Hospital Won't Hire Obese Workers

kcmylorn · Apr 13, 2012

What kind of pumps did Amy Winehouse sing about? The new nursing shoes

Anna Flaxis, BSN, RN · Apr 13, 2012

Off topic, but I'm really getting a kick out of the comments about "just going on welfare". Complete hyperbole, and easier said than done.

kcmylorn · Apr 13, 2012

What are the hospitals doing to promote a healthy staff? There's a loaded question.

micromanaging, controlling employees personal life, creating stressful, short staffed work environments, maintaining toxic work environment, cutting health benefits, hiring cheaper less experienced licensed staff, forcing 50 yr old nurses into retirement when they are not able to collect Medicare for another 15-16yrs ( think the Medicaid suggestion is that far off, think again: add food stamps, no health insurance, food pantries, homeless shelters, forclosures, and bankruptcy to it- the pinnicle of good health and healthy living?), leading by intimidation and abuse of power and position, denying vacations, threatening and diciplining staff for call outs- especially with infectious diseases( the common cold/flu, GI viruses- share and share alike, pass around the good times), then we can throw in the meal choices in the cafeteria, and for night shift- vending machines, not providing coverage for meal breaks and rest periods, giving patients movie and gift card rewards for abusive treatment to nursing staff, paying CEO's and their war lords multi million dollar salaries( the CEO isn't called out of bed in the middle of the night if a patient is dying or needs intervention). Major University hospital in a large city auctioning off a million dollar historical painting of the first doctors in that said city to raise money for the medical center serving Mimosa's at 7 AM!( what's a little champagne with your OJ in the morning to help get you through the day,It's only a problem with alchol if the one doing the drinking thinks it is. just don't smoke! and, by all means, don't buy you clothes at Lane Bryant. Do you think the CEO and his entorage missed that cause for celebration- does a bear....in the woods. Cheers! Bottoms Up!!)

I guess promoting healthy work enviroments and healthy staff is like beauty- it's in the eye of the beholder, in this case, the managment.

FLmomof5 · Apr 13, 2012

A couple of points from me....

An early post said that the Constitution does not allow discrimination against ____. One of them, in the post, was sexual orientation. I would like to correct the poster. Although many "blue" states have State Law that bans discrimination based on sexual orientation, that is one class that is NOT protected by the Constitution.

Currently, stepping over the menopause line (had 3 periods in 2011), I HAVE gained weight. I am 5'4" and now 122 lbs. Prior to that and ONLY after the birth of my first child, I weighed 105-115. In the past, when I mentioned that I once struggled with weight issues, folks looked at me in SHOCK! NO! This thin woman in front of them could NEVER have had such a problem!!! Fact is I did. I was borderline while in the military. I was offered a weight waiver by the military MD (because I was an athlete), but there WAS padding that could be shed! I refused. I never wanted an excuse to remain overweight. Just because that normal weight 50 yo mother of 5 is not overweight now, does not mean that she hasn't been overweight before! WE THIN folks CAN relate to the troubles of the obese!

I shared this article with my mother. She is a retired RN who had a Masters degree and 35 years on the floor. She would be in the category not hired by this hospital. A point I would make is that in my mother's last job, the nursing station had bar stool like chairs (on wheels) for the employees to sit upon. Numerous nurses fell and injured themselves, mom included. She tore her rotator cuff. Not only had she had surgery on this, but she has never receive full motion again. The nurses successfully sued the chair manufacturer and the hospital (they should have known the chairs were dangerous with numerous falls from these chairs). One thing that all the injured nurses had in common was they were all obese. Their weight was more difficult to balance on said chairs.

It is a sad fact of society that fat WOMEN are viewed as lazy when this is the farthest thing from the truth. Studies show that people in general do not have the same opinion of fat MEN.

After working 3 - 11 in LTC and 7p-7a on a Med Surg floor, I understand the difficulty nurses face in the battle of the bulge. We are EXHAUSTED. We aren't given TIME to have a healthier diet on our work days.

OCNRN63, RN · Apr 13, 2012

I stand behind my words, I could care less about the cry babies I may upset.
Patients want to see a staff that resembles good health. How does an overweight nurse, or doctor, or any other member of the staff resemble good health. With that, how is a member of the staff of a medical facility that does not outwardly resemble good health able to portray the messages and education effectively. They cant, the patients will see the person and a lot of the time ignore the message, the nurse is teaching them about there nutrition, or blood pressure or cholesterol.

As a nurse, and as someone who has needed a lot of medical care recently, I don't care what my doctors or nurses look like. I do care about their ability to provide competent, compassionate care.

dream'n, BSN, RN · Apr 13, 2012

Incorrect post.

dream'n, BSN, RN · Apr 13, 2012

Off topic, but I'm really getting a kick out of the comments about "just going on welfare". Complete hyperbole, and easier said than done.

I'm afraid that if hospitals go to not hiring nurses that are overweight as some previous posters have cheered, I will be unemployed. THAT is what happens. Supporting the hiring ban is not just an intellectual exercise in theory; this is something that will affect many, many people.

anotherone, BSN, RN · Apr 13, 2012

I don't even see a reason most patients should care about what type of life style I am living as long as it doesn't affect them(i obviously mean with regards to smoking, weight etc, nothing illegal ) Even the posters/patients who want in shape drs and nurses so that they can follow them as a model of healthy living......... that isn't even the issue for most of the patients on our floor. what difference should any of that make for all of the following dime a dozen admitting diagnosis: cf flare up/exacerbation etc, ID of arms for using dirty needles(tons!), ID of anything else, pancreatitis, surgery for all kinds of cancers from ENT to GYN/urology, diarrhea after antibiotic use -cdiff, AMS, pneumonia from a NH pt with a trach,fracture .......... How can any of them think, " i better listen to the thin nurse she can relate to me better!" being thin or fat has little to do with their main issue, yes an ideal body weight can help but even the fattest nurse can hang antibiotics and do dressing changes........

CrunchRN, ADN, RN · Apr 13, 2012

I don't think image is the issue. I think it is based on the fact that obese workers cost more in health insurance and sick time? Just guessing cause y'all know it is always about the bucks.....

RN1263 · Apr 13, 2012

One of my nursing instructors was a very large lady...probably 300lbs easy, possibly more. However, she physically could do everything she needed to do and then some. She had already had one bariatric surgery and obviously it didn't work long term. She was a great teacher and I couldn't imagine her being denied a job in nursing because of a high BMI. I think when you put a face and name to this topic it changes how you feel about it.

MomRN0913 · Apr 13, 2012

To me, it's just as disgusting as not hiring smokers.

We will all have to be a certain heaight, weight, BMI, may only have the legal habits the hospitals feel are acceptable in our off time.

anotherone, BSN, RN · Apr 13, 2012

I don't think image is the issue. I think it is based on the fact that obese workers cost more in health insurance and sick time? Just guessing cause y'all know it is always about the bucks.....

That would make sence but this hospital said IT IS about the image and appearance. lol