The fear just hit me - help :( - Page 4

Keep thinking the way u were thinking hunni... don't view yourself negatively and others won't either in that you are a hundred percent right. As long as you are willing and eager to learn and be a great nurse everyone will want you around, don't doubt yourself because of your weight issues.

In my nursing program, we had several students with weight issues ( myself included). Honestly, I was very embarrassed at first because I looked REALLY bad in the uniform of the program compared to the thin students. And, my first instructor (very fit and very young) would cringe everytime I came near her. So, I do think it is a problem for some. But, once I started to prove myself through my studies, I started to improve my self image in the program. In later semesters, I had middle-aged instuctors like myself who struggled with their weight as well.Weight was never a problem again. And, I never felt that they treated me negatively. I think it is just the world we live in. Some will react and some will not. It's up to us to maintain our self confidence no matter who we are dealing with and make our worth based on our substance and not our appearance. Plus on the job a strong self esteem is required to survive the daily beat down and negativity of those certain nurses who like to abuse the new guy (like they one I'm dealing with right now!)

As for getting a job as an overweight nurse- I think that can be a problem because they have pre-employment physicals, health screenings etc. They ARE trying to weed us out! But, still i have seen larger nurses as new hires (including myself).

Honestly, I struggle with losing the weight- I yo yo up and down all the time. Being heavy in school plus the added weight caused my health to decline. I'm now pre-diabetic and having BP issues I didn't have two years ago. My best real world advice to anyone (including myself) is to make a priority out of losing the weight in order to be healthy enough to do the job in the long run. It is a very physically demanding field!

But, in the meanwhile, realize that healthy weight loss is daily walk. Embrace and support yourself emotionally as you take that walk, loving yourself every step of the way for who you are inside because it's about the journey, not the destination.

Best wishes in your nursing program! Believe you can do it and you will !!

We all have some sort of issue and looking back, no one in my nursing school class looked like a Barbie doll. We did have an instructor who looked like Angie Dickenson, but that's another story for another day.Study hard, do the best you can, and take care of your self.

I work among several nurses who come in all shapes and sizes, and I can say with certainty that weight is not a factor that determines the respect they earn from co-workers and patients. It is work ethic, authenticity, nursing ability (& willingness to acknowledge and work on areas where you're lacking), among other things. I interviewed for 2 jobs after gaining 40lbs due to a medication that slowed down my metabolism I took for a couple of years. I was offered both jobs. I have lost that 40lbs while with the same employer, and it has not changed how people treat me. Here's what I'm trying to illustrate: 1) There are genuine people who care more about your character and commitment to the profession than your BMI; seek them out. 2) If I can get hired after gaining 40lbs (& I was overweight), then you can too. 3) Your weight is not who you are, and fellow nursing student worth getting to know will recognize that. I hope this helps a little. Good luck in nursing school!

I've had weight struggles for many years. Im never been hugely overweight but Ive always been overweight. I gained a lot in the past few years after my second child and then was losing but that stopped when I started nursing school 2 years ago. Ive still been fighting it and have managed to lose 15 pounds this past few months but I have a ways to my goal. So far I haven't felt strange in school about my weight but one of my thin classmates couldn't validate vitals because she couldnt find my pulse, its higher up then normal and my instructor found it in seconds, but afterward she said she couldn't find it because I was so overweight. It really hurt my feelings, and embarassed me. I also am bradycardic, so that doesn't help. That was my worst incidence. Mostly, I have tried to lose weight because as a mother and a nurse (to be) I know its physical and I just want to be healthy, set a good example, and have more energy. Good Luck to you and try not too worry about, it will only stop you if you let it!

Girrrrl please! Go to your local hospital and check out the nurses. Half of them are overweight; I've noticed that it's PT girls that look like they are swimsuit models on the weekends!! LOL. Im 22, 5'1, and 223 lb. Now, most of my weight is in my "trunk" (hah), I guess because i'm hispanic, but still LOL. Are some people going to look at you like that? YES; do they have a heart? NO. If you have a great personality, are well rounded, and do what you gotta do to get the job done, NO ONE should have a problem with you!

YOU GOTTA GET SOME THICK SKIN ABOUT YOU!

But I see where you're coming from. It's like the whole, "I'm going to be a nurse, I am supposed to be the pinnacle of health!" thing. Like I said, I'm heavy and not to mention, I smoke.

As long as you have dedication and care in your heart, you will be a GREAT nurse!

Plus I like to think of myself as the little engine that could! All the little skinny girls can't move/position patients like I can!
OHH YEAHH. hahaha!

Learn to laugh about it!

Did you have your TSH checked after the 2nd baby? I have seen quite a few PPT cases in the past few weeks.

I gained a lot of weight in nursing school. They ran thyroid test and checked my vit d. Thyroid test came back fine but my vit d was critically low. After some research I found out this can slow the metabolism down also. Maybe your weight is a simpler fix than you think. Have you been tested for these? Most of our nursing class was overweight. People wont view you different.

First off, I'm glad you are starting to feel better right now. You made it into nursing school, you're a mom and don't have time to worry about what others think. Just focus on what's important.

I really feel for you having Celiac disease. It's a tough one. I had to give up gluten for awhile to see if I felt better (first step in a long list of things to check off). Thank goodness it wasn't gluten. Luckily for you, most stores, restaurants and manufacturers now have gluten free products available. Even 10 years ago, it was almost impossible to go out to eat with Celiac disease and get anything real to eat.

I have Hashimoto's Thyroiditis, which is an autoimmune disease also. It can really make me feel awful. I've been living with it now for 15 years, and feel good, but I have my moments.

As far as being judged for being overweight. Yes, it will happen. We live in a crappy, imperfect world where we are judged on our looks. I am a very fit person who is judged based on her looks. I usually, after proving myself, get the "Oh, we had no idea you were so nice and normal". Is that fair? No, but it's reality. I just go into situations knowing that I will have to prove myself. I am also starting nursing school at 42 years of age. I definitely get judged for how old I am. Half of my instructors are younger than me. But, it's okay. I work hard and am happy to be at this place in my life.

As far as your health, obviously you could benefit from losing weight. But, try to take it slow and make one change at a time. No fad diets. Just be the best you you can be. Good luck in nursing school. I'm sure you will do a great job.