Toward the end of nursing school, I became anxious about what I presumed to be the working conditions of nurses—no breaks, rotating shifts, unbearably long days on your feet—the list could go on. I was fortunate to start my nursing career on a unit that scheduled a lunch break and had healthy incentives, such as a hospital-wide exercise and nutrition challenge called “Be Fit,” but opportunities to be unhealthy abounded. A constant supply of treats could be found in the break room, especially around the holidays. The 13-hour shifts left little time for exercise and even less time for healthy meal planning. What are we as nurses supposed to do?
The Nurses’ Health Study is looking to recruit a new cohort of young female nurses to augment knowledge of “how lifestyle, environment, and work-life affect health.” I took an online survey the other day—it took about 30 minutes total—and it acted as a catalyst to pay more attention to my own health-related behaviors. The survey forces a self assessment—similar to what we do to our patients almost every day—and it can really offer a new perspective on your level of health. I highly recommend completing this simple survey to those of you who fall into the category of a female nurse, age 20–46, living anywhere in the United States or Canada, and for those of you who don’t, please pass it along.
You can print flyers or send emails to colleagues directly on the study website. The researchers have found that “One nurse telling another nurse has proven to be the most effective way to encourage women to join this renowned study.” So, by disseminating the information, anyone can contribute to the research.
To date, the Nurses’ Health Study has 20% of their recruitment goal of more than 100,000 female nurses ages 20–46. Let’s increase that percentage by taking the survey or sharing the information. Our role in this research could make a difference for our health as well as the health of future nurses. Now, you can’t find a better incentive than that!
Carol Cannon, RN, BSN, OCN currently works as a Clinical Research Nurse on an oncology/hematology/stem cell transplant unit. This is her first experience in oncology nursing, with previous experience in cardiology and critical care. She is constantly amazed at the level of education, empathy, and stamina that oncology nursing demands every day. She lives with her husband and their German Shepherd in Bethesda, MD, where she enjoys cooking and reading.
Carol, thank you for this great post! Many of our participants in the other Nurses’ Health Studies have also said that they enjoy filling out their questionnaires for that very reason — it gives them an opportunity to reflect on their health habits. Thanks for spreading the word about NHS3!