is height a problem?

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I just wanted to know whether height was something that employers looked at when hiring you. I'm a petite and small young woman. I wonder when i got to job interviews will theythink this individual won't be able to mobilize patients, or in case of emergency can she carry a patient. I know it's stupid, but i just wanted to know. Is your physical attributes something that employers use to decide how much they will pay you? Thank you for yor time.:o

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Specializes in critical care and LTC.

I think your being silly. There are sooooo many nurses out there all different sizes and I have never heard anyone say anything like that. I am not very tall myself and have never had a problem. Where I work there are a couple of nurses who are barely 5 ft tall and do the job just fine.

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Specializes in LDRP.

We have nurses of all sizes. Some very large, some very small, both weight and height wise. THey should be smart enough to know that short does not equal weak. I am 5'2 with shoes on, and can push beds (with help), move bodies (even heavy corpses-with one other person), assist large pt's with not much problem. ( i did tell a 6'4 pt once not to fall when i was with him, cuz i'd never be able to catch him, he was so tall!)

the biggest pt care obstacle that height provides is when you have someone on one of those big ol air mattresses and they are severly overweight and you have trouble reaching over them to pull them over.

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how tall are you?

how petite(slim) are you?

I was 5'6" and 110# with my first RN job.....

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Specializes in NICU.

I just wanted to say that I'm only 4ft 8 inches tall. I am going into my 3rd semester of nursing school and so far it hasn't been a problem. I haven't had an actual job in the hospital....just clinicals so I can't completely answer your question. My instructors don't seem bothered by it one bit. Our Dean even told me she has seen some short nurses and they do just as good as a more average height person. I do get teased a lot...mostly all in fun though. It's kind of an ice breaker with the patients too, so that's always a plus. I don't think height is a big deal at all.

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thank all so much. to answer your question Otessa.... I'm only 4'10 and 100lbs. I completely understand how you feel... 1namyllion, my height is a great converstation starter.lol

I am thankful for all of you who took your time to answer my very silly qustion. I feel so much better.

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Specializes in ICU.

I used to work with a nurse who was 4' 7". She did fine.

I'm 6' 5". I don't get paid any more that I would if I was shorter.

Don't worry about it.

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