Is there such a thing as being too thin to be nurse?

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I'm afraid of not being accepted into the BSN program at AUM next Fall. I weigh 84 lbs and am 5'3. Will they judge me on my appearance? There is an interview involved as well as GPA. I have 3 pre-nursing courses left to tackle nutrition,sociology, and principles of biology. I'm taking a few classes that don't go for nursing in case I'm not accepted. I have been accepted in an ASN program before but had to drop out because of health problems will that hurt my chances of being accepted? I believe nursing is what I want but I would sure love to shadow a nurse if my parents would let me Unfortunatly they are very protective and are afraid I'll get sick. I know they mean well but I really think I need to do this.

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Specializes in CVICU, Burns, Trauma, BMT, Infection control.
I'm afraid of not being accepted into the BSN program at AUM next Fall. I weigh 84 lbs and am 5'3. Will they judge me on my appearance? There is an interview involved as well as GPA. I have 3 pre-nursing courses left to tackle nutrition,sociology, and principles of biology. I'm taking a few classes that don't go for nursing in case I'm not accepted. I have been accepted in an ASN program before but had to drop out because of health problems will that hurt my chances of being accepted? I believe nursing is what I want but I would sure love to shadow a nurse if my parents would let me Unfortunatly they are very protective and are afraid I'll get sick. I know they mean well but I really think I need to do this.

Cherry honestly were your health problems from an eating disorder related to your weight? That's what NS Admission will ask you and what anyone will ask you. Nursing is hard arduous work,if you're starving yourself you'll have even more health problems. Just be honest with them and yourself.

Best of luck.:redbeathe

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Specializes in CVICU, Burns, Trauma, BMT, Infection control.

Actually I actually jumped to conclusions there,if you've got an illness as you say,that is chronic,that will be of concern when you interview.:heartbeat

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Tele, Peds, LDRP.

There could be a possibility that they question whether you have an eating disorder since you are about 20 pounds underweight. Other than that, I don't think you would be judged for being thin since most people aren't judged for being heavy when it comes to nursing. There are a lot of heavy nurses and if anything, I would think they would be under more scrutiny since we should lead a healthy example...for example lead healthy lifestyles, not smoke,etc. I am by no means thin myself and have always struggled with my weight, so I'm not bashing heavy people...I'm just saying I would think a heavy person would be judged more quickly than a thin person in the society we live in. But, it sounds like you are extremely thin and that isn't the image of health either. I have never heard of an adult who was over 5 feet tall and weighed under 100 lbs.

The above person asked if your health problems were related to an eating disorder and I wondered the same, I think most people would wonder that. Good luck to you and I hope if you do have a problem you are getting help. I think it is something you should address before you take on nursing school again.

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Specializes in Ortho, Case Management, blabla.
I have never heard of an adult who was over 5 feet tall and weighed under 100 lbs.

My wife is 5'5" and weighed 95 lbs when we first started dating (now she's 110 after 3 kids). At the time it was all lean mass. Many years of training in martial arts. She looked pretty healthy, and could do 300 pushups in 3 minutes :) Many of her friends were the same way.

Not saying this is the case here, but be careful generalizing.

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Actually I don't have an eating disorder but I'm afraid that is what people will think. I have always been underweight and have a very small frame. Since I have been out of nursing school I have gained five pounds and am trying to make it to 90 before I start back. I'm not sure if it will be enough though. I don't really look sick I'm just thin. My doctor actually thinks I have a hormone problem because the amount of food I can eat is above average. When I went into the nursing program I was so stressed out and working all the time I could not eat as much and I lost 10 pounds. I don't know if they'll accept me or not but it is the only thing I have a passion about.

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Specializes in Wellness Coach, ICU, PACU, OR, Mgmt.

Cheryl,

You are right for thinking this one through. People, unfortunately, judge one another based on looks & 1st impressions.

If you remain nervous about the issue, though, your nervousness may spread to those you are interviewing with.

Have you thought about bringing it up at the interview yourself? Something along the lines of, "You guys might have noticed I'm a little thin. I wonder if that was worrying you?"

Then, YOU have control over the conversation & their thoughts about you. You end up looking courageous, honest & authentic - all attributes that are wonderful in a nurse.

Just my :twocents:.

Best of luck in your future plans, what ever you decide.

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Specializes in Medical, Surgical.

it was a girl in my class that had hyperthyroidism. but she was still accepted. She was a tee-tiny girl. hyperthyroidism can make you really thin sometimes. but as long as she took her meds she was okay and guess what she passed her boards last week. on the same note it was a girl that weighed 305 and she is a nurse now also. nobody's perfect and they shouldnt judged you because of your weight if thats how you have always been just tiny. i was always 5ft 3 90-100 pounds thru high school until i turned 25 (so i know how you feel) but as time went on i am 138 and now 30. (but i had to reach 105 to be in the military, you had to be height/weight range) its just that some folks arent meant to gain weight and have very high metabolisms. i was always considered underweight even though i ate the most in the house. but now i am in the correct BMI. i think the media has corrupted our minds to think that everyone should look a certain way....... and if they dont.... they "must have medical problems, eat too much, or dont eat enough." it shouldnt be that way. thats just my opinion. last, who made the BMI anyways? because if i pass 142 i will be overweight hmmmmm crazy!

ps: good luck with your interview and you should do fine!!!!

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Specializes in CVICU, Burns, Trauma, BMT, Infection control.
it was a girl in my class that had hyperthyroidism. but she was still accepted. She was a tee-tiny girl. hyperthyroidism can make you really thin sometimes. but as long as she took her meds she was okay and guess what she passed her boards last week. on the same note it was a girl that weighed 305 and she is a nurse now also. nobody's perfect and they shouldnt judged you because of your weight if thats how you have always been just tiny. i was always 5ft 3 90-100 pounds thru high school until i turned 25 (so i know how you feel) but as time went on i am 138 and now 30. (but i had to reach 105 to be in the military, you had to be height/weight range) its just that some folks arent meant to gain weight and have very high metabolisms. i was always considered underweight even though i ate the most in the house. but now i am in the correct BMI. i think the media has corrupted our minds to think that everyone should look a certain way....... and if they dont.... they "must have medical problems, eat too much, or dont eat enough." it shouldnt be that way. thats just my opinion. last, who made the BMI anyways? because if i pass 142 i will be overweight hmmmmm crazy!

ps: good luck with your interview and you should do fine!!!!

Go for it Cherry!:yeahthat:

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

Will they judge you? Of course. People judge one another on looks all the time.

Will it influence their decision on whether they admit you or not? Probably not, given a good record and interview, they are not likely to discriminate just because you're thin, providing you are healthy otherwise.

Go for it and good luck.

Nursing school is extremely stressful, you've got to come up with an eating pattern that is going to maintain your weight. You're going to break down physically, such as extreme fatigue, GI problems, and frequent colds with such weight fluctuations that you're describing.

Good luck.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Tele, Peds, LDRP.

Cherry, glad to hear you don't have a problem. Some people are underweight just like some people are overweight. It isn't any more right for someone to look at you and assume you have an eating disorder than it is to look at a heavy person and assume they are lazy, inactive, and survive on ho'ho's and double whoppers lol. Unfortunately, both instances happen. Best of luck in nursing!

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