#NurChat discusses “Should nurses be healthy role models?”

As we approach the end of the year we naturally start to think about how we can improve our lifestyles and make new years resolutions promising to do so – but in our professional capacity as nurses should we be expected to act as healthy role models to society anyway?

When @HollyBest1 suggested “nurses as healthy role models” as a NurChat discussion I very much thought that the discussion would be divided between those who were outraged at the infringement on their independence and those who were healthy eating and fitness advocates.  However I was very much surprised by how the NurChat progressed and the points that were raised.

The chat started by asking if we should expect nurses to be healthy role models? Answers were diverse @hannietaylor tweeted “I think we have to be realistic we are not all saints”

@Jam3sPJ tweeted “We should be role models; code says we should not bring profession into disrepute”

Throughout the chat the NMC Code of Conduct continued to be raised @Bartontd tweeted “If you’re a registered nurse it’s a 24 hour professional responsibility”

@dgfoord tweeted “As a profession we have a shared code, but not a shared set of principles / values”

A lot of the discussion centred around smoking and whether a nurse who smoked could be a role model and even give advice on cessation of smoking. @dgfoord asked “would an ex-smoker make a better smoking cessation nurse?” It was agreed that this may provide them with a certain amount of empathy but when asked if a smoker would make a good smoking cessation nurse credibility then became an issue with NurChatters.

Barriers to being healthy role models were mentioned – @HollyBest1 tweeted “Stressy jobs, shift patterns, tiredness can all lead to us heading for a glass of wine rather than hitting the gym!”

and @FloNursingTales added “the constraints of the job itself can make choosing the better or healthy option difficult”

The way in which nurses act as role models in other areas was seen as very important by NurChatters and this is what surprised and impressed me – @khalldearn tweeted “Surely it is more about imparting information and advice with confidence as opposed to revealing yourself as a perfect example”

and @k_hidden_angel tweeted “It’s how we treat and care for people that should reflect a positive role model. Kind, caring and knowledgeable”

The chat concluded by asking NurChatters what they would take away from the discussion – there were some interesting replies, full details of which can be found on the transcript of the NurChat blog. For me what I will take away from the discussion is that it’s not  about how healthy you are but more about the insight that  life experiences give us and the empathy that we then have for our patients as a result of this.  As nurses we do agree to not to bring the profession in to disrepute and by using our own life experiences, (be they healthy or not so healthy,) to care in a compassionate and knowledgeable way for our patients I believe that we firmly up hold the image of nursing and we are, in turn, then acting as good role models. @Hollybest1 summed it up by tweeting “So what about a slim, fit, health conscious nurse informing patients of required life style changes? Will patients listen more?”

Teresa Chinn heads up NurChat for Newcross Healthcare Solutions - Nurchat is a fortnightly twitter chat for nurses exploring different topics that vary enormously. Anyone can suggest a NurChat discussion subject simply by tweeting @NurChat or by visiting the NurChat blog

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