ObjectiveTo estimate obesity prevalence among healthcare professionals in England and compare prevalence with those working outside of the health services.DesignCross-sectional study based on data from 5 years (2008–2012) of the nationally representative Health Survey for England.SettingEngland.Participants20 103 adults aged 17–65 years indicating they were economically active at the time of survey classified into four occupational groups: nurses (n=422), other healthcare professionals (n=412), unregistered care workers (n=736) and individuals employed in non-health-related occupations (n=18 533).Outcome measurePrevalence of obesity defined as body mass index ≥30.0 with 95% CIs and weighted to reflect the population.ResultsObesity prevalence was high across all occupational groups including: among nurses (25.1%, 95% CI 20.9% to 29.4%); other healthcare professionals (14.4%, 95% CI 11.0% to 17.8%); non-health-related occupations (23.5%, 95% CI 22.9% to 24.1%); and unregistered care workers who had the highest prevalence of obesity (31.9%, 95% CI 28.4% to 35.3%). A logistic regression model adjusted for sociodemographic composition and survey year indicated that, compared with nurses, the odds of being obese were significantly lower for other healthcare professionals (adjusted OR (aOR) 0.52, 95% CI 0.37 to 0.75) and higher for unregistered care workers (aOR 1.46, 95% CI 1.11 to 1.93). There was no significant difference in obesity prevalence between nurses and people working in non-health-related occupations (aOR 0.94, 95% CI 0.74 to 1.18).ConclusionsHigh obesity prevalence among nurses and unregistered care workers is concerning as it increases the risks of musculoskeletal conditions and mental health conditions that are the main causes of sickness absence in health services. Further research is required to better understand the reasons for high obesity prevalence among healthcare professionals in England to inform interventions to support individuals to achieve and maintain a healthy weight.

Aims To estimate the prevalence and co‐occurrence of health‐related behaviours among nurses in Scotland relative to other healthcare workers and those in non‐healthcare occupations. Design Secondary analysis of nationally representative cross‐sectional data, reported following STROBE guidelines. Methods Five rounds (2008–2012) of the Scottish Health Survey were aggregated to estimate the prevalence and co‐occurrence of health‐related behaviours (smoking, alcohol consumption, physical activity, fruit/vegetable intake). The weighted sample (n = 18,820) included 471 nurses (3%), 433 other healthcare professionals (2%), 813 unregistered care workers (4%), and 17,103 in non‐healthcare occupations (91%). Logistic regression models compared the prevalence of specific health‐related behaviours and principal component analysis assessed co‐occurrence of health‐related behaviours between occupational groups. Results Nurses reported significantly better health‐related behaviours relative to the general working population for smoking, fruit/vegetable intake, and physical activity. No significant difference was found for alcohol consumption between occupational groups. Nurses reported lower levels of harmful co‐occurring behaviours (tobacco smoking and alcohol consumption) and higher levels of preventive behaviours (physical activity and fruit/vegetable intake) compared with the general working population. Other healthcare professionals had the lowest level of harmful health behaviours and the highest level of preventive health behaviours. Health‐related behaviours were poorest among unregistered care workers. Conclusion Nurses’ health‐related behaviours were better than the general population but non‐adherence to public health guidelines was concerning. Impact Nurses play an important role in health promotion through patient advice and role‐modelling effects. To maximise their impact, healthcare providers should prioritise increasing access to healthy food, alcohol awareness, and smoking cessation programmes.

Policy makers and senior managers should consider the suitability of treatment targets in the emergency department, particularly in relation to working conditions for nurses and other health professionals and its potential for negative impacts on patient care. While targets remain in place, senior nurses and managers should support nurses who breach the target to provide optimum clinical care.

This article explores the application of Lipsky's (1980) notion of street-level bureaucracy for nursing staff. This article aims to demonstrate the importance of discretion within the day-to-day work of front-line nursing staff, which is similar to that of other public-sector workers. The findings are from an exploratory case study based within a Scottish inner-city hospital. It specifically focuses on how nurses can be seen to be street-level bureaucrats and how front-line nursing staff interpret policy. Discretion can be seen to be a significant feature within the front-line practice of nursing staff and this may have implications for the implementation of health policy.

Aims: To examine nurses' views on the impact that mass media has on service users and how this affects nurse/service user interactions. Background: Internationally, the mass media is an important source of health information for the public. Media framing therefore exerts considerable influence on the public's perceptions of healthcare professionals and services. However, it is not known how the reporting of health stories by the media impacts the work of front-line nursing staff. Design: A qualitative interpretivist study using a single case study design. Methods: Semi-structured interviews with qualified nursing staff (n=31) within a large hospital in the United Kingdom. Results/Findings: Three key themes: 'scaremongering health stories'; 'negative portrayal of the nursing profession and 'informed service users'. Nurses perceived media framing of health and healthcare services as predominantly negative. Conclusion: Nurses need greater awareness of how service users receive and respond to health information and how health stories are reported. Closer engagement between health journalists and nurses through 'journalist-in-residence' programmes could enable nurses and journalists to gain greater appreciation of their respective sets of knowledge to support shared and informed decisionmaking between service users and professionals.