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A number of years ago, researchers were searching
for a survey tool that would allow them to assess the
overall health of a patient. In California, where I
was working at the time, managed care firms wanted to
determine whether the care that people received was
doing any good, so they devised a plan to survey their
patients yearly and sometimes more often after major
health events.
The survey started out with 72 items, then, realizing
that people are loath to fill out that many questions,
researchers found that they could ask only 36 items
and get equally valid results. After several years,
they progressively whittled down the number of items
until they found that asking one question could tell
them what they wanted to know. That question was, "How
do you feel this year compared to last year?
So, as we start 2003, the question is, "How do
you feel this year compared to last year?" Are
you in better or worse physical shape? If the elevator
isn't working and you have to walk up a flight of stairs,
are you huffing and puffing by the time you get to your
floor?
Are you within the normal weight limits for your height
and gender? When was the last time you had a meal at
work that contained all of the basic food groups? With
the exception of scrubs, is your clothing size the same
as it was last year? Are you stronger or weaker? Does
lifting an IV bag now require two hands? Do you look
forward to coming to work? Or do you watch the clock
the whole way through your shift? Are you rested and
energetic, or sleeping on your feet?
Johnson & Johnson has a slogan in its nursing recruitment
ads that says we "Dare to care." Perhaps we
should amend it to say "We dare to care about others,
but not so often about ourselves."
Nurses are notorious for taking care of everyone else
but themselves. We preach wellness to our patients and
families, but too rarely take our own words to heart.
Even when organizations implement wellness programs,
nurses often are the last to participate and the first
to drop out.
The excuses are many: I don't have time. I have to
take care of the kids/parents/grandkids. I'll start
exercising next week/month/year. I know this food is
not good for me, but I have only 15 minutes to grab
a meal. We've heard them all and most of us have used
them more than once.
If we continue to ignore our own health, there will
be fewer nurses far sooner than any predictions made
thus far. A new study published Jan. 7 in the Annals
of Internal Medicine shows that overweight (but not
obese) nonsmokers lost about three years of life. Obese
female nonsmokers lost 7.1 years, while obese male nonsmokers
lost 5.8 years. Life was even shorter for smokers.
No single health improvement program will fit everyone.
But there is some health improvement that will fit each
of us. A year from now, we can be older or we can be
older and better. What's your choice?
Discuss this and other topics with your colleagues
at www.nurseweek.com/rnvillage
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