Have you ever felt discriminated against because of your weight?

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Do you think you've been passed over for a job or not been advanced because you are overweight?:mad:

I said "generally" full well knowing someone with some sort of health issue would come here yelling "but but it's not my fault"

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Specializes in ER, Trauma.

Absolutely! A hospital in coastal New Hampshire called me for an interview. Was supposed to see the ER manager. Instead talked and toured with the assistant manager. I've never been self conscious of my weight because I'm well over 6 feet tall. As we toured I noticed I got lots of stares from the staff, all were thin, some even looking sickly thin. Eventually we stopped at an office where the assistant manager asked someone if we should call the manager. This person turned around to look at me, then told my host no. I was politely escorted to the entrance. Never heard back from them, didn't really expect to, either.

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Specializes in LTC.
....and the true discrimination what that I looked 10 yrs younger so I was treated as an inexperienced youth regardless of my age, knowledge, ability or experience.

I get this too.

When I mention that I have been a nurse for 18 years, there are attitudes that change quickly towards me.

And its usually because I'm being treated like I just fell off the turnip truck so to speak.

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Specializes in chemical dependency detox/psych.
Absolutely! A hospital in coastal New Hampshire called me for an interview. Was supposed to see the ER manager. Instead talked and toured with the assistant manager. I've never been self conscious of my weight because I'm well over 6 feet tall. As we toured I noticed I got lots of stares from the staff, all were thin, some even looking sickly thin. Eventually we stopped at an office where the assistant manager asked someone if we should call the manager. This person turned around to look at me, then told my host no. I was politely escorted to the entrance. Never heard back from them, didn't really expect to, either.

Man, that's harsh.

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I haven't been discriminated overtly at work because of my weight, but honestly I think all the attention to obesity and the problems associated with it lately is making me feel like a marked person. Am I being paranoid about this? And I seriously wonder- if I had to compete with a nurse who was more attractive/thinner than I, would they get the job based on looks?:eek:

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Absolutely! A hospital in coastal New Hampshire called me for an interview. Was supposed to see the ER manager. Instead talked and toured with the assistant manager. I've never been self conscious of my weight because I'm well over 6 feet tall. As we toured I noticed I got lots of stares from the staff, all were thin, some even looking sickly thin. Eventually we stopped at an office where the assistant manager asked someone if we should call the manager. This person turned around to look at me, then told my host no. I was politely escorted to the entrance. Never heard back from them, didn't really expect to, either.

This is the stuff that scares me-its almost like being obese is a crime. I used to smoke, and when they made laws against smoking indoors and knowledge of the dangers of smoking became commonplace, I felt like people would look down on me for it; it feels the same now with my weight.

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Specializes in medical surgical.

No but I have been discriminated against my age. Though 30 plus, patients keep telling me (particularly males) that i should slow down and let the "young girls" run around and do my job. Burns my you know what!!!

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I dont think so and in my career so far I only had one patient ever remark on my weight . That hurt but I did my job and took care of her but I never was too friendly to her after that but I dont think in my nursing career me being a big girl has hurt me but in the dating world yes but if someone likes you they will like you anyway. I am overweight but I can do my nursing work and I have no health problems other than general from being 45 years old today actually...

If I am reading this correctly today is your b-day.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!:yeah::yeah:

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Absolutely! A hospital in coastal New Hampshire called me for an interview. Was supposed to see the ER manager. Instead talked and toured with the assistant manager. I've never been self conscious of my weight because I'm well over 6 feet tall. As we toured I noticed I got lots of stares from the staff, all were thin, some even looking sickly thin. Eventually we stopped at an office where the assistant manager asked someone if we should call the manager. This person turned around to look at me, then told my host no. I was politely escorted to the entrance. Never heard back from them, didn't really expect to, either.

wow well im 5'6 110 lbs, the most i ever weigh is 127 and this is at 9 months pregnant(both babies were 8lbs).and i have to tell you i'm appauled by the way you were treated. think of it this way- it's their lost, not yours- their working short and God willing, you are on your way to a facility that will appreciate your skills-might be a blessing in disguise!

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I dont think so and in my career so far I only had one patient ever remark on my weight . That hurt but I did my job and took care of her but I never was too friendly to her after that but I dont think in my nursing career me being a big girl has hurt me but in the dating world yes but if someone likes you they will like you anyway. I am overweight but I can do my nursing work and I have no health problems other than general from being 45 years old today actually...

happy birthday:yeah::yeah::yeah::yeah::yeah:

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Specializes in Addiction / Pain Management.

Happens in all sectors of the job market, my old employer openly coveted the 90210 and Melrose Place crowd.

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Specializes in Emergency Nursing.

I haven't been discriminated against by my coworkers or my patients but I did have a professor in nursing school who felt the need to tell me at the end of the semester that she was concerned about my weight and that as professional nurses we needed to make sure that we were healthy in order to be good role models to our patients. I thanked her for her concern and kept my mouth shut but I was tempted to ask why she never bothered to lecture any of her students who stood outside of the building in the morning smoking cigarettes and then came into the classroom reeking of smoke. I guess smoking isn't a health concern and you can remain a role model for good health and still be a smoker according to her. Seems a bit like a double standard to me...

!Chris :specs:

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