bariatric nursing a good job?

nurseprnRN, BSN, RN · Dec 6, 2011

i don't work bariatrics, but i've had those patients and gotten them in to the bariatric service for surgery, so i'm familiar. you can lose the whiny-middle-aged-patient stereotype right now: to have this surgery they have pretty much come to the end of their rope, physically, and they know it. they almost always have to have lost at least 50 lbs before they have the surgery, to shrink the liver to decrease intraop complications, and that takes work and focus. they will start losing weight in their first few days, which is very reinforcing for them, and that makes it easier to focus on progress. i think you'll find less whining than you think.

CVmursenary · Dec 6, 2011

sounds horrible

Flo., BSN, RN · Dec 6, 2011

I did a clinical on a bariatric floor. It was a very happy floor filled with optimistic patients. They felt that they were finally getting the tool that would help to drastically change their lives. I would love to work on a bariatric floor but in my area they are hard to get on.

CVICURN2003 · Dec 6, 2011

All patient populations (unless NICU, then u have parents), have whiney, obese, pts "tat don't care about themselves". Including critical care. You have not seen whiney until you have seen a 40 year old male CABG pt who is a smoker. Who has to be on q 1 hour accuchecks and has to cough and deep breath. And, God Forbid, GET UP AND MOVE (honey, I just had HEART SURGERY)... But, I'm sure some of the nurses who can't even get an interview would LOVE it if you chose to wait.

MillieT · Dec 6, 2011

I was pulled to our bariatric unit once. Our unit is known as a cushy, low stress job. The patients are for the most part positive and hard working. They have to do laps around the unit post op and compete with and support each other. No whiners on my day.

Our only bariatric surgeon does laparoscopic surgery and complications are almost nil. He's an excellent surgeon, so not too much excitement there. A LOT of the quality of the patient outcomes depends on the skill and discretion of your surgeons.

Good luck, if you decide to go for it!

Nursejessm · Dec 6, 2011

I work on a med surg floor and we have the bariatric pts post op. Our MDs require them to walk the halls every 2 hrs. They're even supposed to walk from the stretcher to the bed as soon as they get back from the PACU. These pts are NOT total care, turn-every-2- hours patients. They are very educated pre-op and know what to expect before and after surgery. Theyre on a strict diet (sometimes NPO, sometimes clear liquids depending on what surgery). But they already know this and understand the importance of it. It's very important to prevent nausea and vomiting in these patients. Our pts are on remote telemetry monitor for the first day. The incisions are usually laproscopic, which reduces infection and bleeding risk. Some patients do have comorbidities like HTN, diabetes, and high cholesterol. Overall, these patients aren't critically sick. They have many of the same risks of any post op patients. They usually only stay a couple of days. The patients are happy to help themselves and be as independent as they can. This is something they have been wanting and they are hopefully for their future.

blondy2061h, MSN, RN · Dec 6, 2011

My first thought when I read bariatrics was "Eww...no thanks." I've never done it. Looks like my thought was wrong! Glad to hear that these patients are so positive and motivated.

carolmaccas66, BSN, RN · Dec 7, 2011

Let me tell you a story.

I used to work with a plastic surgeon, who did this kind of surgery on these types of people (he eventually went into another specialty within plastics though).

To make a long story short, he had a very, VERY whiny female having surgery done to make her stomach smaller, & he found out afterwards her family/friends had snuck in a blender & were blending up mars bars and chocolate for her to drink thru a straw. He told me he absolutely lost it, cos this girl had been seeing him for like a year, begging for this surgery (another long story).

I have found bariatric patients very demanding myself - they will give you a whole long list of excuses as to why they are overweight, and they will never stop telling you. You have to be reslient and quite firm with them. For example, getting them to move across the bed to pick up a magazine - make them do things, don't run around after them. They can be selfish, greedy and have a very much 'me, me' mentality. I equate caring for these types of patients to two year olds. Most often they're non-complain with meds, don't take their insulin/diabetic meds, etc. And getting them to move even a little in bed after surgery was a nightmare - we had one woman with back pain (of many years standing) who refused to even use a bedpan & would just defecate the bed constantly. All she wanted was pain killers all the time; she would not do one thing to help herself - & she'd been seen by acute pain service, the psychiatrist; by everybody.

So yes there will be a lot of mentally and emotionally demanding patients.

But I don't see a dilmma here: just take the job for a year & see how you go. Then 6 months in, if u can't handle it apply for other jobs.

I would shudder to work with these patients; it's not my thing at all.

RNperdiem, RN · Dec 7, 2011

I actually work SICU, and we get the occasional bariatric patient.

This patient population is prone to post-op complications, so learn to be assertive with getting out of bed, pulmonary toilet and other post operative treatments.

NoviceRN10 · Dec 7, 2011

I work on a med surg floor and we have the bariatric pts post op. Our MDs require them to walk the halls every 2 hrs. They're even supposed to walk from the stretcher to the bed as soon as they get back from the PACU. These pts are NOT total care, turn-every-2- hours patients. They are very educated pre-op and know what to expect before and after surgery. Theyre on a strict diet (sometimes NPO, sometimes clear liquids depending on what surgery). But they already know this and understand the importance of it. It's very important to prevent nausea and vomiting in these patients. Our pts are on remote telemetry monitor for the first day. The incisions are usually laproscopic, which reduces infection and bleeding risk. Some patients do have comorbidities like HTN, diabetes, and high cholesterol. Overall, these patients aren't critically sick. They have many of the same risks of any post op patients. They usually only stay a couple of days. The patients are happy to help themselves and be as independent as they can. This is something they have been wanting and they are hopefully for their future.

Wow, you sure don't work on my unit. Not all baris are happy to help themselves or get motivated after surgery. That being said, I would rather work on a bariatric surgery floor than general med-surge any day.

evolvingrn, BSN, RN · Dec 7, 2011

If were talking gastric bypass....those are my easy peasy pts...they are up walking day of surgery. and walking the halls independently the next day. Its an elective surgery so they have to be in somewhat decent health and to have had counseling before hand. Try not to stereotype based on weight a lone. I have been guilty of it too but many of my bariatric pts can walk move , shower independently ect..... Good luck!