Overweight/underweight Nurses

[TheSkyIsPurple]

I was looking over the threads of the past, and I noticed a TON of threads that were closed about this matter from many years ago.

Id just like to say a few things about this topic, and ask for your input in 2014!

I was a patient once - and not even for a second did a nurses' weight cross my mind! Regardless of the weight of the nurse, they were all fantastic. I didnt even think about that until I came across some topics regarding "Practice what you preach".

Im a thin person, but that doesnt mean I am healthy. Heck, I was in the hospital for kidney issues, and Im quite young. So I dont think that weight = health, or vice versa.

So to all the nurses who were afraid of being looked at in a different manner based on your weight - Dont be! What I cared about when I was sick wasnt what you wore, or how your hair looked, or what your weight was...it was about your care, and how sweet and understanding you were when the pains hit. Whether it was a smile while you took my vitals, or a joke while you drugged me up... THATS what mattered and thats what I remember...

So to all of you ladies and men out there taking care of us patients... A huge thank you for making such a huge difference. Im excited to join an amazing group of people like yourselves in the future.

[nursel56]

For some reason I work with a bunch of nurses who are on extreme diets and exercise routines. They are so underweight and proud of it. Most are also in heavy make-up, some I know for a fact have been surgically augmented (they said so themselves), and wear the most expensive cutsie scrubs at work. I always considered myself in the healthy category and I exercise 3x a week and eat right, but am not slim or toned. I wear clean ironed scrubs but not the most expensive (why would you?). I feel so self conscious and frumpy around these nurses. They are always sipping their special nutrition shakes or drinking warm water to make themselves feel full or complaining of how sore their legs are from their last workout. I would much rather work with a larger nurse who is down to earth and has a good self-esteem than someone who is fretting over every calorie when they already look like Barbie.

I just have to remind myself that I am a down to earth person who is in decent shape, and I honestly would rather put my energy into living life than making a hobby out of my body.

I've always cared about nutrition and fitness and took ballet class 4x/wk when I was younger and also worked with that type of person. I found them annoying. Not because they were more attractive than me (they weren't :-)) or I have a bias against cosmetic surgery (I don't) but because they were boring and self-obsessed.

SkyIsPurple - not sure what you are referring to but I found your post to be gracious and didn't notice any particular bias one way or the other. All those "likes" you got indicates that many others agree!

[cracklingkraken, ASN, RN]

The definition of underweight and overweight is a very fluid concept these days... And it may not necessarily be a reflection of their health, despite their physical appearance. I've seen plenty of people who are perfectly healthy that would be considered "overweight" by society's standards. I think that as long as a nurse can proficiently fulfill his or her role as a nurse, it should be no one else's business how much a nurse weighs.

[erinberrin, CNA]

Does it really matter what the person looks like? I mean let's face it if you are sick you want good care. I never cared what a person looked like when they took care of me..it was like something you noticed if they where good looking and forgot about after first impression..like the care they provide. period...

[Guest219794]

A lot of this issue depends on the role of the nurse.

If it is just about delivering care, then all that matters is that the nurse is able to do the job.

OTOH, if part of the job is education, credibility is an issue.

An obese cigarette smoking nurse may not be an effective cardiopulmonary rehab nurse. any more than a heavy drinker might not be the best choice for alcohol rehab.

[Cream and sugar LPN]

This thread reminds me of the nurse I had at my bedside during delivery of my first child. I remember her today 14 years later. She probably was all of 5 feet and was at least 50lbs overweight. It was busy on that floor and she was running around all night. Not only did her weight not weigh her down, but she stayed way past her shift when I begged her not to leave me. I'll never forget that, or her♥️ she was dedicated to my care and wanted to see me through it even though I'm sure she had her own family to get home to. That's the kind of nurse I want to be.

[Delicate Flower]

Just a few points:

-It's fine to be fat.

-It's fine to be a fat nurse.

-It's fine to be fat and NOT on a diet and NOT exercising and NOT trying to lose weight.

-Not every fat person is disabled. Not every disabled person is fat.

-Not every fat person is lazy. No every lazy person is fat.

[laKrugRN]

I agree wholeheartedly. If a nurse is giving me good care, why should his/her weight matter? Unfortunately there will always be jerks who feel the need to point out "maybe you could lose a few" or "you need to eat a cheeseburger." No, just no! My weight is none of your business and certainly not involved in your care!