There's nothing worse than a FAT nurse!

Nursing Students General Students

Published

Ok, I'm sure that title made you want to throw up in your mouth. I don't blame you. I felt the same way when my physician said it to ME.

In January, I decided to take control my life and lose weight. I have lost about 30lbs so far. So, when I went to my doctor last week, he noticed that I was 30lbs lighter. He asked if I was on a diet and I told him yes. I told him I was going to nursing school and want to be a good example if I'm going to lecture on proper diet and exercise.

I guess my statement gave him a green light to be an a-hole.Doctor: that is so refreshing to hear! Nurses are notorious for ignoring their health. Keep up the good work. Remember, THERE'S NOTHING WORSE THAN A FAT NURSE! ::::doctor laughs::::

I was in shock. I could not believe it. I went numb. I did not find what he said funny or supportive. Yeah... I'm actively searching for a NP to be my primary care provider.... I happen to like NP's better. I find them to be less socially retarded.

What's the general consensus on obese nurses? Are obese nurses not taken seriously? Is what my doctor said a common thought?

Specializes in Med/Surg.

I would think an incompetent nurse would be worse than a "fat nurse"... :twocents:

I think that a doctor should have more professional integrity than to say something like that. I do agree that nurses need to take care of themselves especially when we are going to be lecturing people on proper diet and exercise and we want to be taken seriously. People with weight issues have enough emotional problems than dealing with rude inconsiderate comments like that. I completely agree with Slandis....he should be worried about the competency of a nurse not her weight. Ugh!

Specializes in Neuroscience/Brain and Stroke.

People think mean things all the time, I'm guilty and I'm sure you are guilty as well. We actually sensor ourselves not to let those things slip out of our mouths to avoid hurting someone's feelings. You pegged your doctor correctly in my opinion (I will use socially stunted to avoid offending anyone), but a lot of doctors are. I'm the same as you, I seek NP everywhere I go for health care because I can't stand doctors, I like some that I work with but when it comes to my care I want someone who was taught to be sensitive in area's like you are talking about. Pointing out that you were overweight and giving you advise and resources on how to lose weight would've been the ideal thing for him to do, not wait until you lost the weight and try to poke fun at fat people, ugh!

Specializes in Med-Surg, Neuro, Respiratory.

Congrats on your weight loss! :yelclap: Don't let anyone bring you down. There are plenty of overweight and obese doctors too. My mom used to work for a highly obese cardiologist.

Specializes in ICU / PCU / Telemetry / Oncology.

I'm not one to talk, considering I am not in the normal BMI for my height/weight either (overweight range). However, I do see something odd about a nurse with a BMI higher than their patient's telling the patient after conducting a physical assessment that he/she needs to lose weight (yes, taking this from a personal experience). Yes, I understand there are some nurses that suffer true metabolic and/or immunologic disorders that cause them to be uncontrollably overweight or obese, but I would have to presume that these are less common than those who are overweight/obese due to poor diet choices and exercise habits. In my nurse's case, the McDonald's bag neatly tucked away against the wall in the corner of the desk and the wafting scent of french fries in the air was my clue as to which one she was.

This thread reminds me of the timeI had knee surgery,involved in amva I was hit by a drunk driver. Up to that time I jogged 2 milesa day and worked out at my gym,suffice it to say I am in verygreat shape. Just prior to dischargeone of the floor nurses came in to give me a speil about exercise andnutrition. Most likely part of discharge instructions as per theorthopedist. This nurse was close to 275lbsand as she was talking to me aboutgradual exercise and not over doingit I just started busting out laughingat this nurse. I simply could notstop laughing. She left the roomand I never saw her again.

Specializes in Pedi.
I don't think using the word should be offensive to a person with an intellectual disability. Maybe its bc I never use the term to describe a person with an ID. So I don't even think about offending that population when I use it.

Ive worked with intellectually disabled children and adults and (IMHO) they have more social skills than many adults with average IQ's. Just sayin..... BUT, If my use of the word offended anyone, I apologize.

Um, what? How would you not think that use of the term "retarded" (in a derogatory manner) is offensive? It's a term that was meant to describe someone with an actual disability and you are using it to negatively describe your doctor. I find an educated person's use of the word "retarded" as slang to be far more offensive than any comment a doctor could make about overweight nurses.

That you don't even think about who you offend when you use it is precisely the point. You say that those with ID have more social skills than the average adult and yet you use the term "retarded" to refer to someone who made what you considered to be an inappropriate comment and therefore lacks social skills.

It's an offensive word. R-word | Spread the Word to End the Word

Specializes in Geriatric and Mental Heath.
Um, what? How would you not think that use of the term "retarded" (in a derogatory manner) is offensive? It's a term that was meant to describe someone with an actual disability and you are using it to negatively describe your doctor. I find an educated person's use of the word "retarded" as slang to be far more offensive than any comment a doctor could make about overweight nurses. That you don't even think about who you offend when you use it is precisely the point. You say that those with ID have more social skills than the average adult and yet you use the term "retarded" to refer to someone who made what you considered to be an inappropriate comment and therefore lacks social skills. It's an offensive word. R-word | Spread the Word to End the Word

Ok, let's breathe...

I meant that I don't use the term negatively to describe a person that has a mental disability. So I don't see why it would be offensive.

For ex "that movie was retarded!"

I honestly believe there are people in this world who lack the ability to communicate with others and don't know how to conduct themselves around people. Just like there are mentally retarded people, there are socially retarded people.

Thanks for the info. Have a nice day.

Specializes in ICU, Telemetry.

And what did HE weigh? Does he smoke, not take his BP meds, blow off checking his blood sugar? What secrets are in his healthcare closet?

See, my mouth fires before my brain engages, sometimes, and I would have said, "Yeah, there's nothing worse than a fat nurse, except a rude doc."

Specializes in Geriatric and Mental Heath.
And what did HE weigh? Does he smoke, not take his BP meds, blow off checking his blood sugar? What secrets are in his healthcare closet?See, my mouth fires before my brain engages, sometimes, and I would have said, "Yeah, there's nothing worse than a fat nurse, except a rude doc."
I think I went spontaneously deaf and dumb when he said it. LOL

Well crud, I'm SOL then cuz I'm fat and gonna be a nurse:uhoh3:

Specializes in Geriatric and Mental Heath.

double post. Darn cell phones!

+ Add a Comment