Could I still become an LVN?

applewhitern, BSN, RN · Nov 9, 2014

gs111: There are plenty of morbidly obese nurses. Just look around. Yes, dear, you can be an LPN. You are only 22, you can do anything you set your mind to do. Don't let your mother's negativity control your life. If you don't have any money and/or unemployed, you will qualify for tuition assistance anyway. Just find a nursing school that isn't sky-high; usually the private ones are. If you haven't discussed obesity with your doctor, you probably should. Many obese girls your age have poly-cystic-ovarian disease, which will cause the anxiety and depression, too, or you could even be diabetic. See a doctor! Good luck to you.

Nurseeverywhere, CNA, LVN · Nov 10, 2014

Lots of us have issues with anxiety and some form of depression. But not pursuing your dreams, hopes, or wants will only set you back further. Yes you should seek treatment, Therapy is great if you find the right person to work with. Helping others actually helps my anxiety so turns out I'm going into the perfect field. You might find that it works for you also :)

NurseGirl525, ASN, RN · Nov 10, 2014

Understand something, it is a physical job. So try and get yourself in some kind of physical shape to handle the demands of the job. I'm not saying you need to necessarily be physically fit, just talk to your doctor to see what he thinks about you handling this job. I wasn't the healthiest person in the world, but I worked on some things and communicated with my doctor. He believed I could do it. You will have to take a physical for nursing school. Try doing some prereqs first and see how it goes and see if you are even interested in this field.

RunBabyRN · Nov 10, 2014

Don't let your mom or your weight dictate your life. I was also morbidly obese a few years ago, and I worked hard to lose the weight. It can be done, and getting the depression and anxiety under control will be part of that journey. They are all interconnected. I have found that my depression and anxiety are MUCH better with proper diet and exercise (though I also need some pharmaceutical intervention).

Any chance you can find work and move out on your own? It sounds like you're in an unhealthy environment, and it'll be hard to do much of anything productive with that weight on you (no pun intended).

Would you be open to shadowing a nurse to see what it's like? What kind of LPN work interests you? Maybe do some research and see what you can do. What made you think about becoming an LPN all of a sudden?

jojo489 · Nov 10, 2014

Just a helpful tip...I would try to get your anxiety under control before you hit nursing school because that is stress in itself. And I'm not sure how your stamina is (not to put you down) but maybe start taking walks to build it up because you'll probably have long walks on campus to and from with a backpack and then clinicals you'll be standing/walking for a better portion of 8 hours. Just to prepare yourself.

And darling, don't ever let anyone tell you you can't do something. If you want it bad enough and you're willing to put in the work, you'll achieve anything you want. And if you need to vent or you need guidance along the way, here we are. :)

Best of luck to you.

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Nov 10, 2014

It's not your weight alone that will prevent you from being successful in a nursing program. It CAN, however, be a problem if your weight prevents you from being able to perform the physical aspects of the clinical routine, and the job itself. Some people who are seriously overweight can still function in nursing. Some cannot. How do your physical abilities rank with others, regardless of weight?

Of bigger concern to me....MUCH bigger, actually.....is your statement that you suffer from anxiety and depression and it is "controlling my life". THAT is a problem.

Nurses are like anyone else in the world. Some suffer from anxiety, some depression; pick most any medical condition you can think of and you'll likely find someone with that diagnosis. But YOUR problem is why it IS a problem: it is undiagnosed, and you are therefore receiving no treatment for it.

Until you get that under control, until it is not controlling YOU, you will NOT have success in any nursing program, IMHO. YOU must be in control, and that includes all areas of your life, frankly. A good support system is extremely helpful, but not mandatory. However if your enemies are WITHIN, that is a DEFINITE problem.

Get the medical/mental help you need first, THEN pursue the rest. Good luck! :)

gs111 · Nov 11, 2014

Don't let your mom or your weight dictate your life. I was also morbidly obese a few years ago, and I worked hard to lose the weight. It can be done, and getting the depression and anxiety under control will be part of that journey. They are all interconnected. I have found that my depression and anxiety are MUCH better with proper diet and exercise (though I also need some pharmaceutical intervention).
Any chance you can find work and move out on your own? It sounds like you're in an unhealthy environment, and it'll be hard to do much of anything productive with that weight on you (no pun intended).
Would you be open to shadowing a nurse to see what it's like? What kind of LPN work interests you? Maybe do some research and see what you can do. What made you think about becoming an LPN all of a sudden?

At the moment, I think that getting a job to move out is not an option, mainly because my parents need the money to pay for rent here (it's a bit pricey, but we had to move out from our old house immediately and couldn't find anywhere else).

I have done some research, and though it may sound silly, the reason why LVN (or..any nursing really) became something I wanted to do was because I watched a Japanese drama about a man who got ALS..the lead woman decided she wanted to be a nurse..and for the next few nights, I kept having dreams I was a nurse. Like I said..I know it sounds stupid...but it just kind of happened. Before this, my older sister had cancer, and I had always wished I could help her..I went to the hospital with her a few times and thought the nurses there were amazing, and I wanted to be like them.

I thought of going to volunteer at this retirement/hospice place. They train volunteers, so I would get to witness some of the things they do. I would also considering shadowing a nurse, though I think I will need to get my anxiety under control first :)

gs111 · Nov 11, 2014

Thank you all for answering, it means alot :)

gs111 · Nov 11, 2014

Understand something, it is a physical job. So try and get yourself in some kind of physical shape to handle the demands of the job. I'm not saying you need to necessarily be physically fit, just talk to your doctor to see what he thinks about you handling this job. I wasn't the healthiest person in the world, but I worked on some things and communicated with my doctor. He believed I could do it. You will have to take a physical for nursing school. Try doing some prereqs first and see how it goes and see if you are even interested in this field.

I understand it is a physical job. I've been walking at least a mile a day for a month or so now and I hope to see some sort of doctor soon. It just depends on money. I have already signed up for the prereq classes. If these don't work out, then I will most likely give up on this course, but I want to think ahead, just incase.. :)

RunBabyRN · Nov 11, 2014

At the moment, I think that getting a job to move out is not an option, mainly because my parents need the money to pay for rent here (it's a bit pricey, but we had to move out from our old house immediately and couldn't find anywhere else).
I have done some research, and though it may sound silly, the reason why LVN (or..any nursing really) became something I wanted to do was because I watched a Japanese drama about a man who got ALS..the lead woman decided she wanted to be a nurse..and for the next few nights, I kept having dreams I was a nurse. Like I said..I know it sounds stupid...but it just kind of happened. Before this, my older sister had cancer, and I had always wished I could help her..I went to the hospital with her a few times and thought the nurses there were amazing, and I wanted to be like them.
I thought of going to volunteer at this retirement/hospice place. They train volunteers, so I would get to witness some of the things they do. I would also considering shadowing a nurse, though I think I will need to get my anxiety under control first :)

No reason is stupid, if it's what you truly want. It's just a matter of finding the path that's right for you. It may be a twisty path with a lot of crossroads, but if you're determined, you can get there. I'm 34, and I just got my BSN in May. You have time on your side.

Volunteering is a fantastic way to get in there!

Good luck with getting in with the doc. Have you looked into community clinics? They often operate on a sliding scale if you don't have insurance.

Spangle Brown · Nov 11, 2014

As a person who has struggles with issues that you have, I can tell you that having a goal that you look forward to working on and doing in the end, will help with alot of your issues. Going to school and working with study groups will give you some social time that everyone needs. You will not be able to form one for every class and you will not be making life long friends, but it will work for 'that time' in you life. No promises, but some might become long term friends or even life long friends. Going to school will help build up your stamina naturally. Just by doing and living. As it grows, add more activities. Take the stairs for 1 floor. Park further away. Don't stress about it, but just stop taking short cuts slowly. You got this. A friend started doing "Relay for Life." Walking the first couple of times she did it, now she runs. It's also a social thing for her.

Yes, you will still have downer days. But having that goal, it helps to keep us going. I finally put small hand weights on my desks. When I read alot or watch videos, I will life them, stretch my arms, etc. I am slowly doing it, but it is happening.

The key is, do YOU want it? And how MUCH you want it?