LIFE-STYLE PRACTICES AND THE HEALTH-PROMOTING ENVIRONMENT OF HOSPITALNURSES

This paper examined the lifestyle practices of hospital nurses and the impact of specific interventions in the hospital environment. The per ception of nurse as health promoter and as carer of AIDS patients was also examined. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect d ata at two different lime periods. The sample represented 729 nurses ( at pre- and post-time periods), both qualified and student nurses. Qua lified nurses reported the highest stress levels while student nurses reported more negative lifestyle practices such as smoking, alcohol co nsumption and drug use. A greater number of current smokers (29%) cons umed alcohol and used drugs than non-smokers. The impact of interventi on strategies around compliance with smoking policy and work-site walk routes reduced exposure to passive smoking at work for qualified nurs es and increased exercise participation for both groups of nurses. Wor kplace was identified as the main source of stress which included rela tionships at work and demands of the job. Hospital nurses experiencing high work stress were more Likely to use professional support and per sonal coping [discuss problems with friends/family, have a good cry an d eat more] than others. Nurses believed in the importance of health p romotion as part of their work; however, qualified nurses felt more co nfident and gave more health related information than student nurses. Student nurses perceived a lower risk of contacting AIDS through work and a higher concern/worry in caring for AIDS patients than qualified nurses.