profession: Part 2 -Nursing Standard

Childrens nurse selected for national ice hockey team - Nursing Times

Nurses urged to look after themselves better - Nursing Times

Impact Report 2008 - The Queens Nursing Institute

Summary by Teresa Chinn RN

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Post Chat Summary

View the Nursing Times blog for this chat

This #NurChat focussed on whether nurses should be healthy role models.  The chat started by asking if we should expect nurses to be healthy role models? Answers were diverse – from “yes” to “we should be realistic” and it was suggested that being treated by a smoking nurse for smoking cessation advice was not a good incentive to quit.

The NMC Code of conduct was raised in particular that as nurses we should not bring the profession into disrepute – this theme reoccurred throughout the chat. It was put forward that as professionals we have a shared code but not a shared set of values.

Barriers to being healthy role models were mentioned – stressful jobs, shift patterns, tiredness.   It was agreed that the constraints of the job can make it difficult to chose a better or healthy option.

During the chat definitions of role models were touched upon – some suggested leading by example for people who share your interests; other suggestions were a person who serves as an example.

The way in which nurses act as role models in other areas was seen as very important – being caring and compassionate. It was suggested that nurses should be seen as role models for advocacy and dignity rather than physical roles.

It was also suggested that maybe being overweight or a smoker may give us greater empathy with our patients – this was agreed to be a good thing.

The chat concluded by asking nurchatters what they would takeaway from the chat – answers ranged from “we are all human” to “we are not just role models at work but in life”


Summary by Teresa Chinn RN

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Chat transcript (via Storify)