How important is your 'look' as a nurse

J3w3lz88 · May 11, 2014

Hi everyone I still have left 2 prerequisite's and I am always thinking about this, because I gained a lot of weight with my last pregnancy and I manage to take it all off, but somehow I gain it all back up and I have been like a yo-yo for about a year now so this is always on the top of my head "does appearance matter?" To me it's a big YES, I feel that if I do not loose this weight I will have a very hard time obtaining a job. Other than the weight I don't have any other issues I think I'm easy on the eyes and I have no tattoo's, but that is my opinion I do believe that being over-weight hinders any given situation on obtaining a new job...

allnurses Guide · May 11, 2014

Does anyone have any evidence-based knowledge of a patient refusing to follow their diet plan or deciding to chuck the whole personal healthy habits thing because the nurse was fat? I can't imagine a person who lacks motivation to that extent going home and weathering the Food Channel without incident. If anyone is interested in a thread with 190 more posts like these you can find it here:

Hospital Won't Hire Obese Workers

Ruby Vee, BSN · May 11, 2014

Well, no, its not okay to make jokes about obese patients.
Of course, I'm only human and if I were to say I've never joked with my co-workers about a patient's appearance, I'd be lying.
But I can honestly say that I made far more snarky comments about patients as an aide than I do now as a nurse. As a nurse, I feel I ought to at least try to set a good example to my aides.
I can also honestly say that if I and my cowokers do make fun of a patient, 99% of the time it has nothing to do with appearance, it has more to do with their attitude or rudeness. I think that is very different. Making fun of someone because they're fat is tacky and low-class. But if a patient is rude and just plain mean? Yeah, its a safe bet staff is making comments about them behind their back.
And, yeah, overweight nurses do have business educating patients about their weight and nutrition. That's part of their job.

I can honestly say that I don't make fun of people for their weight -- unless they're scarfing down a family sized bag of potato chips while insisting that they're losing weight. I had a colleague that ate potato chips all day -- she came in with 2 family sized bags -- and insisted that she was "on a diet." An individual sized bag of potato chips or small chocolate bar, I consider that they've been dieting for weeks and this might be their first "cheat." But most of the time, when my colleagues and I DO make fun of a patient, it has to do with attitude, manners and behavior issues. As an ICU nurse, I was told that was part of my job. When I need help turning a large patient, I just ask for 3 or 4 folks to help -- I have back issues, and my colleagues are terrific about helping.

An overweight nurse is probably a lot more knowledgable about weight loss plans than a nurse who has never had to lose weight. And yes, it is part of my job as a nurse (albeit a fat one) to educate people about nutrition and weight loss. It is also part of my job to educate about smoking cessation -- an issue I've personally never had to contend with. I'm much better at educating about weight loss than I am smoking cessation.

Nola009 · May 11, 2014

How important is your 'look' as a nurse?

Nola009 · May 11, 2014

Ruby, are you saying that it's more acceptable to "make fun of a patient" with behavior issues(which could be related to mental illness, anxiety, or decline in cognitive function)?!

Nola009 · May 11, 2014

Seems like the long hours on your feet, constant stress, patient families, and inhumane shifts can make people fat and tempermental. If that what this job does, they can take it and shove it!

OCNRN63, RN · May 11, 2014

They may, but probably are not. BMI despite its limitations and scrutiny remains an extremely good barometer of cardiovascular stamina and overall health. Having a fatbody simply isn't healthy, sorry.
And you would be hard pressed to find some 300 pounder who is "far more fit and healthy" than the skinny people around her, and you damn well know it. Being fat is very bad for your health, and there is a virtual tidal wave of scientific evidence that shows it.

"Three hundred pounder." Sigh. You know, overweight people have feelings too. Speaking about them in such derisive, dismissive terms says a lot about how you treat your overweight patients and fellow staff members.

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · May 11, 2014

As long.as one can do a job effectively, who cares what one looks.like? Unfortunately thats not the world we live in........ It is so easy to judge when one is on the outside looking in but reality is, if you haven't struggled with weight then you shouldn't judge those who do. Telling an obese person to 'eat right and exercise' is the equivalent to telling an anorexic to 'just eat'. Let me do my job to the best of my ability and go home. Nothing more nothing less. #my2cents

I can address this....looks count. It isn't right but it's the truth. I have heard the head of HR state he/she will not get interviews for people ANY with missing teeth. An alcoholic who has ruined his liver transplant gets a standing ovation for 3 weeks of sobriety. The obese person looses 20 hard earned pounds and gets "Really? I couldn't tell....you gotta long way to go" Grrrrrrrrr

As pretty girl turned fat person in a wheelchair....I can attest to the unbelievable rudeness and cruelty I have experienced from EVERYONE! Especially medical professionals. I have a rare auto-immune disorder that affects my skin and muscles. My skin hurts and looks sunburned 365 days a year. I have Dermatomyositis/polymyositis/Lupus....MS is my new addition. An auto-immune mess.

I have always been very private about this to hide it from any potential employer. I have kept it in the closet for years....slowly the disease took over...I lost the walking battle.... I will probably never work (in a clinical setting) again so hiding it no longer makes sense.

I have that slapped cheek look in that "Butterfly" shape 24/7.

My muscles are deteriorated because my body don't think they belong to me. I have Cushings and probable permanent damage to my adrenal glands from a stupid physician and high dose long term steroid use...I have lost hair and eyelashes (once long and beautiful) from the chemo and other meds.....I am not a pretty picture. Even I don't look at myself. Photos are forbidden

I am appalled and the rudeness and hurtful comments I encounter everyday. I have had complete strangers come up to me when I make a rare public appearance and talk to me about the benefits of a healthy diet and exercise. REALLY???...I never knew? :sarcastic:

I had one moron in a grocery store in my town tell me that "people who have communicable diseases should not be in public". WHAT DID YOU SAY TO ME????? I told him that contrary to popular belief...leprosy is curable...however his genetic disposition to intelligence, or lack thereof, was not.

I went and cried in my car.

It takes EVER SINGLE OUNCE OF MY SELF CONTROL to allow them to leave with limbs intact. I have had one too many health professionals...and I use the term lightly here...disparaging comments, snorts of laughter around the corner or x-ray wall, and lip smacking eye roll when they learn of my working past...like I am a very good story teller with delusions of grandeur.

I personally know why obese people have higher medical costs and complications....it is because they are not treated appropriately and are ignored...just because they are fat. Like we are somehow inferior and unworthy of respect, appropriate care and courtesy. I NEVER ONCE in my career EVER made disparaging comments about anyone else...I realize that I am rare amongst my peers...but remember There but for the grace of God go I. You never know when you may end up on the other side of the stretcher.

Does it affect getting a job? YOU BETTCHA IT DOES. After 35 years in critical care/emergency medicine/trauma flight/management/administration I could not even get a telephone triage job. They "pursued a better/more experienced candidate" ...Hummmm really?

Do looks count? A resounding yes.

But in the future before you judge someone think carefully and chose your words carefully. There is a human in front of you with feelings and very good hearing.

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · May 11, 2014

.........As pretty girl turned fat person in a wheelchair....I can attest to the unbelievable rudeness and cruelty I have experienced from EVERYONE! Especially medical professionals. I have a rare auto-immune disorder that affects my skin and muscles. My skin hurts and looks sunburned 365 days a year. I have Dermatomyositis/polymyositis/Lupus....MS is my new addition. An auto-immune mess.
I have always been very private about this to hide it from any potential employer. I have kept it in the closet for years....slowly the disease took over...I lost the walking battle.... I will probably never work (in a clinical setting) again so hiding it no longer makes sense. ........
My muscles are deteriorated because my body don't think they belong to me. I have Cushings and probable permanent damage to my adrenal glands from a stupid physician and high dose long term steroid use...I have lost hair and eyelashes (once long and beautiful) from the chemo and other meds.....I am not a pretty picture. Even I don't look at myself. Photos are forbidden

(((((ESME)))))))

Oh, hun, I am so very sorry to hear this......how difficult for you! Thank you for sharing that story, it must have been painful to write.

My heart goes to you....you're a much better version of a person, in my opinion, than surrounds you.

Ruby Vee, BSN · May 11, 2014

Ruby, are you saying that it's more acceptable to "make fun of a patient" with behavior issues(which could be related to mental illness, anxiety, or decline in cognitive function)?!

No, go, I'm saying it's more acceptable to make fun of people whose behavior issues they CAN change, even though they've CHOSEN to be mean, nasty, entitled or liars. Mental health issues are a whole 'nother thing.

RNdynamic · May 11, 2014

And you would be hard pressed to find some 300 pounder who is "far more fit and healthy" than the skinny people around her, and you damn well know it. Being fat is very bad for your health, and there is a virtual tidal wave of scientific evidence that shows it
Obesity is correlated with some health problems. No study has ever proved that obesity causes those health problems. Each and every one of those health problems also afflicts thin people, in addition to obese.

Actually it has been proven. You're sounding like one of those people who say evolution isn't true because it hasn't been proven in a study, when there is a preponderance of scientific evidence that shows it is true. This is the same concept. Being fat doesn't just affect cardiac health and liver; it also hurts your joints through increased mechanical wear. Unless we've got fat people who are able to defy the laws of physics, then that alone is enough to say that being fat hurts your health.

You can point to some freaky exceptions where the fat person is healthier than the thin person because the thin person has some other underlying thing going on, but the fact is that all other things being equal, being thin is much healthier than being fat. I can't imagine anyone arguing against that, unless they have some freaky agenda in mind. Exceptions do not invalidate the general rule; that's why they're called "exceptions."

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · May 11, 2014

(((((ESME)))))))
Oh, hun, I am so very sorry to hear this......how difficult for you! Thank you for sharing that story, it must have been painful to write.
My heart goes to you....you're a much better version of a person, in my opinion, than surrounds you.

Thanks it was....and I'm having a bad day. I lived in fear for so long and hid it well. Every time I was "outed" and observed with an unsteady gait or hand tremor.... I was no longer employed. While I love being a nurse there are times it hasn't been nice to me. I won't lie...it's hard.

But when I read these threads it's REALLY hard. To say that someone should or shouldn't be doing something because of their size, personality, color, religion, education entry level....really ANNOYS ME! To KNOW what is behind the disrespectful whispers and snickers is difficult to say the least.

Who are we to judge? Who are we to say one is more or less worthy than anyone else? That someone is more fit than someone else?

There but for the Grace of God go I