To expect a Nurse lead by example?

[shouldacoulda]

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?

I was a nurse for 30 years and never once lead by example.But I was bloody good.

I'm not saying that ALL nurses should be paragons of virtue, but the ones who are specifically chosen to do the NHS Healthy Living MOT's ought to be setting an example to the rest of us.

(there must be some healthy mainly clean living nurses out there that would be good for the job).

All nurses have to give out public health advice whenever the opportunity presents.
So sometimes you'll just have to have a fatty tell you stuff you don't want to hear.

they.are.giving.you.advice.as.they.are.paid.to.do. NOT SAYING 'copy me!'. I mean REALLY, what are you not understanding?

Is it ok for a police officer to be a thief when he's off-duty?

I am a nurse. Before I started my training I was two dress sizes smaller.
Due to working shifts, longer shifts than I am contracted to do, I often eat 'on the good' and a chocolate bar is easier to manage than a salad!
I also smoke. This is often the only time I get a break from my ward.

YANBU of course nurses should follow health advice, especially in relation to smoking. Nurses who smoke and are overweight should not be given health advice roles, it is a waste of time as patients see that if the advisor is not taking it seriously then why should they. Next question fo rme, along similar lines, is why are both of teh slimming world group leaders at classes I've been to the size of a house?

did alll those weally big full stops take you a long time fawlty? Bless.

How long do you think you can keep this up?

When did you get the advice?

At some point you will run out of steam on the distraction front and have to consider the advice you have been given about the risks inherent in your lifestyle, you know.

cause being fat and nicking stuff is the same thing. If it is so easy to not be fat why are you getting advice about it?

Fideline, I took the advice. It was stuff I was already doing anyway.

I'm a bit for you now. good luck with quitting smoking and losing weight. maybe consider a name change after this thread eh?

TurboWithAKick bit harsh!

It's all good then. No need to bitch about the nurse

Hard to resist temptation!

www.bmj.com/content/347/bmj.f7198

nice try fawlty, I'm not embarrassed. :)

During the Crimean War, what did the Soldier patients call Florence Nightingale? ......... NUUURRSE.

Welcome to MN Op, first day of your summer holiday is it?

Gosh what a lot of nasty comments. I do believe as a pp said this appears to have hit a nerve with a lot of very rude people. It is a problem that is recognised within the NHS that staff members who are giving out lifestyle advice often are not proponents of it themselves. It is disconcerting to be told by a very overweight nurse who you've seen eating chocolate and smoking that you should not be doing these things.

And yes, I would prefer a midwife who has had a baby as I believe personal experience of childbirth would be beneficial. As would a teacher who has had their own children as opposed to a single childless person.

It's an interesting debate OP and you really don't deserve all these personal attacks on your integrity, please ignore.

But OP, the healthy, thin looking ones might be raging alcoholics, or drug abusers, or be living in a happy little cloud of Entonox.

While you are admiring their svelte figure, they could be weighing up the likelihood of getting their next fix in before appointment number two walks through the door.

I wouldn't dwell on the private lives and choices of the HCPs you encounter, or you'd likely never take the advice of one again.

As would a teacher who has had their own children as opposed to a single childless person.
Are you actually for real?

Yabvvvvvvvu. Nurses work unsociable hours. Eating healthy is hard... (Not a nurse but work in nhs and appreciate the nurses)

"Is it ok for a police officer to be a thief when he's off-duty?"

No, because that is illegal. Eating chocolate is not illegal thank God and neither is being overweight.

Haha Norwayspruce, too true.

As would a teacher who has had their own children as opposed to a single childless person

What the fudge has their marital/relationship status got to do with anything? And you think someone who has never had children isn't qualified enough to teach children about the water cycle or planetary motion or what Hamlet meant when he said XYZ?