Blog Posts
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50-year-old makes exercise a non-negotiable part of her day A daily routine is the foundation of a healthy lifestyle. Over time, what you do with it can make or break your health. Tonja Thigpen, administrative director of nursing at Mary Washington Hospital, chose to make exercise the cornerstone of her routine. While she’s always been physically ... morein #healthynurse Spotlight on 12/28/2019 03:49 PM -
Nursing student focuses on mindful living and mental health Stress is a familiar companion for most people in the nursing field — especially nursing students. To proactively address and eliminate stress, Johns Hopkins School of Nursing student Matthew Padgett focuses on mindfulness and meaningful interactions. “ I try to have a lot of intention ... morein #healthynurse Spotlight on 12/23/2019 11:56 AM -
A nurse’s passion for health and wellness shines bright for others If you ask Chelsea Rolfes what she’s most passionate about, she’ll say it’s helping the average person live a better, healthier life. She does this in multiple ways. One is her career as a nurse — and another is modeling what a healthy, balanced life looks like. Chelsea has always been ... morein #healthynurse Spotlight on 12/17/2019 04:06 PM -
Lifestyle medicine practitioner helps nurses makes healthy behaviors stick To make a lifestyle change stick, you have to change your behavior. As a Board Certified Lifestyle Medicine Practitioner, Aaron Stuber, RN, BSN, DipACLM, helps his patients change their behaviors in subtle ways. He focuses on lifestyle medicine — a data-driven approach to ... morein #healthynurse Spotlight on 11/11/2019 02:32 PM -
In the fall of 2014, I took a local university course in Health Navigation. The most valuable aspect of that course was an introduction to Motivational Interviewing (MI). By learning and practicing MI, I discovered how to positively impact my health and well-being, as well as that of the patients I work with. MI is a highly researched, evidence-based ... morein #healthynurse Spotlight on 10/23/2019 01:30 PM -
Striving to avoid chronic conditions like high blood pressure, trauma nurse turns to healthy nutrition and exercise to lose 80 pounds. Find your motivation. That’s the message from Jaylin Myles, RN, ER/trauma nurse at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center. Finding her motivation changed her life for the better. At first, her motivation was ... morein #healthynurse Spotlight on 10/07/2019 11:59 AM -
Nurse coach and RN dedicates her career to helping nurses concentrate on themselves. When was the last time you put yourself first? As a nurse coach and founder of Therapeutic Professionals, Mary Turner, RN, dedicates her career to putting nurses in the patient’s seat. She listens to them, cares for them, and supports them. “So many nurses give, give, ... morein #healthynurse Spotlight on 10/07/2019 10:53 AM -
Student health nurse promotes a healthy lifestyle at college campus Every change, no matter how small, makes a difference in achieving long-term goals. Susan Indvik, BSN, RN and student health nurse at Dakota College at Bottineau, knows this firsthand. She’s constantly thinking of new ways to promote a healthy lifestyle among the student ... morein #healthynurse Spotlight on 10/07/2019 10:40 AM -
I have been a nurse for 26 years. I did not really become interested in taking care of myself until after I had my second child. This is when I decided to pick up running again. When I was in the military, I ran because I was told to. Now I was running for me. As a working mom and wife, this was my time to myself and a way to release stress. As a nurse, I have been ... morein #healthynurse Spotlight on 09/25/2019 10:20 AM -
Growing up Italian was a little challenging. While my family is amazing, every gathering was centered around food. Relatives would come over in the evenings at times during the week, and my parents would scurry to ensure there was fresh coffee, and we had a pastry or two to serve our “guests.” Christmastime was when dozens and dozens of cookies were ... morein #healthynurse Spotlight on 09/25/2019 10:15 AM -
My name is Rhonda Darnell and I am a nurse practitioner. I never had a weight problem until I reached 40 and slowly over the years my weight crept up. Being only 5’1 I could not carry the extra weight well and when I stepped on the scales at age 55 with it reaching almost 160 lb. my heart sank. I come from a family of obesity, diabetes, heart disease and strokes. I ... morein #healthynurse Spotlight on 09/25/2019 10:14 AM -
A switch to a vegetarian diet leads to massive weight loss and improved quality of life. That’s not who I am. I’m not mildly obese. These thoughts raced through Nikolay Zuyev’s mind after an assessment from his primary care physician. As a registered nurse and graduate student at New York University, he didn’t like what he heard. And that dislike was ... morein #healthynurse Spotlight on 09/25/2019 10:13 AM -
I am 56 years old and a registered nurse. My background includes over 37 years of specialized geriatric care. I am currently working as the Resident Care Management Director at Susqueview Home in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania and my position as an RN has been a rewarding experience. As healthcare continues to change, I feel it is so important to maintain a ... morein #healthynurse Spotlight on 09/17/2019 04:01 PM -
I have struggled with my weight since I was in elementary school. Diet after diet and I rarely saw successful until this past year. I have several medical conditions that make me more predisposed to being overweight. It was a nasty cycle because the weight gain would make the medical conditions worse and would, on many days, cause me to not want to ... morein #healthynurse Spotlight on 09/06/2019 07:10 AM -
Retired nurse competes in 100-mile horseback riding competition Endurance is defined as “the ability to withstand an unpleasant or difficult process or situation without giving way.” If there’s one person who knows endurance, it’s 61-year-old Carol Kight-Dufour. Carol is a huge fan of endurance riding — a sport involving long distance rides on ... morein #healthynurse Spotlight on 09/06/2019 07:10 AM -
I didn't take fitness and proper nutrition seriously until I had my first child. Being a new mom and working 10-hour days, 5 days a week as a nurse was challenging. Caring for myself properly soon went out the door. I would only care for my family, my patients, and would never stop to care for me. Soon I gained so much weight that I was unable to fit in any of my ... morein #healthynurse Spotlight on 09/06/2019 07:09 AM -
I share with you my story, my journey, and more so, my recovery of how chronic stress affected me. I had an intractable migraine w/ aura aka status migrainosus, in 2016, that landed me in the ICU where they also discovered an arrhythmia (AVNRT) that I then had an ablation for. Childhood trauma, stress from personal life, clinical stressors, moral ... morein #healthynurse Spotlight on 09/06/2019 07:08 AM -
My Journey To Self-Care I wasn’t always the picture of perfect health. Though my genetics pre-disposed me to a relatively high metabolism, and being active in my early years, produced a body that most people thought I had to work for. So, I had it made, well at least for a little while. I really didn’t start gaining weight until my junior year of college. It ... morein #healthynurse Spotlight on 08/05/2019 01:38 PM -
Nurse scientist prioritizes her mental health by learning to say no. Surrounding yourself with those who practice a healthy lifestyle is one way to set yourself up for success. Carolyn Huffman, WHNP, PhD, is proof. She was raised in a family that prioritized health. Her father, who had once been overweight, got healthy after his physician told him ... morein #healthynurse Spotlight on 07/09/2019 01:58 PM -
72-year-old Jean Ivey, PhD, PNP-PC, FAANP, has accomplished what many people dream about: She has maintained a healthy weight for over 15 years. Her motivation came from carrying her grandchildren, who were babies at the time, up a few flights of stairs to her home. She could barely do it without becoming exhausted. “I thought, ‘If this makes me tired — ... morein #healthynurse Spotlight on 07/09/2019 01:54 PM -
Nurse practitioner undergoes weight-loss surgery, loses 250 pounds. Melvin (Mel) Viney APRN, FNP-BC, ENP-C, has come a long way in just a few years. Flashback to nine years ago, Mel was disabled for a year due to obesity, thoracic surgery, and radiation treatments. He couldn’t exercise. And it was difficult to get around. All of this made losing weight ... morein #healthynurse Spotlight on 06/24/2019 02:37 PM -
Breast cancer survivor and nurse bikes 102 miles with Riders 4 the Cure. Build wellness practices into your life, because if you hit a health challenge, those practices carry you forward. That’s the takeaway message from Lisa Kiser, DNP, CNM, WHNP, assistant clinical professor at the University of Arizona College of Nursing. Lisa knows this because ... morein #healthynurse Spotlight on 06/24/2019 02:21 PM -
Karla discusses her past, sometimes "unhealthy" vegan diet and how a gallbladder attack encouraged her current healthier plant-based diet . As nurses, I like to think we realize that there is a strong relationship between lifestyle and health. I have been a registered nurse since 1999, and yet, I have seen a surge in chronic health conditions, all of ... morein #healthynurse Spotlight on 06/03/2019 03:50 PM -
Dr. Uniqua Smith, PhD, MBA, RN, NE-BC shares below how her continual fitness journey aided in her successful battle with cancer. In 2015, when I transitioned from working in clinical care to strictly administration, I decided that I needed to start making healthier choices and add in some exercise. Over the years, from working evening shift in the ... morein #healthynurse Spotlight on 06/03/2019 02:18 PM -
Exercise and plant-based diet helps nurse shed 235 pounds. "It’s a journey." That’s what Denise says about her health and wellness changes over the past few years. She’s certainly come a long way on this journey. Back in 2011, Denise reached a breaking point. She wasn’t happy with herself. Getting through the day was exhausting. She was overweight and ... morein #healthynurse Spotlight on 05/15/2019 10:10 AM -
Kansas City nurse trains for her third 340-mile paddleboarding race Lauren Rodriguez is a Kansas girl, born and raised. She’s also a water-lover. Whether it’s swimming, water-skiing, canoeing, or stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) — the water is her sanctuary. In addition to being a water bug, Lauren is competitive. With that combination, it’s no ... morein #healthynurse Spotlight on 05/15/2019 10:01 AM -
CAPT Belsito is an RN currently serving with the United States Public Health Services (USPHS). She has always had a passion for health and fitness. She is a two-time Hall of Fame powerlifter and Masters Olympic weightlifter. Representing the USA at the World Powerlifting Championships seven times and attending eight Master Olympic Weightlifting ... morein #healthynurse Spotlight on 04/15/2019 03:49 PM -
Conway Medical Center nurse makes exercise a habit she can’t break Five-foot-tall Corazon (Cora) White, MSN, RN, carried extra weight on her body for years — ever since having children. She always thought to herself, “this is the year I’ll take off the weight.” But yet another year would pass. In 2016, Cora transitioned from a floor nurse to a clinical ... morein #healthynurse Spotlight on 04/15/2019 03:14 PM -
This year, I will celebrate 35 years as a nurse. Currently, I am an APN practicing full time in inpatient obstetrics. In addition, I share leadership of a perinatal bereavement/palliative care program and provide grief support. I am an overachiever and experienced educator and speaker. I have been fortunate to receive many awards for my clinical ... morein #healthynurse Spotlight on 04/02/2019 03:12 PM -
Follow Kimberly's journey as she experiences a different way of looking at health. I remember being a novice nurse on a busy medical-surgical floor located in a busy hospital in New York. I was running around nonstop for 12 hour shifts, skipping meals and avoiding going to the bathroom because I was always too busy. I was young and skinny then, a ... morein #healthynurse Spotlight on 03/28/2019 12:36 PM -
Recently, HNHN had the opportunity to chat with Pamela F. Cipriano, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN about all things wellness, including her recent past presidency at the American Nurses Association (ANA), her current role as first vice president at the International Council of Nurses (ICN), and her personal health journey. HNHN: You made several health ... morein #healthynurse Spotlight on 03/06/2019 03:30 PM -
Peter Stoffan is the Patient Care Director of the Pre-op and Post Anesthesia Care Units at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center (NYP) NYP would like to recognize Peter Stoffan, as he exemplifies a healthy nurse and is always looking for ways to promote Healthy Nurse, Health Nation for his staff. Peter has always had an interest in ... morein #healthynurse Spotlight on 01/29/2019 04:51 PM -
Latonia Ford is currently a Captain in the United States Public Health Service. Her specialty is emergency medicine and she is presently stationed at the Food & Drug Administration in Silver Spring, Maryland. We all say we want to be a nurse to help others, but I also wanted to be a nurse to set a positive example. I started my journey in health and fitness ... morein #healthynurse Spotlight on 01/29/2019 12:30 PM -
I started a new position as a Diabetes Education Specialist, at a very busy urban teaching hospital, and although I was very blessed to have this new position, it was very stressful, just learning the new job. After a few months, I felt like I had a grasp of my new job and began to self-reflect about my own health, since I have a family history of diabetes. I ... morein #healthynurse Spotlight on 01/17/2019 03:21 PM -
On August 10, 2018, in a Syracuse NY gym, three “off-duty” nurses were finishing a workout and one was getting ready to start. Then a tragic accident happened, but these heroes jumped right in and saved a man’s life. HNHN interviewed the four nurses to not only hear how they restored a fellow gym member’s health, but also how hard they work to maintain ... morein #healthynurse Spotlight on 12/17/2018 01:11 PM -
Amy is a nurse from Australia. She has a Post-Graduate Certificate in Nursing Practice (ICU), a Certificate 3 and 4 in Fitness, and is a Level 3 Metabolic Nutritionist. She is currently studying her Meditation Teacher Training. Below is her story: I became very health conscious at age 14, after my diagnosis of Crohn’s disease, I was incredibly ... morein #healthynurse Spotlight on 12/04/2018 08:18 AM -
Art begins with a thought and a sacred space I was skinny, quiet and my mind wondered constantly. I was given a certificate as the “Most Behaved” student in first grade. I gave my teacher a drawing of a rose and in her excitement, she hugged the drawing to her chest and proudly showed it in class. I was stunned and embarrassed. I ran home crying and swearing ... morein #healthynurse Spotlight on 11/10/2018 08:28 AM -
We are pleased to shine the #healthynurse Spotlight on Mary Ellen Levine, MSN/Ed, RN CPHN . While helping her dog lose weight, Mary Ellen took a hard look at her own health. Although her dog has now passed, Mary Ellen maintains her exercise and good nutrition regimen, as well as active HNHN participation. My name is Mary Ellen Levine and I’m from New ... morein #healthynurse Spotlight on 10/30/2018 12:40 PM -
On October 9 at Healthy Nurse, Healthy Nation and Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) Health celebrated the successful completion of the first ever Healthy Nurse, Healthy Nation Simply to Go Nutrition Pilot, supported by Sodexo. MUSC Health nurses have improved their nutritional health by tripling their daily consumption of fruits and ... morein #healthynurse Spotlight on 10/11/2018 03:02 PM -
We are pleased to shine the #healthynurse spotlight on Lisa Ertle, BA, RN . Lisa’s wellness plan enhances her quality of life with spiritual and philanthropic components, as well as studying Mandarin! I have always loved that famous quote from Aunty Mame: “Life’s a banquet and some poor suckers are starving to death!” I believe there is so much to be ... morein #healthynurse Spotlight on 10/08/2018 03:16 PM -
For as long as I can remember I have struggled with my weight. Though, unknowingly I was fighting the voice inside myself, more than I was battling the scale. My striving to be perfect every time I tried, continually failed me. Nursing school is where everything came together for me, and my journey to better health began. Education was the key to my success ... morein #healthynurse Spotlight on 09/26/2018 01:18 PM -
HNHN is pleased to shine the spotlight on Dionne Allen . As an active HNHN Facebook group member, Dionne motivates co-workers and others to join her in hiking and skiing. I love that Healthy Nurse, Healthy Nation is a concept! It may be long overdue, but glad it is here and that so many nurses participate to encourage and share how they stay healthy or ... morein #healthynurse Spotlight on 09/10/2018 12:37 PM -
We are pleased to shine the #healthynurse spotlight on Jeanne Harris, BSN, RN . Through an amazing fitness journey, Jeanne lost weight and is now a certified Zumba and yoga instructor. My name is Jeanne Harris, I live in Pensacola Florida and am a Registered Nurse at Baptist Hospital 4 West, Cardiac for the last 12 years and co-chair The Health and ... morein #healthynurse Spotlight on 08/23/2018 12:22 PM -
We are pleased to shine the #healthynurse Spotlight on Tracey Jaworski-Lucas, BSN, RN . The emotional and spiritual demands of nursing caught Tracy by surprise. Read on to discover how she nurtures that part of herself to combat burnout. I have known that I wanted to be a nurse since the first grade. When I began my RN career at forty-three, I couldn’t ... morein #healthynurse Spotlight on 08/07/2018 09:52 AM -
We are pleased to shine the #healthynurse Spotlight on Kiki Magno, MSN, RN, BC . To me, self–care is primary care. It has always been at the forefront of my mind. I have a continued passion for integrating holistic and complimentary practices into my daily regime. I have an evening routine as my day unwinds. I listen to calming music, mostly sounds of ... morein #healthynurse Spotlight on 07/26/2018 01:45 PM -
Healthy Nurse, Healthy Nation™ (HNHN) started around the time when I started lifting weights. Because of my trainer and a new online nursing support system, I didn't feel alone. Suddenly I had people around me who were dedicated to living a healthy lifestyle, not just drinking every weekend. When I got into a new routine of meal prepping and made ... morein #healthynurse Spotlight on 07/09/2018 11:17 AM -
We are pleased to shine the #healthynurse Spotlight on Jenell Steele, BSN, RN . When Jenell realized she was not always practicing what she was preaching, she made several healthy changes to her lifestyle. As nurses, we do a great job managing the health outcomes of other people, less than stellar for ourselves! Most of us think we have time; we will ... morein #healthynurse Spotlight on 06/21/2018 01:28 PM -
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We are proud to shine the #HealthyNurse Spotlight on Kimberley Smith, RNC, BSN . A frequent poster on our private Facebook group, Kimberley has been focusing on fueling her body with better nutrition, not for weight loss, but for energy. Read more about Kimberley below as she shares what she enjoys about HNHN. After 33 years of preaching health ... morein #healthynurse Spotlight on 05/17/2018 01:05 PM -
This week we are proud to shine the #HealthyNurse Spotlight on Dr. Charlene Moske-Weber . As a longtime advocate for health and wellness among nurses, I am thrilled to be part of the American Nurses Association’s Healthy Nurse, Healthy Nation™ (HNHN) initiative. As a nurse educator, I am concerned about the disconnect that exists between nursing’s ... morein #healthynurse Spotlight on 05/03/2018 09:57 AM -
This week’s #HealthyNurse Spotlight is on Christian R. Schreckhise . Christian is a student at Pennsylvania State University’s College of Nursing and is also the SNAP Public Relations Chair. See his spotlight below on how even as a very busy nursing student, he keeps healthy. My role with HNHN is to help facilitate activity amongst our members, ... morein #healthynurse Spotlight on 04/19/2018 11:10 AM -
We are proud to shine the #HealthyNurse Spotlight on Rochelle “Shelly” Anderson-Doyley ! Shelly is a top poster in our Facebook community with her daily walking regimen. A real community asset, Shelly inspires others in their nutrition or physical activity commitments through comments and photos. Shelly tells us, “I enjoy walking early ... morein #healthynurse Spotlight on 04/06/2018 11:18 AM -
We are proud to shine the #HealthyNurse Spotlight on Swardiq “Q” Mayanja . Q is a “nurse by day and host of the 'Everyday Hero' show by night.” His wellness journey centers on finding his personal joy in the nursing profession AND having a fulfilling side gig where he often shows gratitude for heroes overlooked by the public. Read his story below. My name is ... morein #healthynurse Spotlight on 03/23/2018 02:21 PM -
We are proud to shine the #HealthyNurse Spotlight on Daisy Molina , MSN-Ed, RNC-LRN, CLS, CIME . Daisy discovered her way to better health through a weight management program. She now feels empowered to take on any challenge that comes her way. Read more about how she discovered balance, consistency, and sustainability in her diet and attitude ... morein #healthynurse Spotlight on 03/09/2018 10:04 AM -
We are proud to shine the #HealthyNurse Spotlight on Julie R. David, MSN, ARNP, ANP-BC . I am a mother of 2 preschool and school-age little girls, who works full-time as the Magnet Project Director in my organization. I am blessed having my girls despite a difficult first pregnancy at an advanced maternal age (AMA -pregnancy above 35 years old). It was ... morein #healthynurse Spotlight on 02/23/2018 09:18 AM -
This week, we are pleased to shine the spotlight on Toni Scott, MSN, CYT and founder of Yogatones. Below is peek at her wellness journey: As a former burnt out nurse, and now a yoga and mindfulness provider, this challenge lies deep within my heart, beliefs, and work. It supports my personal and professional mission of providing nurses with inspiration ... morein #healthynurse Spotlight on 02/07/2018 08:38 PM -
This week, we are pleased to shine the spotlight on Heather Lapides, RN, BSN, NC-BC . The single best thing I have done to become a happier, healthier nurse was to become a Transformative Nurse Coach. After working in the ICU for years, I was spiraling towards burnout and thinking of leaving nursing all together. Since becoming a Board Certified Nurse ... morein #healthynurse Spotlight on 02/07/2018 08:32 PM -
We are proud to shine the spotlight on Sheena D. Pracyk this week. For most of my adulthood, being a nurse wasn’t just my job; it was my life and an integral part of my self-identity. My nursing career and experiences have been amazing, giving me my closest friends, a chance to travel and the opportunity to meet my husband. For over twenty years, the levels ... morein #healthynurse Spotlight on 02/07/2018 08:26 PM -
This week, we are proud to shine the HealthyNurse Spotlight on Marcia Free, BSN, RN, CCRP , who took the challenge to transform her overall health, which led to an 80 pound weight loss. My journey toward health began 4 years ago when I took a job doing chronic care management in a primary care practice. My duties are varied, and include aspects of patient ... morein #healthynurse Spotlight on 02/07/2018 07:57 PM -
This week, we are pleased to shine the spotlight on Eileen Reali, BSN RN RN-BC . The Reali family, Eileen is pictured with glasses. Health and wellness have always been on my mind, but somehow not generally in my diet in the last few years. I have managed to improve some areas of wellness in my life along the way. In the past few years, I’ve improved my sleep ... morein #healthynurse Spotlight on 01/26/2018 12:03 PM -
This week, we are pleased to shine the spotlight on Amy B. Eilertsen, MN, RN . Here is Amy’s inspiring health journey following a serious hip injury: “A year ago during a dressage lesson I was unexpectedly thrown from a horse and hit the dirt squarely on my left hip. Activity is such an important part of maintaining my physical and mental health that, ... morein #healthynurse Spotlight on 01/04/2018 10:32 AM -
This week, we are pleased to shine the spotlight on Robin Carmichael, RN, BSN . About a year ago, this was my life. At 5’6 and over 212 pounds, I had a high-stress, full-time teaching job with a 2.5 hour commute. On clinical days, I would get up at 4 a.m. I was also my husband’s care giver; he had liver cancer that progressed to the bone rapidly. When I lost Rich ... morein #healthynurse Spotlight on 12/15/2017 07:11 PM
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