Barriers and facilitators to healthy eating for nurses in the workplace: an integrative review

Abstract

Reorientation of the workplace to promote healthy eating among nurses is required.

Culture, teams, and organizations: A qualitative exploration of female nurses’ and midwives’ experiences of urinary symptoms at work

“…Researchers ask why nurses leave (Eley et al., ; Goodare, ; Perry, Xu, et al., ), with strategies offered to help them stay in the workforce (Dawson, Stasa, Roche, Homer, & Duffield, ; Perry, Nicholls, Gallagher, & Duffield, ). Our study findings indicate that strategies need to take account of the role of culture and related social factors in workers’ health and health behaviours (Mastroianni & Storberg‐Walker, ; Nicholls et al., ). With strong underlying cultural norms that preference patient care to the detriment of nurses’ self‐care, solutions for improving bladder health and the overall health and well‐being of nurses, are unlikely to be achievable or sustainable unless they encompass cultural and social change.…”

“…With global nursing shortages and the need to maintain the health of an ageing workforce, promotion of self‐care practices in many high‐income nations is a workforce and national healthcare priority (Audit Scotland , Health Workforce Australia , National Health Service , The American Nurses Association ). Research discourse on nurses’ health has largely focussed on nurses’ individual health profiles, barriers to healthy lifestyle behaviours (diet and exercise) (Nahm et al., ; Nicholls et al., ), and reduction of occupation‐specific health risks such as work stress, long work hours, irregular meal schedules, and shift work (Kyle, Neall, & Atherton, ; Ross, Bevans, Brooks, Gibbons, & Wallen, ). Researchers ask why nurses leave (Eley et al., ; Goodare, ; Perry, Xu, et al., ), with strategies offered to help them stay in the workforce (Dawson, Stasa, Roche, Homer, & Duffield, ; Perry, Nicholls, Gallagher, & Duffield, ).…”

“…Accounting for the multiple influences on a person's health behaviour in a setting allows for the identification of “lever points” for policy development to effect organizational and behavioural change (Stokols, ). Health promotion socioecological theory has been successfully applied to tobacco control (Borland, Young, Coghill, & Zhang, ) and improving the understanding of eating (Nicholls, Perry, Duffield, Gallagher, & Pierce, ), physical activity, and sedentary behaviours (Sallis, Cervero, Ascher, & Henderson, ). A socioecological model of health behaviour may also permit the complexities of health practices related to the development of LUTS be better understood and where necessary redressed (Newman et al., ).…”

Building expert agreement on the importance and feasibility of workplace health promotion interventions for nurses and midwives: A modified Delphi consultation

“…In promoting nutritional interventions to change the healthcare food environment, they acknowledged the central role of good nutrition for health and prevention of disease. Numerous nursing studies have identified the need to provide a healthier food environment for nurses (Nicholls et al., ). Healthier food options in cafeterias and vending machines make healthier choices easier for staff and visitors and may also highlight hospitals as industry role models: clearly necessary given the high rate of overweight and obesity in nurses as well as populations (Bogossian et al., ; Kyle, Neall, & Atherton, ).…”

“…Links have been found between smoking, alcohol abuse and the stressful nature and emotional demands of the role (Cheung & Yip, ; Han et al., ; Happell et al., ). High rates of overweight and obesity have been attributed, in part, to unhealthy eating environments and ward cultures (Nicholls, Perry, Duffield, Gallagher, & Pierce, ; Perry, Gallagher, et al., ). Low rates of leisure time physical activity are reported among time‐poor nurses, particularly those shift‐working and with home‐care responsibilities (Chin, Nam, & Lee, ; Peplonska, Bukowska, & Sobala, ).…”