too little to be a nurse?

Speculating · Apr 19, 2005

(emphasis my own)
And after making a comment/inference like that shall we all take bets on just how many minutes it takes for her to be asked to leave the floor? Or if she does it after she gets a job just how many hours it will take to be fired?
Getting down and dirty and lowering herself to a step below the pt's behaviors isn't the way to do it. Being the better person and the best nurse around is the way to do it.

Pickle RELAX my god it's not meant to be taken completely seriously. First of all you never say anything that can be over heard. If so it's your word over his - you can't be fired for that. Hahahaha, "Be the better person", hahahahaha - oh please. Pickle, gambling at work can most certainly get you fired though. I work addictions if you need some referrals I'll be more than happy to assist you.

snowfreeze, BSN, RN · Apr 19, 2005

Size is personal perception. I was a farrier (horseshoer) before I went to nursing school and I am 5'2" and maybe was 105# back in the horseshoeing days. A patient who wants to report you for being too small is an idiot and maybe needs to assume some responsibility for his/her own self. I work in a lift free facility, we use partial and full mechanical lifts for all patients who cannot assist. It is a staffing decision to use a lift for any patient when they cannot get out of bed without substantial assistance. The therapy department is consulted and the mechanical lift is continued until the patient is deemed safe to transfer with assist of staff only. We have minimal staff injuries and we also have below average of patient injuries from transfers too.

flashpoint · Apr 19, 2005

Depending on my mood and the tone people take when commenting about my size (or lack of), I either blow it off or I will simply offer to get them a taller nurse. Most of the time when I am scheduled, a very tall (6'6") male is also scheduled...I'll usually swap with him if his patients want a female, he will usually swap with me if people want a taller nurse. When he is not there, I blow it off, unless the patient is totally rude about it...most of the time someone is happy to switch assignments.

I am always amazed that people think it is fine to comment on how short someone is, but would never even consider commenting on someone's weight...has anyone ever been told they are too fat or too thin or too tall to be a nurse? I doubt it...

Sandi0302 · Apr 19, 2005

Thats terrible that they would assume that ur nursing care wouldnt be sufficient because of ur size...

When i worked as an aid in a level one trauma center in the ER, there was a nurse who was 4'10, and she did a a fine job....

That is descrimination against you...and that isnt right.

CHATSDALE · Apr 19, 2005

sometimes swapping assignments can mean walking down a long hall to take care of one patient...unless they have a real reason for refusing care then the nurse manager needs to go in and talk with them and explain that if help is needed it will be provided but that for 95% of care size of nurse not an issue

wam79 · Apr 19, 2005

A friend of mine took care of Andre the Giant. A huge man (pro wrestler) I think he was 7'4" and 400-500 lbs. She was 4'11'' and maybe 110.

She was his very favorite nurse. He liked her because of her skills and her ability to help him laugh when he felt I'll. Unless you are on the psych take down unit size shouldn't matter

rubriam · Apr 19, 2005

Size really doesn't matter, I'm 5'1" and 100 pounds, 27 years old and I worked as a student also for 6 months when I was 21 or 22 years old at a rehab center, and I had the same reactions from patients as you had, it usually started as how old are you? I would answered back "how old you think I am?" if they guess 15 or 17 I would tell them no 13 and we would laugh together and after I would start the rapport with my patient. If I would try to transferred them from the bed to the chair, and I knew I could do it because I knew the patient could transfer by him/her self but just needed a little bit of help they would tell me you are not strong enough, I would tell them don't worry I know the tricks. Obviously, if I knew I couldn't do it, I always got some extra help, I still do this.

THen I moved to Pediatrics, but it didn't worked out, and I end up in ER (in a adult/children) in a level one trauma center and occasionally I have the same reactions, when I do, I joke about it such as I'm 13 to 17 years old, I just graduated from high school, I'm the daughter of the nurse or doctor so and so and I'm just helping out, yes I know, I get the same comments all the time, when I have a patient that is spanish speaking I tell them "chiquita pero picosa" which means little one but spicy, also I tell them and if you see my mom she is little bit smaller than me.

The majority of the time it works but you always have the 1 patient that doesn't matter what you tell them they can't reason with you and in that case after I tried 20,000 times on to make him/her trust me, that is when I change assignments, but like the other post says usually the older population have they minds set on how a nurse should look, don't get discorage. Size really doesn't matter!

Hello everyone,
I have a dillema. I am a nursing student and recently got a job on the med\sug floor. I am 5 feet and 111 lbs. and I had 3 pts refuse my care in the same 12 hr day because of my size! One pt said that I was too young and too little to be working here and management should do something about that because it puts pts in danger and if nothing is done he will speak to administration:o . I admit that I am not strong, but I know how to get help and the correct was to move pts. I am a bit discouraged now. what do you do when this happens?

annmariern · Apr 19, 2005

Hi, been a nurse for 17 ears, work in med surg and am the same height/weight as you. Never had someone refuse care, but many times patients are reluctant to have you lift them. I find that when I show them I know how to lift properly, know when to get help, its been fine. Also I do weight training which I find makes a big difference to how well I can lift also in protecting myself and my back. You might want to give that a try.

rubriam · Apr 19, 2005

I agree with "annmariern" also the weight training helped me to get my legs, arms and back stronger, and also helps as a stress reliver.

Try it

Hi, been a nurse for 17 ears, work in med surg and am the same height/weight as you. Never had someone refuse care, but many times patients are reluctant to have you lift them. I find that when I show them I know how to lift properly, know when to get help, its been fine. Also I do weight training which I find makes a big difference to how well I can lift also in protecting myself and my back. You might want to give that a try.

PicklesRN, RN · Apr 20, 2005

Pickle RELAX my god it's not meant to be taken completely seriously. First of all you never say anything that can be over heard. If so it's your word over his - you can't be fired for that. Hahahaha, "Be the better person", hahahahaha - oh please. Pickle, gambling at work can most certainly get you fired though. I work addictions if you need some referrals I'll be more than happy to assist you.

Sweetie, I am relaxed. Also, I would appreciate it if you would keep your childish remarks to yourself. I have done nothing to you. I realize you think your posts are funny, in reality they are simply childish and nothing more.

Do you have anything of value to add here?

Ted · Apr 20, 2005

please keep the focus on the topic and not on your fellow member. remember that personal attacks are not tolerated on this bulletin board.

flashpoint · Apr 20, 2005

Once a patient has expressed concern about my abilities as a nurse, I really don't think I should have to go back in their room. It is uncomfortable being told that you don't measure up for whatever reason and then being made to go right back in there. If something happens like if the patient were to fall or you make a med error or something the patient is going to be able to say, "I knew something was wrong when she came in here the first time!" or something similar. It isn't right and quite frankly, it ires me to no end, but once a patient has told me I am not good enough for whatever reason, it isn't fair to make me take care of that patient of someone else is available to do so. I think that management should talk to the patient about the problem, but I don't think the nurse should be forced to care for someone who doesn't want her or him...

Sorry to ramble on...:)