Healthy Nurse, Healthy Nation™
On May 1, 2017, the American Nurses Association Enterprise (ANAE) launched Healthy Nurse, Healthy Nation™ a program designed to improve the health of the Nation's 4.3M nurses - one nurse at a time by engaging individual nurses and partner organizations to take action within six domains: physical activity, rest, nutrition, quality of life, safety, and mental health. As one of the most trusted professions, nurses have enormous potential to lead health care change as role models, advocates, and educators.
Nurses support patients to live life to the fullest, and they deserve the same privilege. ANA believes that nurse wellbeing must be safeguarded, and that ill-health should not be an inevitable by-product of dedicated nursing practice. A healthy nurse lives life to the fullest capacity, across the wellness/illness continuum, as they become stronger role models, advocates, and educators; personally, for their families, their communities and work environments, and ultimately for their patients.
Access the Healthy Nurse, Healthy Nation™ Year Four Highlights 2020-2021
One who actively focuses on creating and maintaining a balance and synergy of physical, intellectual, emotional, social, spiritual, financial, personal, and professional wellbeing.
A healthier you means healthier patients
Just think, if all 4 million registered nurses increase their personal wellness and support some of their family, community, co-workers, and patients to do the same, what a healthier world we would live in.
About Healthy Nurse, Healthy Nation™
HNHN is a program designed to transform the health of the nation by supporting nurses to take positive action to improve their health as the program:
- Broadly connects and engages individual nurses and partner organizations to take action within five focus areas: physical activity, sleep, nutrition, quality of life, and safety.
- Provides a web platform to inspire action; cultivate friendly competition; provide content and resources to nurses; gather data; and connect nurses with each other, employers, and organizations.
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Research and resources on nurse health
The key findings of ANA’s Health Risk Appraisal show that we need to take action to improve the health of the nation’s nurses. The report shows that in several key indicators, the health of U.S. nurses is often worse than that of the average American.
Nurses are often overweight, have higher levels of stress and get less sleep than the average American. Because health care delivery requires 24/7 support, the demands of shift work exacerbate the health of nurses. In addition, hazards such as workplace violence and musculoskeletal injuries are contributing factors to poorer health.
Read ANA’s Health Risk Appraisal
Key areas of nurse wellbeing
Physical health is just one facet of good living. The following resources provide recommendations on how nurses can be their healthiest self, with a balanced lifestyle.
Resources to support nurses to take control of their health
- Nurses Healing Their Own. This podcast explores why nurses in New Mexico are joining forces with ANA to improve the health of America's 4 million registered nurses. Dr. Pam Cipriano, President of the American Nurses Association, is interviewed by Keith Carlson, member of the New Mexico Nurses Association Board of Directors, and Camille Adair, with the New Mexico Nurses Association's Healthy Nurse, Healthy NM Interest Group. Dr. Cipriano discusses the growing awareness of the importance of nurses prioritizing their own health as leaders in the health of the nation. Visit: HealthyNurseHealthyNation.org and nmna.org for more information.
- American Cancer Society - Stay Healthy
- National Alliance for Nutrition and Activity’s Healthy Meeting Toolkit
- NIH's Rethinking Drinking, an Evidence-based Resource on Alcohol and Health
- Principles of a Healthy, Sustainable Food System. Updated as of May, 2012.
- ANA's Incivility, Bullying, and Workplace Violence Resources
- ANA's Sharps Injury Prevention Resources
- Nursing and Immunization
- ANA’s Environmental Health Resources
On May 1, 2017, ANA launched Healthy Nurse, Healthy Nation™, an ongoing national movement designed to transform the health of the nation by improving the health of the nation’s 4 million registered nurses