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?

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