Self-care is essential for nurses to provide quality patient care. Yet, if you look around your break room, you might see a different reality. You see highly educated professionals who know exactly how the heart works, yet they often survive on caffeine, skip meals, and endure high-stress shifts without a moment to decompress.
Nurses are the frontline educators for cardiovascular health. You teach patients about the dangers of hypertension, obesity, and inactivity every day. However, a disconnect often exists between what nurses know and what they do. Research shows that despite having high information about health risks, many nurses engage in high-risk behaviors.
This creates a difficult dynamic in the workplace. How do you talk to a colleague—someone who knows the medical facts as well as you do—about their own heart health? It is a sensitive conversation, but a necessary one. American Heart Month offers the perfect opportunity to break the silence, support your peers, and create a healthier culture for everyone.
The paradox of the “healthy” nurse
It seems counterintuitive. Nurses have constant access to health information. You know that cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of death. You see the consequences of it in your patients daily. Yet, studies indicate that nurses often struggle with the same issues they counsel patients against: obesity, hypertension, and lack of physical activity.
One study revealed that 87.1% of nurses fell below recommended physical activity levels. Even more concerning, nearly three-quarters of those nurses perceived their own risk of CVD as low. This is the “optimism bias“—the belief that bad things happen to other people, not to us.
This isn’t a matter of ignorance; it is a matter of perception. When you spend 12 hours caring for critically ill patients, your own fatigue or skipped workout seems trivial by comparison. However, this mindset is dangerous. It prevents talented healthcare professionals from taking the preventive steps necessary to protect their own hearts.
Related CE course for nurses: Nurses’ Knowledge, Beliefs, and Exercise Habits: A Focus on Cardiovascular Disease
Why we struggle to prioritize self-care
Before you can have a constructive conversation with a colleague, you must understand the barriers they face. It is rarely a lack of discipline. The nursing profession itself presents systemic hurdles that make heart health difficult to maintain.
Common barriers include:
- Time constraints: 12-hour shifts leave little time for the gym or meal prep.
- Physical and mental fatigue: After being on your feet all day, more exercise feels impossible.
- Family responsibilities: Many nurses are caregivers at home as well as at work.
- High-stress environments: Stress increases cortisol, which can lead to weight gain and hypertension.
When you approach a peer about their health, approach them with empathy regarding these barriers. Acknowledge that the job makes it hard. This validation lowers defenses and opens the door for a real conversation.
The ripple effect on patient care
Your health affects more than just you; it directly impacts your patients. Nurses serve as role models. When a nurse demonstrates healthy behaviors, they are more credible in the eyes of their patients.
Research supports this link. Nurses who engage in healthy lifestyles are more likely to encourage their patients to do the same. Conversely, if a patient sees their nurse struggling with the same issues they face, they may be less inclined to trust the health advice given.
Furthermore, physical health impacts job performance. Cardiovascular health is tied to stamina and mental clarity. By taking care of your heart, you ensure you have the energy to provide the best possible care during those long, demanding shifts.
How to start the conversation
Talking to a colleague about their health risks can feel awkward. You don’t want to sound judgmental or like you are lecturing them. The goal is to come from a place of peer support and shared experience. Here are a few strategies to guide the discussion.
Use “we” instead of “you”
Frame the issue as a collective challenge rather than an individual failing. This removes the stigma.
- Try saying: “I’ve been reading about how high our risk for heart disease is as nurses. It’s scary how easy it is for us to neglect ourselves because we’re so busy caring for others. I’m trying to make some changes. Want to join me?”
Focus on stress and energy
Focusing on weight or diet can trigger defensiveness. Instead, focus on how they feel.
- Try saying: “I’ve noticed we’re all dragging by the end of the shift lately. I’m thinking of trying to walk for 10 minutes on my break to get some energy back. Would you want to come with me?”
Leverage the “teachable moment”
Use American Heart Month or a specific patient case (without violating HIPAA) as a springboard.
- Try saying: “That patient in room 4 really got me thinking. He’s so young to have heart issues. It made me realize I need to take my own blood pressure more seriously. When was the last time you checked yours?”
Creating a culture of wellness
Individual conversations are powerful, but systemic change is even better. You can help shift the culture of your unit from one of survival to one of wellness. This doesn’t require a massive overhaul; small, consistent actions make a difference.
- Identify wellness champions: Find peers who are passionate about health and ask them to lead by example.
- Make healthy choices accessible: If there’s a potluck, bring a heart-healthy option. Advocate for water availability at the nurses’ station.
- Encourage active breaks: Normalize taking a few minutes to stretch or walk.
- Share resources: Post information about local fitness classes, healthy meal prep services, or stress management workshops in the break room.
When the environment supports healthy choices, it becomes much easier for high-risk nurses to make positive changes without feeling singled out.
Put your own mask on first
You’ve likely heard the airplane safety analogy a thousand times: Put on your own oxygen mask before assisting others. By recognizing the risks, understanding the barriers, and communicating openly and engagingly with your colleagues, you can save lives—including your own.
Let this American Heart Month be the start of a new chapter where nurses care for themselves with the same dedication they show their patients.
