Week 9: 3/3/11

In class this week I learned about why we exercise and how to build a good exercise program. People exercise for many different reasons. These are some of the main reasons it is recommended to exercise: it increases endorphins, helps decrease stress level, strengthens muscles and bones and helps keep the heart and lungs healthy. A good exercise program includes flexibility, strength training and aerobic conditioning.

This applies to me now because I need to have a good exercise program, not only because it will keep my body healthy but because being in the nursing program my stress levels are pretty high. Exercise helps release some of my excess stress. The proper amount of exercise actually gives me the energy I need to accomplish the homework and other things I need to get done. It also helps my body sleep better at night. When I get a good night’s rest and have energy I am better able to learn the things I need to know to become a nurse.

Another reason I need to be exercising is so that I have experience and can later relate to my patients about the road blocks that come when exercising. Sometimes patients need someone to relate to. If they have a health care professional that they trust and feel they can confide in, they will be more likely to listen to teaching. It's also important that as a health care provider I set a good example of trying to stay fit. I believe that the best way to help a patient learn how to exercise is to show by example.

This all applies to me as a future nurse because everyone needs to make the effort to exercise. Some want to lose weight; others need to do it to keep their BP down or to control their cholesterol. Some can even manage their diabetes with exercise. This is why it's important to teach proper techniques and to help the patient create a program that is the most beneficial to them and within their physical ability. Another important thing to help provide is activities the patient enjoys. A program that has variety and activities the patient enjoys will be a successful program.

There are misconceptions out about exercise and I believe it is my job as a health care provider to teach the correct things about exercise. The best place to do that is to take the opportunity to teach when talking with the patient. On top of that i think it's important to reach out to the community and really help people understand the reasons for exercise and they right ways to build a program. As I teach my future patients I hope to convey a nonjudgmental attitude and I hope to do my best to help them build an attainable exercise program.