Are Medical professionals setting a Good Example to Patients: Walk the Talk?

Are Medical professionals setting a Good Example to Patients. This is the biggest question everyone is asking especially when it comes to addiction and weight management

In my several decades of offering medical services to people across the globe, I have been disturbed immensely with what we do in relation to what we say in the line of duty. Medics all over the world are not just employees of the institutions they are working for but their profession is a calling. In other wards professionalism and integrity are supposed to be part of life in this profession. On various occasions I have come across people wasting their lives in drugs and other unhealthy activities. Up to that point let me call them people but being more specific. I often walk on my way to and from work and one of the spot along the way to my work station is a small section set aside for smokers. It is often referred to us smokers zone or corner. Every time I pass through that place it will be very unusual to find it empty. It is always full with people smoking and the smoke billow from that zone is so huge that you will wonder if the small booth is on fire. Before I continue with the story allow ne to ask “are medical professionals setting a good example to their patients?” now back to the story over the years I see several medical doctors, nurses and hospital support staff and administrators enjoying (or do I say smoking their lives out) their cigarette in unison.

The amazing point is that this is a public smoking place and because of its promiscuity to the health facility more than half of people I often see there are either doctors or nurses and other hospital stuff. In my observation, it occurred to me that in broad day light we preach water and we are comfortably taking wine. Let me pose another question “for how long are we going to be encouraging patient and other people to make healthy lifestyle choices as part of our responsibilities when we are doing exactly the opposite? Yes we are humans but what morals do we have to give this advice if we are equally subject to the temptations of drug use, smoking, alcohol abuse and overeating? My fellow colleagues don’t miss understand me. This article is not targeting the professionals or being judgmental or a sermon to the few who engages in such habits. Certainly not, we are all grown-ups and are equally enjoying the freedom to making choices as we may wish. But allow me to pose and say that there are certain special cases in which we do need to view our actions through the eyes of our patients. Help me in considering these pertinent questions with a view of understanding the magnitude of the matter:

• Can overweight nurses’ advice patients about weight loss?
• How is stress affecting nurses and their patients?
• Will patients listen to advice on smoking cessation when you smell like an ashtray?

Are Medical professionals setting a Good Example to Patients: Can overweight nurses’ advice patients about weight loss?

This is very interesting and I can imagine of what is going on in your mind. However a number of studies have been done in the past which examine the health habits of nurses all round whether good or bad and the impact of the outcome to the patients they attend to. Like for instance the prevalence of obesity across the globe is steadily increasing even as we speak right now it is becoming to an epidemic level. And the consequences of the same are risks of development of several chronic health complications. With these concerns about whether overweight nurses can advise patients about weight loss I suggest that patient’s education about the risks of obesity and the importance of proper weight management and exercise must remain continuous responsibilities of the nurses irrespective of their condition and sizes.

In fact, studies have generally shown that although the vast majority of nurses concede that obesity is a diagnosis which requires intervention, majority of the nurses do not pursue this issue with obese patients. The reason for this isn’t exactly clear. But it is perceived that the reasons could include:

• That the nurses are uncomfortable discussing this with their patients
• Overweight nurses may be feeling that they lack the credibility to have that conversation due to their own appearance.
• Another possibility is that the nurses themselves need more education and validation of the health risks that obesity can cause.

Are Medical professionals setting a Good Example to Patients: How is stress affecting nurses and their patients?

Another condition of concern in the nursing population includes the physical and emotional complications from stress. Many nurses work in stressful environments, taking care of everyone else before taking care of themselves. We know that the physical effects of stress can include insomnia, gastric ulcers, heart disease, headaches, fertility problems, and eating disorders. Other negative effects include disruption of family life, anxiety, and a reduction in the quality of life.

We know that it is important to advise our patients that they should listen to their own bodies with regards to stress management and relaxation therapies, yet we typically do not take our own advice in this area. We teach the concepts of holistic care to students, yet we do not always lead by example when it comes to our own health. Perhaps we need to be better role models for our patients, students and new nurses with regards to how we acknowledge and manage stress in our lives.

Are Medical professionals setting a Good Example to Patients: Will patients listen to advice on smoking cessation when you smell like an ashtray?

Smoking I actually addictive and nurses being human can also be addicted just like anybody else. We also know that stress may be a factor in the prevalence of smoking. However it is unethical and unhealthy to take care of patient under the influence of a drug. It is absolutely wrong for nurse’s to resume duty after a smoking break the stench of cigarettes. Surely it isn’t a good idea, no matter what the patient’s diagnosis. Nurses are on the front lines of patient care. They spend more time with patients than any other category of health care provider. But even in all these nurses must know that they are not immune to diseases caused by their own unhealthy habits like smoking. If the patients they are caring for are down with cigarette smoking then they too can be down and it will be prudent that they too lead by example. Finally doctor Akoury reaffirms that one of the basic doctrines of an effective nurse-patient relationship is TRUST. These are all part of nurses responsibility and so nurses must take the challenge of leading from the front by setting a good example for patients.

Are Medical professionals setting a Good Example to Patients: Walk the Talk?