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The Role of Nutrition and Self-Care in Enhancing Nurse Well-Being

Student’s Name

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The Role of Nutrition and Self-Care in Enhancing Nurse Well-Being

Self-Care Promotes Safer Patient Care

The article by Jennifer L. Fencl and Deborah Grant titled "Self-Care Promotes Safer Patient Care" is

devoted to self-care to achieve a healthy work-life balance among the nursing staff (Fencl & Grant, 2017).

Due to long working hours, stress, and the risk of contracting diseases, the nursing profession is considered

hugely demanding with high risk. Modern nurses are too busy to care for themselves; they become burnt out

and depressed, which contributes to a rise in medical mistakes. Programs like the American Nurses

Association's Healthy Nurse Healthy Nation incorporate information on healthy choices and assistance.

Some self-care measures are eating balanced nutrition, engaging in physical activities, getting quality sleep,

feeling relaxed, and doing social activities. The provision of care for oneself has positive effects on nurses'

health and leads to the improvement of patient care and patient safety.

Nutrition

The article under discussion titled "Nutrition" describes the importance of proper nutrition as the source

of nurses' health and productivity (Toothaker & Chikotas, 2018). According to an analysis done with the

Healthy Nurse® Survey, the mean BMI of nurses is 27.94, which makes them overweight. Holding events

like the Hydration Challenge, Organizational Wellness Committee, and Healthy Recipes Toolbox are

activities that foster healthy eating. Real-life experiences showcase how the nurses who have embraced such

things as members of Weight Watchers and vegetarianism stand to shed massive amounts of weight with

improved general health. Dietary profiling is also enhanced by education and the availability of healthy food

through programs like Ochsner Health System's 'Care for the Caregiver' and Northwell Health's

collaboration with chef Bruno Tison and the utilization of tools like the Eat Fit application. The upkeep of

physical health and the avoidance of burnout are highlighted again with the recommendation of eating

healthy.

Reflection on the Impact of Nutrition and Self-Care on Nurses

Based on the findings of both articles, it is evident that nutrition and self-care are essential factors

affecting the nurses' health and abilities to care for the patients. Nutrition is not simply about avoiding

obesity (though that should be nothing to sneeze at when considering saving money on healthcare) but about
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ensuring that nurses are regularly able to have the physical and mental faculties to do their work. To that

extent, the "Nutrition" document elaborates on success narratives that show how structured courses of action

and changes in eating habits can translate into direct health enhancement and improved work output among

nurses.

On the other hand, the article "Self Care Promotes Safer Patient Care" will provide more details on self-

care, encompassing physical, emotional, and mental aspects. It brings out the risks faced by the nursing

profession and the Imperative need for nurses to put themselves first to avoid being presently stressed and to

deliver quality patient care. Healthy Nurse, Healthy Nation is participative and offers helpful tools to change

nurses' etiquette and improve their work productivity and quality of life.

Altogether, the articles analyzed in this paper show that nutrition and personal care are fundamental

components of the sustained and efficient nursing workforce. Nurses disclose the lack of programs and

policies in healthcare organizations that ensure that nurses live healthy lives to enhance the delivery of safe

care.
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References

Toothaker, R., & Chikotas, N. (2018). Comprehensive Review of Nutritional Components for Occupational

HealthNurses—Part1.Workplace Health & Safety, 66(5), 252–259.

https://doi.org/10.1177/2165079917734881

Fencl, J. L., & Grant, D. (2017). Self‐Care promotes safer patient care. AORN Journal, 105(5), 506–509.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aorn.2017.03.008