Extremely Overweight Nurses

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I've been seeing a lot of obese nurses lately. In my opinion it's not setting the right example,not is it SAFE. If someone codes or there's a fire a nurses who is huge can't run to get to/from the emergency. Another example ... CPR ! It's exhausting,if you're not fit to do it...should that patient pay the price? It's so hypocritical. I understand with long shifts and not much sleep... Gaining weight is extremely easy to do. However,choosing healthy food options ( not vending machines and pepsis) and staying active even on your days off is important.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.

First of all, it's being more than a little melodramatic to say that "patients pay the price" with unfit nurses. I've seen codes. I've seen obese nurses. I've seen obese nurses/other staff respond to codes. I've never seen a patient "pay the price" because their obese nurse isn't a marathon winner. And neither have you. Again, melodramatic.

And, yes, CPR is exhausting. That's why we take turns with compressions. I've seen obese nurses get winded and sweaty with compressions, but so what? I've also seen plenty of waif-thin emaciated nurses who have to practically get a running start to perform a proper compression. They're sweaty and exhausted five minutes in, too. Again, we take turns.

I work with some obese CNAs whose job is more physical than you could ever imagine in your wildest dreams. They move, dress, turn, transfer and clean immobile patients who are sheer dead weight. I've never once, ever, had an experience where their obesity resulted in any patient receiving sub par care. Not ever.

You're gonna have to come up with a better line than "CPR is hard" to convince me obese nurses pose a "risk" to their patients.

As for the whole "hypocritical" thing..... whatever. If you follow that train of thought to it's logical conclusion only human who are perfect without any vices should be allowed to be nurses. We're not role models or paragons of virtue or something. We're human. Being judgmental is a vice, too, you know.

Thank You Brandon :yes:

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Specializes in Cardiology, Cardiothoracic Surgical.

Dang, I wish we had a smiley face eating popcorn on AN, because this thread seriously needs it!

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Dang, I wish we had a smiley face eating popcorn on AN, because this thread seriously needs it!

And ironic to boot :)

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First of all, it's being more than a little melodramatic to say that "patients pay the price" with unfit nurses. I've seen codes. I've seen obese nurses. I've seen obese nurses/other staff respond to codes. I've never seen a patient "pay the price" because their obese nurse isn't a marathon winner. And neither have you. Again, melodramatic.

And, yes, CPR is exhausting. That's why we take turns with compressions. I've seen obese nurses get winded and sweaty with compressions, but so what? I've also seen plenty of waif-thin emaciated nurses who have to practically get a running start to perform a proper compression. They're sweaty and exhausted five minutes in, too. Again, we take turns.

I work with some obese CNAs whose job is more physical than you could ever imagine in your wildest dreams. They move, dress, turn, transfer and clean immobile patients who are sheer dead weight. I've never once, ever, had an experience where their obesity resulted in any patient receiving sub par care. Not ever.

You're gonna have to come up with a better line than "CPR is hard" to convince me obese nurses pose a "risk" to their patients.

As for the whole "hypocritical" thing..... whatever. If you follow that train of thought to it's logical conclusion only human who are perfect without any vices should be allowed to be nurses. We're not role models or paragons of virtue or something. We're human. Being judgmental is a vice, too, you know.

Hey Brandon,

Since all your comments relate to points 3 thru 5, I will assume you agree with the other points made by the OP. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

Patients do pay the price with unfit nurses, whether it be mentally unfit, intellectually unfit, or physically unfit, especially with the grind of 12 hour shifts most of us work. To think otherwise in my opinion is naïve.

You are correct that I have never seen a patient "pay the price" because their obese nurse could not win a 26+ mile race. However, on many occasions I have seen patient care suffer because an obese nurse simply lacked the energy and stamina to deliver care at the end of shift anywhere near the quality of care delivered at the beginning.

As to your last paragraph, I am not sure how the whole judgmental, perfection, vices, and virtue comments relate to the discussion. However, I think many of us would agree that when we take care of ourselves physically and emotionally we are better at nursing then when we don't. Of course, as stated in my original post there are always exceptions.

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Hey Brandon,

Since all your comments relate to points 3 thru 5, I will assume you agree with the other points made by the OP. Please correct me if I’m wrong.

Patients do pay the price with unfit nurses, whether it be mentally unfit, intellectually unfit, or physically unfit, especially with the grind of 12 hour shifts most of us work. To think otherwise in my opinion is naïve.

You are correct that I have never seen a patient “pay the price” because their obese nurse could not win a 26+ mile race. However, on many occasions I have seen patient care suffer because an obese nurse simply lacked the energy and stamina to deliver care at the end of shift anywhere near the quality of care delivered at the beginning.

As to your last paragraph, I am not sure how the whole judgmental, perfection, vices, and virtue comments relate to the discussion. However, I think many of us would agree that when we take care of ourselves physically and emotionally we are better at nursing then when we don’t. Of course, as stated in my original post there are always exceptions.

Requirements of every nursing job from now on: UBERMENSCH.

Have fun working with the three other nurses left on the planet.

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Specializes in Home Health.

I believe that, ideally, all healthcare professionals would lead by example, as best as they can. However, it's not yours or anyone else's place to criticize the abilities or safety of someone based on their appearance alone. That's rude, and completely inaccurate. I have been overweight my whole life, and nursing school helped me reach my all-time high of 320+lbs (on a 5'5" frame). I never once had any issues providing care to my patients during clinicals, and I even had more stamina for the long hours and constant running around than my skinnier/fitter classmates. Was even on my feet for an entire 8-hour clinical after injuring my ankle in an accident prior to arrival. I do feel hypocritical teaching patients about a healthy lifestyle when I'm doing the complete opposite myself, but that's my own judgement of myself. I don't look at anyone else and make the same judgements because maybe they're working on their weight issues, or maybe they're happy just as they are. Who am I to judge and tell them how they should be and what they should do? Who are you?

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Short people have trouble with compressions too. Not to mention, I'm always having to adjust the televisions in the patient rooms for short staff members. And get supplies from the backs of top shelves. If the short nurses can't do their jobs properly, the patients suffer. They sometimes have to watch the wrong channel for MINUTES until I can get in the room and fix whatever is making the tv not work correctly. That could give them a heart attack. And until someone hunts down a stool, that short nurse is giving crappy compressions. STOP PATIENT SUFFERING! BAN SHORT NURSES!!! Everyone under 5'7" needs to get out of nursing now before a patient dies due to their shortness.

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Requirements of every nursing job from now on: UBERMENSCH.

Have fun working with the three other nurses left on the planet.

Wow, and I thought nurses could cut thru the crap,

NDB, where in the heck did I ever state, let alone imply, that superhuman (ubermensch) traits are a requirement for nursing? Also, the word I used in my post was unfit, which is described in Merriam Webster as incompetent or incapable. How you construed that to mean I thought only perfect folks should be nurses is beyond me.

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CurlyKirby, welcome to the "Rock the Boat" club. That is all. I am small and thin, but when I have been on the patient side of things, I did have overweight nurses and they were really good. Not disagreeing, just saying that it is not entirely true that overweight nurses are bad nurses.

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Specializes in Trauma Surgical ICU.

Dang Wooh, I'm 5'2''. I will retire now :)

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Specializes in PACU, ED.

I've only known a couple of nurses where I thought their weight could interfere with job performance. Both had mobility issues due to the weight. I know many obese nurses who are excellent and I'd be content to let them care for my kids or grandkids.

I do understand that some patients might object to a message to lose weight if it comes from someone who is obviously overweight. However, those same patients might also discount the same message from a thin nurse by saying the nurse obviously can't understand their situation. Some people listen and learn. Others look for excuses to reject an uncomfortable message.

I was discharging a patient by wheelchair one time when he asked me why so many nurses were fat. I refrained from slapping the back of his head (but enjoyed the mental image). Instead I thought a minute and said that we nurses are part of society and are subject to the same pressures as everybody else. We struggle with the same health issues as everyone else. I also suggested that if he could come up with an easy weight loss program he'd be a billionaire. He agreed.

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Specializes in LTC Rehab Med/Surg.
Wow, and I thought nurses could cut thru the crap,

NDB, where in the heck did I ever state, let alone imply, that superhuman (ubermensch) traits are a requirement for nursing? Also, the word I used in my post was unfit, which is described in Merriam Webster as incompetent or incapable. How you construed that to mean I thought only perfect folks should be nurses is beyond me.

Saying fat/unfit = incompetent/incapable does not = UBERMENSCH?

I think if I just called 3/4 of the nursing population incompetent/incapable, I'd be darn glad that's all I was called.

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