Healthy Eating for Nurses Aim of 60-day Pilot Program

Contact: Heather Woolwine, MUSC
843-792-7669
woolwinh@musc.edu

Contact: Shannon McClendon, ANA
301-628-5391
shannon.mcclendon@ana.org

June 13, 2018

CHARLESTON, SC – Today, the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC Health) launches a 60-day nutrition pilot to improve the eating habits of nurses. Through this program, MUSC Health nurses have a new opportunity to increase their daily consumption of fruits and vegetables. By offering fresh, seasonal and locally sourced Simply-to-Go food items available for quick pick up at three locations on the MUSC campus, the pilot seeks to improve the quality of life for caregivers who work so hard to help others. 

The program is supported by Sodexo Healthcare, a food services and facilities management company committed to improving quality of life, and a major partner in the Healthy Nurse, Health Nation™ Grand Challenge (HNHN) hosted by the ANA Enterprise. MUSC is a HNHN partner and the first organization selected to participate in a HNHN quality of life program in the U.S. It is the only participant site in South Carolina.

“Our nurses impact the lives of their patients, colleagues, families, and neighbors every day. We had no reservations when we were approached to spearhead the pilot because the health of our staff is a top-priority,” said Andrea Coyle, MUSC Health Professional Excellence and Magnet Program director and registered nurse. “We are honored to work alongside Sodexo and ANA to offer more quality food options on our campus and serve as a model for other organizations.”

The health of the average nurse is worse than that of the average American. Whether it’s due to demanding shifts or stress associated with providing the best patient care, nurses routinely put their own health and well-being last. In a recent survey, 75 percent of MUSC nurses said they put the health, safety and wellness of patients before their own. Nurses everywhere tend to have a 30 percent less nutritious diet despite vast knowledge about prevention. Almost half of MUSC nurses said they eat at fast food establishments or similar restaurants 1-2 times a week and 31 percent said they do so 3-4 times a week. In the same survey, the majority of MUSC nurses typically have 2-3 servings of fruits, vegetables and whole grains each day. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend that all individuals eat between 3-5 servings of whole grains and 5 -9 servings of fruits and vegetables daily.

Studies have shown that when clinicians are healthy themselves, they are more likely to counsel patients about healthy behaviors and they are considered as more credible by patients.  

“Nurses are viewed as exemplars of health due to their expertise, knowledge and role across all areas of health care. The HNHN pilot at MUSC is a shining example of how we can begin to close the gap between knowing and doing,” said Bonnie Clipper, ANA Enterprise vice president of practice and innovation. “The well-being of nurses is fundamental to the health of our nation.”

“We believe that quality of life extends outside of our homes and into the workplace,” said Catherine J. Tabaka, CEO Sodexo Healthcare North America. “It’s our pleasure to participate in this important initiative that will further enhance the health and wellness for MUSC nurses so they can focus on their highest priority – caring for the patients.”

The outcomes and results from the MUSC nutrition pilot will be presented this fall. The HNHN Grand Challenge engages 330 partner organizations and over 21,000 participants to take action to improve nurses' health in five key areas:  physical activity, rest, nutrition, quality of life, and safety. HNHN was recently named a 2018 Power of A Silver Award winner for enriching lives and positively impacting America through broad-reaching programs and activities. Both individuals and organizational partners can learn about the HNHN Grand Challenge by visiting www.healthynursehealthynation.org.

About the Medical University of South Carolina

Founded in 1824 in Charleston, The Medical University of South Carolina is the oldest medical school in the South. Today, MUSC continues the tradition of excellence in education, research, and patient care. MUSC educates and trains more than 3,000 students and 700 residents in six colleges (Dental Medicine, Graduate Studies, Health Professions, Medicine, Nursing, and Pharmacy), and has nearly 14,000 employees, including approximately 1,500 faculty members. As the largest non-federal employer in Charleston, the university and its affiliates have collective annual budgets in excess of $2.4 billion, with an annual economic impact of more than $3.8 billion and annual research funding in excess of $250 million. MUSC operates a 700-bed medical center, which includes a nationally recognized children's hospital, the Ashley River Tower (cardiovascular, digestive disease, and surgical oncology), Hollings Cancer Center (a National Cancer Institute-designated center), Level I trauma center, Institute of Psychiatry, and the state’s only transplant center. In 2017, for the third consecutive year, U.S. News & World Report named MUSC Health the number one hospital in South Carolina. For more information on academic programs, visit musc.edu. For more information on hospital patient services, visit muschealth.org.

About Sodexo North America

Sodexo North America is part of a global, Fortune 500 company with a presence in 80 countries. Sodexo is a leading provider of integrated food, facilities management and other services that enhance organizational performance, contribute to local communities and improve quality of life for millions of customers in corporate, education, healthcare, senior living, sports and leisure, government and other environments daily.  The company employs 133,000 people at 13,000 sites in all 50 U.S. states and Canada and indirectly supports tens of thousands of additional jobs through its annual purchases of $9.2 billion in goods and services from small to large American businesses. In support of local communities across the U.S., the Sodexo Stop Hunger Foundation has contributed close to $32 million over the past 20 years to help feed children in America impacted by hunger.  To learn more about Sodexo, visit SodexoInsights.com and connect with us on Facebook and @SodexoUSA on Twitter.

About the ANA Enterprise

The ANA Enterprise is the organizing platform of the American Nurses Association (ANA), the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), and the American Nurses Foundation. The ANA Enterprise leverages the combined strength of each to drive excellence in practice and ensure nurses’ voice and vision are recognized by policy leaders, industry influencers and employers. From professional development and advocacy, credentialing and grants, and products and services, the ANA Enterprise is the leading resource for nurses to arm themselves with the tools, information, and network they need to excel in their individual practices. In helping individual nurses succeed—across all practices and specialties, and at each stage of their careers—the ANA Enterprise is lighting the way for the entire profession to succeed. For high resolution images