Fat?

jfpruitt · May 7, 2002

Very interesting. However, I have no clue. I really dont know any CRNAs personally since I'm researching the career myself. Hope someone here can provide a honest answer to you although weight is a sensitive subject for some. Good Luck.

lgcv · May 7, 2002

It could be a problem, sometimes after the patient has been surrounded with equipment you have a very small space to work in. Anyway, I think that if you are moderately obese it would not be perceived as a problem by a selection committee. If you are morbidly obese they would have concerns about your ability to perform in the tight spaces we sometimes work in.

This is my opinion, and I could be wrong, just trying to give you the best answer I can with my limited experience.

AL bug · May 7, 2002

I don't think that is a bad question at all. I am a large person, but very funtional and agile for my size. I am also tall, so my weight is distributed pretty evenly. I know a CRNA that is about 60yo, obese, and has bad knee that makes her limp. If she can do it, I can do it. My concern is stamina and being able to climb stairs to get to a code. I have decided to start a serious exercise program for this reason. Don't let it hinder your confidence in interviewing or they will detect your reservation. If you know what your doing, it shouldn't be problem.

ageless · May 7, 2002

I have known and worked with CRNAs of all shapes, ages and sizes. No problem except for health related issues. I have never seen a CRNA respond to a code in the hospitals I have worked in.. they are not part of our code teams.

meandragonbrett · May 8, 2002

At my hospital CRNAs respond to codes and they go to the ER to Intubate

Brett

alansmith52 · May 8, 2002

strange. I have silently been wondering about this myself. I am in a RN to BSN progam with several prospective CRNA's

Lately I have noticed that a few ( who were prevously rather portley) have started to look skinny, I wondered for a sec if they where doing this to make there entrance to a CRNA program sure.

maybe I should start running. on one hand this is all madness, what is this a beauty pagent. on the other hand 20/20 did an undercover special which we viewed in one of my classes. they found that employers and other various enteties who enterview alway chose the "better looking" individual .. whatever better looking means..... they said it was a subconcious thing.

matt

jfpruitt · May 8, 2002

Hmm. I saw this on 20/20 also and wondered myself if this is true. I think maybe this happens, as you said, subconsciously. However, the worst part of all this, is the programs are competitive enough, let alone have to worry about your 'looks' or 'weight' factoring in on it all. UGHHH

SambvcaSim · May 16, 2002

I have read this, and I have to respond. In the hospital I work at, we frequently see the SRNA's in the Trauma ICU. The 12 are of all sizes, 2 are (excuse the politically incorrect terminology) bigger than average. I think what it comes down to is your self confidence and your presentation. The interviewers at these schools are not superficial to look at how overweight a person is, but how that person presents himself/herself. They are looking for such attributes as confidence, drive, assertiveness, motivation, etc. I believe that if you are self conscious about your weight, do something about it prior to the interview.....but......if you are okay with your weight, and feel great about your appearance (no matter what your size) dont change a thing. Appearance did not get where your are today, and will not help you succeed in graduate school. Hope this helps!:)

nrw350 · May 22, 2002

I am overweight to be blunt about it. And what SambvcaSim said about presentation is what I feel these people are looking for in CRNA's. Because who would want to be on the table with a bad-looking (that is one who looks unkept and uncaring) Anesthesiaologist about to sedate them? That would be most disturbing. So they may be judging by appearance, but I hope they are using some common sense in this judgement. Each person should be judged separetely and without stereotypes. I know that is a trite statement to make, and that everyone feels the same way. But the fact is, society is known for judgeing a person by stereotypes.

Nick

Tiiki · May 22, 2002

could someone please explain what a CRNA is???

thanks

:)

JO

meandragonbrett · May 22, 2002

Jo,

It's a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist. It's an Advanced Practice Nurse that puts people to sleep for procedures, does regional anesthesia, and concious sedation for procedures. The education is as follows:

4 years of nursing school to obtain a BSN (Bachelors in Nursing) *note, there is two different ways to obtain this degree, get a ADN then do a RN-BSN program. The other is go straight for the BSN for four years, either way, it's still four years*

1-2 years in a ICU setting. SOME schools will take ER or PACU in lieu of the ICU but they prefer ICU, i've heard that SICU is the best to work in for the experience.

Then you apply for graduate school to obtain a MSN\MSNA which leads to certification as a CRNA. Gradute school is anywhere from 18-36 months depending on your program. Most prograns are 24 months and are year round. It's impossible to work during graduate school also.

Brett