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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

To expect a Nurse lead by example?

303 replies

shouldacoulda · 21/07/2014 17:03

And practice what they preach.
Have just clocked the overweight nurse that did my recent health check, smoking like a chimney and munching on a chocolate bar!

This is somebody who sat there and lectured me on cutting down on carbs, eating oily fish once a week, not smoking and to drink in moderation.
It's a bit rich!

We expect fitness trainers to be fit and lead healthy lifestyles.
So, surely somebody who's job it is to advice people on healthy lifestyle choices should also be fairly fit, of a decent weight and not be puffing away like a chimney.
How can we take their advice seriously otherwise?

Or am I being unreasonable? (I know they work long hours and there's a lot of stress), but surely the ones that are doing the health checks and doling out 'healthy living advice' should be an advertisement for what they're saying?

OP posts:
SiennaBlake · 21/07/2014 17:09

Yabu. They don't tell you about health to punish you. It's their job. You can take their advice seriously if you use your brain and realise that they are sharing medical advice with you, not their own personal lifestyle.

A fitness trainer is different. Their body is their advertisement for the service they offer. Nothing like a nurse providing medical advice.

shouldacoulda · 21/07/2014 17:11

I would be embarraseed to give out advice on eating sensibly if I were overweight and smoked a lot.

The nurse is also providing a service. So I don't see any difference.

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NorwaySpruce · 21/07/2014 17:12

YABU, and you know it.

HCPs are paid to give out the government's latest faddish advice, they are not paid to follow it on their own time.

The NHS would grind to a halt tomorrow if they only employed non-smokers with acceptable BMIs, perfect teeth.

Take the proffered advice, or do your own research and make up your own mind, but don't try to disguise your petty-mindedness as something more elevated.

CoffeeTea103 · 21/07/2014 17:12

Yabu, instead of taking the defensive approach take the advice and do what you want with it. They're advising you on problems you have. Ridiculous to think you need someone else to be an example to you, surely you're and adult?

ICanSeeTheSun · 21/07/2014 17:12

FFS not another bloody thread about eating.

Daffy123 · 21/07/2014 17:12

I think you have to look at what they are saying and not their size

Difficult not to feel a bit judgey though

SauvignonBlanche · 21/07/2014 17:13

Oh grow up!

SiennaBlake · 21/07/2014 17:13

The nurse is sharing medical advice with you. A fitness trainer is trying to get you to buy their service and believe in their ability to change your body the way they have made theirs look so good.

Would you feel the same if a doctor who wasn't diabetic was telling a diabetic you to take your insulin? "You don't so why should I?"

Seems logical.

WorraLiberty · 21/07/2014 17:13

Yabu

Even if the advice was coming from a trained monkey, it's still advice that you can either take or leave.

shouldacoulda · 21/07/2014 17:14

The nurse is being paid to do a job.

OP posts:
weatherall · 21/07/2014 17:15

Tell that to the doctors who are hooked on heroin/painkillers/an assortment of prescription drugs.

Or are you just into bashing the working class members of the NHS?

ICanSeeTheSun · 21/07/2014 17:16

Would you expect a MW to have had a baby

GalaxyInMyPants · 21/07/2014 17:16

Maybe she was slim when she took the job. Should she give up her career now? Maybe she has a medical problem you know nothing about.

She isn't advising you to follow her example. She's advising you to follow what's been found by research to work. If you choose to ignore that advice just because she doesn't follow it then you're a bit silly.

CoffeeTea103 · 21/07/2014 17:16

But you're an adult, surely use your own brain to decide whether you want to follow their advice. Stupid to think that because they don't you shouldn't follow advice even if it will benefit you.

shouldacoulda · 21/07/2014 17:16

Okay,
so if you went to a Giving up Smoking clinic and the person was sat there puffing away, would you still want to take their advice on how easy it is to give up smoking?

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WorraLiberty · 21/07/2014 17:16

The nurse is being paid to do a job.

And she's doing her job Confused

Her job is not to set an example. You're an adult so you don't need an example to be set by her.

SiennaBlake · 21/07/2014 17:17

Provocative first thread + inability to formulate logical response = ...

WorraLiberty · 21/07/2014 17:17

so if you went to a Giving up Smoking clinic and the person was sat there puffing away, would you still want to take their advice on how easy it is to give up smoking?

Yes because it would be me who is ready to give up and not them.

shouldacoulda · 21/07/2014 17:18

Would you want your child taught by a teacher who can't spell or add up?

People are more likely to trust another person if they 'lead by example'.

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SauvignonBlanche · 21/07/2014 17:19

The nurse is being paid to do a job
So were they smoking and eating chocolate whilst doing their job? Hmm

Andrewofgg · 21/07/2014 17:19

Twenty years ago I was astonished at the sight of nurses smoking outside the Royal bloody Marsden!

shouldacoulda · 21/07/2014 17:20

If I go to a hairdresser, I expect the hairdresser who's styling my hair to not have dirty greasy hair, because if she's not looking after her own hair, then she's not going to give me good service.

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FidelineAndBombazine · 21/07/2014 17:21

YABU and you know it.

If they start paying her a million quid a year to be a 'spokesmodel' for a healthy lifestyle you might have a point. Until then she is modestly paid to do deliver healthcare and advice within her contracted working hours.

ICanSeeTheSun · 21/07/2014 17:22

I don't know if my stop smoking counsellor was a smoker or not.

I know he was fantastic and don't know how I would of give up with out him.

shouldacoulda · 21/07/2014 17:23

Not supermodel. But neat, clean and not overweight would suffice.

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