"if you weren't so obese, you probably wouldn't have 1/2 the illnesses you do"

Nurses General Nursing

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i'm not sure if this is a vent or just an effort to regain my sense of nursing compassion, but WHAT HAPPENED to honest patient teaching? some of the RNs on my floor seem scared to address the obvious- being an obese smoker who seems allergic to any type of a healthy lifestyle is the main reason a majority of our patients are here, on our med/surg floor.

The main illnesses I see? uncontrolled Hypertension, uncontrolled type 2 diabetes, CHF etc. How can I be more compassionate yet still addressing the truth?

At least in the children, the odds of them being "at fault" for their illness are very, very slim- I'm considering a transfer to Peds.

How can I keep "the hunger" I started with when I see so many chronic diseases that are intrinsicly linked to poor lifestyle choices?

Please help. i dont want to become a RN who is there to clock in and clock out while secretly wanting to smack some common sense into them, lol

Thank you all, in advance.

Specializes in Case Manager.
Wow. I hope by the time you graduate you've learned how to be a little more compassionate and less judgemental. Making sweeping generalizations about groups of people won't serve you well in your career.

I find it ironic that you used excuses to explain why you aren't working out in the gym. Or is "different" in your case?

It's not different... then again, I'm not obese either! :D

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I have ben reading everyone's posts, with interest. It is funny that no one has mentioned the roll that genetics plays in Type 2. And it does play a very major role. One of the nice thing's about retirement is I have a great deal more time to read journal articles. And hey deal with not only the causes of noncompliance but offer valuable suggestions. And they deal with how to address successfully diet teaching, exercise, helping to set a attainable goals, helping to deal with back sliding.

One of things I always enjoyed about nursing was the role we play in helping patients deal with heal problems. And I learn that I can't deal with every patient and every problem. I had to learn to accept this idea. But some of the things I have never learn to deal with, is the judgemental, negative attitudes

of other nurses towards patients. And their patients failure to listen to their directions. If someone wants to be corect all the time, nursing is not for you. And if you expect everypatient to listen to you every direction, think back think back to you own children (I am not suggesting patients are children).

GrannyRN65

Just because it is harder for some people to lose weight doesnt mean it cant be done,it will be just harder than for the others...more work yes definitely.But on the other hand I dont totally agree with you in regards to genetics.Yes genetics is one of the major risk factors for developing disease such as diabetes and hypertension which are precursor to other conditions such as heart problems and kidney problems,anemia,weak bones...but also of course there are other risk factors such as race (we all know that African Americans and Hispanics as well as Native Americans),then you can fit in the genetics,then older age follows and then OBESITY and that highlights the importance of PREVENTIVE CARE I guess educating people about their risk factors and emphasize the ways to prevent the disease before it reaches those individual at risk.Sometimes one has to be really blunt and straight forward with an individual not sweet talking them all the time it is called reality check,sometimes it takes a painful fall to learn and the truth hurts but sometimes it needed to be told.Compassion works only so much.Now just because there are other major risk factors that I mentioned before doesnt mean an obese person shouldnt try hard to loose weight,actually they should be motivated even more to get back into the shape. Ok example; a certain individual inherited "bad teeth" but if that individual decides to floss their teeth after each meal,dont eat tons of sugar there is a huge chance she or he will keep their teeth in an exellent conditions for many years,will it be harder in the comparision with someone who inherited strong teeth,yes but it can be done.

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Just because it is harder for some people to lose weight doesnt mean it cant be done,it will be just harder than for the others...more work yes definitely.But on the other hand I dont totally agree with you in regards to genetics.Yes genetics is one of the major risk factors for developing disease such as diabetes and hypertension which are precursor to other conditions such as heart problems and kidney problems,anemia,weak bones...but also of course there are other risk factors such as race (we all know that African Americans and Hispanics as well as Native Americans),then you can fit in the genetics,then older age follows and then OBESITY and that highlights the importance of PREVENTIVE CARE I guess educating people about their risk factors and emphasize the ways to prevent the disease before it reaches those individual at risk.Sometimes one has to be really blunt and straight forward with an individual not sweet talking them all the time it is called reality check,sometimes it takes a painful fall to learn and the truth hurts but sometimes it needed to be told.Compassion works only so much.Now just because there are other major risk factors that I mentioned before doesnt mean an obese person shouldnt try hard to loose weight,actually they should be motivated more to get back into the shape. Ok example; a certain individual inherited "bad teeth" but if that individual decides to floss the teeth after each meal,dont eat tons of sugar there is a huge chance she or he will keep their teeth in an exellent conditions for many years,will it be harder in the comparision with someone who inherited strong teeth,yes but it can be done.

There's a difference between blunt and direct, and there's a difference between the nurses priorities and the patients. As it's the patient that is going to be doing all the work.....asking what it is they want, and then seeing how you can help them set a healthy goal for them....well, it seems that would be far more effective then preaching to eat less and move more any day of the week.

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It's not different... then again, I'm not obese either! :D

You're a young man, so did you mean, that you're not obese, yet?

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Haven't read every reply. Got to about page 3.

I'm going to have to say that alot of issues are from lack of insurance or substandard insurance.

We went over a yr without it. DH went into the ER when we didn't have it and they barely did anything. He went back almost 1 yr to the day (with insurance this time). Well, guess what he was in CHF. His main side of his heart was blocked 100% and i'm not an RN (yet) but i'm smart enough to know that that didn't happen in ONE yr. He has major heart disease in his family history, his own mom passed @ 46 yrs old from a heart attack and he's had 3 siblings all have heart attacks before they reached 60. My kids are 13 and 8 and their dr already wants them tracked for any heart issues.

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Specializes in Case Manager.
You're a young man, so did you mean, that you're not obese, yet?

I don't intend to become obese because I'm going to actively manage my weight to the best of my ability and not make excuses not to! :)

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"You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink." Some people are hell-bent on killing themselves, one way or another, passively and slowly.

I told my mom one time that I would rather she shoot herself and get it over with quickly than continue with the way she was living. It shocked her enough to start managing her diabetes, hypertension, nicotine addiction, weight, etc. For a week.

It doesn't matter whether you're nice or blunt, unless someone is ready to listen, you're wasting your breath. Assess whether the person is ready to hear what you have to say first and that will save you a lot of problems. If they are, you can be their savior. If they aren't, you're pretty much on the same level to them as a mosquito.

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Specializes in PACU, OR.
Depends on where the viewer is from and their culture.

So they may have health problems. Why does the media feel the need to say they look digusting and are unattractive? Lowering their self esteem and they will not be motivated to lose weight. Shame motivates no one.

There are many people who view fat as attractive.

Every obese person doesn't look like a round,shapeless,unattractive ball.

I must have missed this post...

Yes, cultures differ regarding concept of beautiful; for those who followed my suggestion and googled "South Africa's first ladies," you will see that our president definitely likes 'em fuller figured.

I believe he recently married wife #4, and she too is a large lady. I would estimate their combined weight as easily half a metric ton....:D

I'm sure he's already on the lookout for wife #5, so if anyone's interested in sending in their resume....:lol2:

"Oh, won't you take me home tonight

Oh, down beside that red firelight,

Oh, won't you give it all you've got

Fat-bottomed girls you make the rockin world go round!"

I miss Freddy Mercury...:rckn:

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Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.

I did google it Christine! Some of the photos were indeed of a rotund bunch! Your First Ladies dress is so much more interesting than ours who have always tended to the conservative suits and "prep school casual" outfits!

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Specializes in PACU, OR.
I did google it Christine! Some of the photos were indeed of a rotund bunch! Your First Ladies dress is so much more interesting than ours who have always tended to the conservative suits and "prep school casual" outfits!

Yes, the traditional outfits are very beautiful, colourful and eye-catching.

I remember a magazine article many years ago that referred to the way fuller figured women dress. Many are so embarrassed by their weight that they wear mousy, insignificant clothing that makes them less noticed. It's also difficult for those who have a weight problem to actually find nice fashions that fit them.

South Africa clothing retailers do cater for large ladies-they have to or they wouldn't do much business :lol2: and carry a wide range of pretty, even sexy clothes for those "fat-bottomed girls!"

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I have an addiction. I smoke. I also happen to be skinny, and I occasionally find myself judging obese people. Then I check myself, and realize that just because I hate McDonald's, and don't really care for desserts, many people feel differently. What we are called to do as health care professionals is provide an option to people whenever they cross our doors. We provide literature and references to encourage people to quit smoking. We should treat obesity the same way - provide references to a nutritionist/dietician (not a fad diet plan) and suggest ways to lose weight safely, if the patient is interested. If not, we can't fix it for them.

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Just because it is harder for some people to lose weight doesnt mean it cant be done,it will be just harder than for the others...more work yes definitely.But on the other hand I dont totally agree with you in regards to genetics.Yes genetics is one of the major risk factors for developing disease such as diabetes and hypertension which are precursor to other conditions such as heart problems and kidney problems,anemia,weak bones...but also of course there are other risk factors such as race (we all know that African Americans and Hispanics as well as Native Americans),then you can fit in the genetics,then older age follows and then OBESITY and that highlights the importance of PREVENTIVE CARE I guess educating people about their risk factors and emphasize the ways to prevent the disease before it reaches those individual at risk.Sometimes one has to be really blunt and straight forward with an individual not sweet talking them all the time it is called reality check,sometimes it takes a painful fall to learn and the truth hurts but sometimes it needed to be told.Compassion works only so much.Now just because there are other major risk factors that I mentioned before doesnt mean an obese person shouldnt try hard to loose weight,actually they should be motivated even more to get back into the shape. Ok example; a certain individual inherited "bad teeth" but if that individual decides to floss their teeth after each meal,dont eat tons of sugar there is a huge chance she or he will keep their teeth in an exellent conditions for many years,will it be harder in the comparision with someone who inherited strong teeth,yes but it can be done.

I do have a problem with some nurses who think that every problem can be address by educating patients. Your example to instill good habits into people who have poor teeth is a rather simplistic one.

You fail to take into consideration parents and adults access to good and affordable dental insurance as well as dentists. And the same holds true of health care and health insurance. And the impact of the economy and access, Or the impact of culture and family on a patient's adherence. I would get so frustrated with postings from spouses, on Type 2 boards,and their attempts to change spouses diet and behavior, and their frustation to do so. Not every behavior can be changed so simply.

GrannyRN65

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