Am I too small to be a nurse?

Flatline, BSN, RN · Oct 31, 2017

I've worked with a nurse with no legs and 1 arm that was a FANTASTIC nurse.

Concerns over physical size are ridiculous and based on stereotypes and incorrect biases that nurses are nothing but doctor's assistants.

If there was any kind of physical requirement for nursing then we would have to take a physical fitness exam along with the NCLEX.

Sbhayes09, ADN, RN · Oct 31, 2017

I've worked with a nurse with no legs and 1 arm that was a FANTASTIC nurse.
Concerns over physical size are ridiculous and based on stereotypes and incorrect biases that nurses are nothing but doctor's assistants.
If there was any kind of physical requirement for nursing then we would have to take a physical fitness exam along with the NCLEX.

Thank you! I felt the same way at the time, but when she kind of shamed me and asked if I was anorexic or bulimic, it made me wonder if maybe she knew something I didn't. I feel fine and it kind of scared me.

AceOfHearts<3 · Oct 31, 2017

I work with a nurse that is less than 5ft tall. I'm only 5ft 3in myself (but I weigh quite a bit more than you) and I work with other nurses my height or shorter (in addition to the nurse who is under 5ft). In my opinion it's a non-issue, especially if you made it through CNA stuff. Good luck!

evastone, BSN, RN · Oct 31, 2017

I am five feet tall (if not shorter) and overweight. I wear shoes with lifts so that I can reach the top of my IV poles at work. Otherwise, my size has never held me back. As Ace of Hearts said, if you can handle CNA activities, you should have no problem. Don't let what other people say about you get inside your head.

Sbhayes09, ADN, RN · Oct 31, 2017

I am five feet tall (if not shorter) and overweight. I wear shoes with lifts so that I can reach the top of my IV poles at work. Otherwise, my size has never held me back. As Ace of Hearts said, if you can handle CNA activities, you should have no problem. Don't let what other people say about you get inside your head.

Thank you so much. I have started counting calories cause it seems that I forget to eat at times and may only be maintaining my weight. I'm gonna try to gain at least a few times by increasing my caloric intake and monitoring my food habits with an app. :)

Sbhayes09, ADN, RN · Oct 31, 2017

I work with a nurse that is less than 5ft tall. I'm only 5ft 3in myself (but I weigh quite a bit more than you) and I work with other nurses my height or shorter (in addition to the nurse who is under 5ft). In my opinion it's a non-issue especially if you made it through CNA stuff. Good luck![/quote']
Thank you! You guys are really making me feel better. It took everything inside of me not to hulk out and say no way this doctor was gonna stop me simply because of my size lol.

CCU BSN RN · Oct 31, 2017

Funny how we don't demonize overweight nurses who smoke and are in terrible shape (like myself, I can't do more than 2 minutes of chest compressions effectively), but it's societally okay to suggest that you're 'too small'.

I've known plenty of nurses who were barely 5 feet tall and scrawny. A lot of them wound up in NICU, where their patients typically weigh 1-7 pounds.

Honestly other than needing a stool for CPR and being moderately irked when I can't reach the top shelf of the Pyxis, my limited height has never posed any issue that I'm aware of.

Sbhayes09, ADN, RN · Oct 31, 2017

Funny how we don't demonize overweight nurses who smoke and are in terrible shape (like myself, I can't do more than 2 minutes of chest compressions effectively), but it's societally okay to suggest that you're 'too small'.
I've known plenty of nurses who were barely 5 feet tall and scrawny. A lot of them wound up in NICU, where their patients typically weigh 1-7 pounds.
Honestly other than needing a stool for CPR and being moderately irked when I can't reach the top shelf of the Pyxis, my limited height has never posed any issue that I'm aware of.

Thank you! I was thinking this as well. I really wanted to ask if I was overweight if she would be comfortable criticizing my body size. Seems that it's a bit of a double standard to me. It's OK though, I'm sure one day someone will need me to slither into a tight space and be glad that I'm there lol.

Nonyvole, BSN, RN · Oct 31, 2017

I'm 5'2. I make sure I know where a step stool is, I'm not afraid to climb onto a bed to do things like compressions or help move a patient, and I've even just climbed up on counters if I needed something on the top shelf. It doesn't bother me, and has never affected patient care.

...actually, I've been the one told to ride the stretcher if we have to move a patient while doing compressions, simply because I'm the smallest. (Tip: it's all in the core. Good core strength means that you can keep your balance while still doing good compressions.)

AceOfHearts<3 · Oct 31, 2017

I work in the ICU and we have several stools. If we have a code or are preparing for an imminent code we ALWAYS grab a stool- it's habit at this point to get the crash cart and have somebody grab a stool.

Sbhayes09, ADN, RN · Oct 31, 2017

Thanks everyone. I think her concern was mostly about my weight and her incorrect thinking that I wouldn't be able to lift and turn patients. I feel that if I learn the correct way to do these tasks that I won't be any less capable than any other nurse. Plus, it's not like I'm alone in the hospital. I can always ask my coworkers for help if I have an exceptionally large patient.