A nurse would be remiss if he/she did not include something about improving life by improving diet, exercise, lifestyle.  Yes, I could and may include yummy recipes, but what I might consider 'yummy' you might think sucks.  Besides, a lifestyle changes to include new recipes can be overwhelming.  Let's just stick with what we know works.  How you put it together to create a meal is up to you.

There's a start on what to include in this 'chapter'.

For many years I have tried to practice what I preach in the way of healthy living.  Tried.  But I truly believe that it is very important as a nurse, when educating a patient (this is a must) about how to live a healthier life, how to heal, how to reduce stress, that we do the same.  Recently I was chatting with a coworker about working out, improving diet, etc. when she sent me a text that said those very words, "practice what we preach".  Amen sister. 

However, this practice is often times very difficult.

At UNC it has been made obvious to me that they care about employee health.  This is a big focus, and when an employee that is covered under their insurance plan participates in certain health related activities throughout the year, they receive a discount on the monthly insurance premium.  

Research has shown that a healthier employee is a happier employee, and vice versa.  Promoting wellness not only reduces the number of sick and mental health days an employee takes, but improves the lives of patients through education.  

Since coming to the 2nd Brightleaf medical unit in November 2021, I have lost a significant amount of weight.  Now I must admit that part of this weight loss was medically induced, part of it has been because of the Vital Wellness program here at work.  Another part is that there is coworker support - many of us participate in the health program called Rally Coach.  It is up to me to continue the weight loss trend by keeping new weight off and building muscle and trimming my body.  I feel confident that with this new health program I am better equipped to do it.  While working in the behavioral health department, I was surrounded mostly by people who are unhealthy, whether it be extra weight, or those who smoke, those who do not participate in any vital wellness programs, and certainly by those who were not happy.  It showed.  Both to other employees, but to the patients as well.  Perhaps, just as those who work in prisons become institutionalized, so do those who work in a behavioral health unit who puts no concentrated effort into the physical health (as well as mental health) of their patients.