Persuasive Essay On Healthy Nursing Students
Destiny Estrada
Prof. Gleason
Comp & Lit 1
December 17, 2013
Health Nurses, Healthy People
When we think about nurses, we picture people in scrubs running around doing their duties to help someone who is sick. Someone who is also a doctor, someone who is; or maybe is healthy because they are role models to the sickly. The Nurses’ Health Study is flawed because nurses are well known to be unhealthy as a group. According to Michael Pollan, a journalist, “the Nurses’ Health Study failed to find evidence that reducing fat intake significantly reduces the incidence of heart disease or cancer” (Pollan 68). A solution to the problem of nurses being unhealthy would be a program for them, which there is called ANA Healthy Nurse program. This program can help them become better in so many ways. Personally, emotionally, spiritually, professionally, etc.
“A healthy nurse as defined by the ANA HealthyNurse™ program is one who actively focuses on creating and maintaining a balance and synergy of his or her health, safety, wellness and life to their fullest capacity physically, intellectually, emotionally, socially , spiritually; both personally and professionally across the wellness/illness continuum. A HealthyNurse™ is a better role model, educator, and advocate – personally, for the family, for the …show more content…
community, for the work environment, and for the patient.” This program is available to all nurses and by choosing nutritious foods and an active lifestyle, managing stress, living tobacco-free, getting preventive immunizations and screenings, and choosing protective measures such as wearing sunscreen and bicycle helmets, nurses can set an example on how to BE healthy. According to Scrubs Mag, “most nurses smoke cigarettes, but how can you teach and educate your patients on improving your health when you wreak of cigarette smoke?- Unhealthy eating habits because of late shifts and not having time to make a good meal at home can lead to obesity/overweight”. Most nurses are too tired to do anything but work. Although some may disagree on this fact because some nurses can handle the baggage and stay healthy while working and taking care of their family at home but let’s be honest here, majority of our nurses are just lazy and unhealthy by the day. Nurses should become healthy and become great role models to patients in the hospital. With this ANA Healthy Nurse Program, health wise; ninety four percent report good to excellent health, eighty six percent have had a routine checkup in about a year’s time. Wellness wise, over ninety percent report a tobacco free work environment, less than two percent smoke cigarettes, sixty four percent do not drink sugar sweetened beverages, sixty five percent eat three or more servings of fruits and vegatables daily, sixty percent perform muscle strengthening on 2 or more days a week and sixty five engage in aerobic physical activity of at least moderate intensity for 2.5 hours or 1.25 hours of vigorous intensity a week. According to the Nursing Times Survey, “Work stress is hitting the nursing industry particularly hard this year with eight of ten nurses reporting they are under more pressure than last year and are suffering physical ailments as a result.
Nearly half (46 percent) said they work noticeably longer hours than this time last year; seventy-three percent said they had suffered the side effects of work-related stress, such as physical or mental health problems, in the past year. Hospital nurses suffer depression at twice the rate of the general population. More than a third (37 percent) have taken more sick leave in the past twelve months than they normally
would”. Developing self-awareness can help nurses feel better about themselves and take better care of themselves without being overwhelmed or overworked. “Developing and using a healthy sense of self-awareness is a necessary first step toward being able not only to take better care of yourself but also to become more resilient, set healthy boundaries at home and work, engage in healthier behaviors and, ultimately, become a better nurse and caregiver.” With this program nurses will be better improved health wise and will be able to take care of themselves just like their patients.
Works Cited
"HealthyNurseâ¢." HealthyNurses. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Dec. 2013.
Making the Workplace Healthier, One Self-aware Nurse at a Time." American Nurse Today. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Dec. 2013.
Pollan, Michael. In Defense of Food: An Eater 's Manifesto. New York: Penguin, 2008. Print.
"Survey: Nurses Overworked, Understaffed and Stressed." Fierce Healthcare. Nursing Times Survey, n.d. Web. 12 Nov. 2013.
"Top 5 Reasons We Nurses Are Unhealthy." Scrubs The Leading Lifestyle Nursing Magazine Featuring Inspirational and Informational Nursing Articles. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Nov. 2013.
"Welcome to the Nurses’ Health Study | Nurses ' Health Study." Welcome to the Nurses’ Health Study | Nurses ' Health Study. Harvard University, n.d. Web. 12 Nov. 2013.
Prof. Gleason
Comp & Lit 1
December 17, 2013
Health Nurses, Healthy People
When we think about nurses, we picture people in scrubs running around doing their duties to help someone who is sick. Someone who is also a doctor, someone who is; or maybe is healthy because they are role models to the sickly. The Nurses’ Health Study is flawed because nurses are well known to be unhealthy as a group. According to Michael Pollan, a journalist, “the Nurses’ Health Study failed to find evidence that reducing fat intake significantly reduces the incidence of heart disease or cancer” (Pollan 68). A solution to the problem of nurses being unhealthy would be a program for them, which there is called ANA Healthy Nurse program. This program can help them become better in so many ways. Personally, emotionally, spiritually, professionally, etc.
“A healthy nurse as defined by the ANA HealthyNurse™ program is one who actively focuses on creating and maintaining a balance and synergy of his or her health, safety, wellness and life to their fullest capacity physically, intellectually, emotionally, socially , spiritually; both personally and professionally across the wellness/illness continuum. A HealthyNurse™ is a better role model, educator, and advocate – personally, for the family, for the …show more content…
community, for the work environment, and for the patient.” This program is available to all nurses and by choosing nutritious foods and an active lifestyle, managing stress, living tobacco-free, getting preventive immunizations and screenings, and choosing protective measures such as wearing sunscreen and bicycle helmets, nurses can set an example on how to BE healthy. According to Scrubs Mag, “most nurses smoke cigarettes, but how can you teach and educate your patients on improving your health when you wreak of cigarette smoke?- Unhealthy eating habits because of late shifts and not having time to make a good meal at home can lead to obesity/overweight”. Most nurses are too tired to do anything but work. Although some may disagree on this fact because some nurses can handle the baggage and stay healthy while working and taking care of their family at home but let’s be honest here, majority of our nurses are just lazy and unhealthy by the day. Nurses should become healthy and become great role models to patients in the hospital. With this ANA Healthy Nurse Program, health wise; ninety four percent report good to excellent health, eighty six percent have had a routine checkup in about a year’s time. Wellness wise, over ninety percent report a tobacco free work environment, less than two percent smoke cigarettes, sixty four percent do not drink sugar sweetened beverages, sixty five percent eat three or more servings of fruits and vegatables daily, sixty percent perform muscle strengthening on 2 or more days a week and sixty five engage in aerobic physical activity of at least moderate intensity for 2.5 hours or 1.25 hours of vigorous intensity a week. According to the Nursing Times Survey, “Work stress is hitting the nursing industry particularly hard this year with eight of ten nurses reporting they are under more pressure than last year and are suffering physical ailments as a result.
Nearly half (46 percent) said they work noticeably longer hours than this time last year; seventy-three percent said they had suffered the side effects of work-related stress, such as physical or mental health problems, in the past year. Hospital nurses suffer depression at twice the rate of the general population. More than a third (37 percent) have taken more sick leave in the past twelve months than they normally
would”. Developing self-awareness can help nurses feel better about themselves and take better care of themselves without being overwhelmed or overworked. “Developing and using a healthy sense of self-awareness is a necessary first step toward being able not only to take better care of yourself but also to become more resilient, set healthy boundaries at home and work, engage in healthier behaviors and, ultimately, become a better nurse and caregiver.” With this program nurses will be better improved health wise and will be able to take care of themselves just like their patients.
Works Cited
"HealthyNurseâ¢." HealthyNurses. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Dec. 2013.
Making the Workplace Healthier, One Self-aware Nurse at a Time." American Nurse Today. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Dec. 2013.
Pollan, Michael. In Defense of Food: An Eater 's Manifesto. New York: Penguin, 2008. Print.
"Survey: Nurses Overworked, Understaffed and Stressed." Fierce Healthcare. Nursing Times Survey, n.d. Web. 12 Nov. 2013.
"Top 5 Reasons We Nurses Are Unhealthy." Scrubs The Leading Lifestyle Nursing Magazine Featuring Inspirational and Informational Nursing Articles. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Nov. 2013.
"Welcome to the Nurses’ Health Study | Nurses ' Health Study." Welcome to the Nurses’ Health Study | Nurses ' Health Study. Harvard University, n.d. Web. 12 Nov. 2013.