Hospital Won't Hire Obese Workers

Good Morning, Gil · Apr 12, 2012

This has always been the case. This hospital is just the first to implement an actual policy. Overweight and unattractive people statistically have a harder time getting any job just because society assumes that good looking people are more intelligent, and hard working; I believe it's called the "halo effect" (assuming that good looking people have other positive attributes), and extending from that, that overweight people are more likely to be lazy. I'm not saying it's fair, just nothing new. If you put 2 people in a room for an interview, and they have similar qualifications, the better looking person will get the job. This is also why politicians are generally pretty decent looking and trim.

Look around your unit. How many people are obese? You can probably count them on one hand.

dream'n, BSN, RN · Apr 12, 2012

Warning! I'm so ticked I might just ramble on and on...I personally am an overweight, smoking RN. I never take breaks and don't ever smoke at work, so stop with that stereotype of all smokers being off the floor constantly. I also have never been limited by my weight, no one has ever had to pick up my slack. BUT, I guess I will now officially "retire" since I'm not a "good role model" and let all the skinny, nonsmokers pay for my welfare checks. I don't want to increase anyone's health insurance premiums, oh my goodness no. So I'll just leave my job, sit at home, collect welfare, let my education go to waste, and get STATE MEDICAID INSURANCE!!! Does that make those certain people that agree with this policy happy??? Unfortunately they'll have to pay for my insurance completely then since I won't be working and able to pitch in. So in summary, a fat nurse that is working is costing you LESS than an unemployed one...see the logic???

Therefore, don't throw out the stupid increase in health premiums argument because it doesn't hold water.

joanna73, BSN, RN · Apr 12, 2012

As long as you are able to perform the duties required for the job, it shouldn't matter about BMI. BMI is very subjective anyway. There are additional factors to consider. I'm a healthy weight right now, but my weight has fluctuated 10-20 pounds since I was 20. About 8 years ago, I had a BMI of 32. I was surprised, since I was running 3 times a week, but my BMI then translated into me being 20 pounds overweight. Whatever. I like my cookies.

arte_suave · Apr 12, 2012

I agree with many of the posters that the obese should not be discriminated against in employment. Many can perform their tasks just fine and, depending on the nurse, they can most likely perform above and beyond the normal call of duty as well.

My personal story is that I was obese from childhood on and I lost it the old fashioned way (diet and exercise) when I was 21 after reading a statistic that the chances of obese children not being obese in adulthood was slim to none. It was my epiphany and since then I have maintained a healthy weight. It did reduce a lot of the health problems I was beginning to encounter even at that early age so I believe in promoting healthy weight reduction but as someone who has fought the battle of weight loss, I can't emphasize enough that the enemy is not just the obese person.

The 20th century was built to make us fat! For fifty+ years, corporations with vested interests in profits not citizens have had a hand in creating the a world where we have to drive everywhere, pedestrians are disdained (what happened to sidewalks?), the food is barely real anymore (what's next? Soylent Green?!), and actual physical activities and labor have been reduced with the induction of electronic devices that either entertain or do the work for us.

Hospitals and healthcare in general should not be chastising or discriminating these poor nurses or the obese at all but instead working to reduce risk factors like we would do for any other disease.

I think we all can agree that we need a healthier, thinner world but I can tell you stocking a hospital full of thin nurses is not the right intervention.

NBMom1225 · Apr 12, 2012

I never thought I'd be grateful to live in Michigan...I'm not exactly skinny, and apparently mine is one of the few states where this is considered discrimination.

CrunchRN, ADN, RN · Apr 12, 2012

These changes made possible by the over saturation of the nursing market. Pump more nurses out and even more changes like this will be possible.

MJB2010 · Apr 12, 2012

Actually, becoming a nurse is what made it so hard to stay healthy. The long hours, overnight shifts, erradic schedules,stress and being forced to scarf down food without any actual time for a break. I was much healthier before becoming a nurse. If I worked at this hospital, you bet your bottom dollar I'd be asking for more reasonable schedules that include adequate meal breaks for eating healthy.

Anyway, I must point out that as someone who has battled weight off and on in life, having a "skinny" person who has never had to diet in their life try to give me diet advice just isn't the same as coming from someone who has been there and done it FOR ME. It is the reason I walked out of the Jenny Craig with the slim teenager "consultant" and over to Weight Watchers where the leader had some personal experience to share. Just as some of you say people won't take weight loss advice from someone who is overweight, some people do not like taking weight loss advice from people who have not ever tried it.Different strokes for different folks. Some people are not going to listen to anyone. You could have bodybuilders carrying around clipboards giving out nutrition advice in the hospital, and although fun for all to see, I doubt many more patients will change their diet habits based on that.

The reason I am making this point is, not to say we need thin or fat nurses but to say we need nurses with good nursing skills and having nurses with varying personal life experience can also be helpful. Some nurses connect with some people. Not all nurses connect with all people. That is not related to weight.

wish_me_luck, BSN, RN · Apr 12, 2012

PetstoPeople, I did not just make that severely obese thing up. I got it from the government standards of each BMI category.

Calculate Your BMI - Standard BMI Calculator

BMI Categories:

Underweight =
Normal weight = 18.5–24.9
Overweight = 25–29.9
Obesity = BMI of 30 or greater

Obesity Class II is 35-40 severely obese and 40 and above is morbidly obese.

I really don't care if I have an overweight nurse or a thin nurse taking care of me when I am sick; but I am into public health. I do not feel comfortable telling people to eat this or that; exercise; reiterate healthy lifestyles like losing weight if you are overweight, etc. if I am overweight. But, I also understand the patient's perspective of 'why are you telling me to lose weight if you are overweight?'. Remember, nursing schools pump out nurses left and right now, so they can be picky in who they hire. It may be just that...a way of ruling candidates out.

Editorial Team / Admin · Apr 12, 2012

My question is, what is the hospital doing to keep nurses healthy? Do they offer healthy choices in the cafeteria, or is it the ubiquitous burger and fries kind of place? My hospital cafeteria has color coded the foods- red isn't good for you, yellow is borderline, green is go right ahead. Most of the food they offer? Falls into the red category. Now how does that help anyone? The hospital wants healthy nurses, they need to put their money where their mouth is and help that happen.

anotherone, BSN, RN · Apr 12, 2012

If this is the same hospital I think it is, do not have time to read the article now, their line of thinking, I believe was that an obese nurse doesn't fit the appearance of nursing . lol Not suprised by this at all and excpect it to be the norm eventually. Just liek in many locations NO hospital systems hire smokers...... Personally, I NEVER cared if my drs/nurses were fat, unhealthy, smokers whatever. i go to the dr and extension nursing to seek advice/care for my concern not because I want to see a model of healthy living. For all I care my pulmonolgist could smoke 3 packs a day and my plastic surgeon's nurse could be 340lbs.

kcmylorn · Apr 13, 2012

dream"n- I am right there with you on the us overweight smokers leaving our jobs, going on welfare and letting the good looking skinny nurses support us by their tax dollars.

Good looking skinny women have always been thought of as "stupid" and having no brains- just look at what the world thought of Marylin Monroe( 'Happy Birthday,.... Mr President") and all the women who had looks and a body after her- in 2012- they are still considered stupid and having no brains. So with that said, kind of makes one wonder why these hospitals are now seeking to hire only attractive, skinny nurses? The 'stupid" and not having any brains mystique has been around for a long time and it has not going away. Take a poll. Ask anyone in the general public- The future mistresess and Ho's for the CEO and upper managment? Corporate fornication. Stupid women don't know when their being used, and don't know what for. Are they going to be too fearful of the pretty nurse who is the dumbest thing on 2 feet spilling the beans in a lawsuite on the witness stand- NO. Their going to keep thoses 'honey do's' around for a long time- why. They wouldn't know if their padded bras were on fire.

I have said before- those who go along with these discriminatory policies of these healthcare system better be careful what they are supporting and what they ask for- it might not be too favorable for them in the long run and then it's too late.

wooh, BSN, RN · Apr 13, 2012

My question is, what is the hospital doing to keep nurses healthy? Do they offer healthy choices in the cafeteria, or is it the ubiquitous burger and fries kind of place? My hospital cafeteria has color coded the foods- red isn't good for you, yellow is borderline, green is go right ahead. Most of the food they offer? Falls into the red category. Now how does that help anyone? The hospital wants healthy nurses, they need to put their money where their mouth is and help that happen.

Overheard at work, I'll "[insert mocking of our hospital's "wellness initiative" here]" when I can get a salad for less than $10 in the cafeteria.