Fat Lpn Student

Nursing Students LPN/LVN Students

Published

Yes I know... Just let it go. But after school is over - long 8 hour days and your main worry should be about books and studying I have one extra load. Dreading the next day of school.

Why did I think fellow nursing students would be better than average everyday people? They are not, in fact probally worse, yes I'am fat not a "little" fat, I weigh 300 pounds. I'am treated with disgust by the other students and the 2 teachers. When classes first started this quarter and this is my first quarter of nursing classes, no one would sit by me, it was really embarassing. I've made "friends" in all my prereq classes no problem and those classrooms were one fourth the size of this room. About a week and a half went by and I decided to seek out somebody to sit by, just having a conversation with a few of the people in the room. I now sit with a group of 3 girls that seem to include me fairly well, but not at first. I felt the usual "fat" person disease routine but after several days of acting like a human, they decided I must be... human that is.

Today something happened that has been bothering me, I really don't look for problems and usually brush off the rudest of comments, but one of my teachers is always talking to me in a demeanor way. And it not just her way of talking, I watch how she talks to others and she doesn't act that way. She encourages us to ask questions or add anything we would like to lecture at any time, for the first time I did today... not really trusting her because of the way she is with me. After I said my little story she made a comment "Now that was hardly wasting our time about." People share everything and anything and she has never said that to anybody else. I'am so use to it that I don't have a tear to shed for my own raw emotion to protect my insides anymore. I've been beaten down so bad that there isn't too many words or statements that could get me. But I have to admit sitting here tonight trying to do some reading for class, I'am not enthused as usual, she did kick me down a bit. A nursing teacher, somebody that I'am trying so hard to respect for her insight and knowledge rip out some of them feelings all overweight people feel when judged so harshly. Yes I could go on a diet, I did not get fat by overeating, I was sick for a period of 2 years and bedridden, few pounds already on a few more here and there, I've had a hard time getting well. Now I am healthy, except for the weight and I almost died but I survived the odds.

Why can't they see a person inside of me?:cry::crying2::angryfire:madface:

Specializes in Med-Surg, Telemetry, Stepdown, ICU.

I wouldn't gratify their insulting mannerisms with even a second thought. These people will be with you for a short amount of time in your life, and while they can choose to be disrespectful and rude, you have the choice on how to respond to that.

Specializes in Community Health.

First, I do want to say I have a lot of empathy for what you are going through...I have struggled with my weight all my life and I know what it feels like to be "singled out" because of how you look.

I think that, unfortunately, being in this field you are going to have to learn to develop a thicker skin about it. Number one, being a nurse people are always going to hold you to an impossible "standard" and if you aren't the walking embodiment of health you will probably get called a hypocrite by some for dispensing health advice. You are probobly going to have it thrown in your face by combative patients...it's unfortunate but it comes with the territory, you know? All it means is you might have to prove yourself a little more than the little size 2's in your class, even though that might seem unfair. There are some who are going to think that you can't do the job competently because of our size and it's up to you to prove otherwise. My aunt was an amazing nurse, she got national recognition as a community health nurse-and she weighs well over 300 lbs.

You just need to get to the point where you are comfortable enough in your own skin that things like that just roll off your back...whether that means getting healthy for YOURSELF, or just learning to love and accept your size, that is the number one thing that you need to be concerned with and once you reach that point, you will be golden.

(BTW-I was teetering on 200 lbs myself before I started school and I've lost about 15 lbs since I've started without even trying...you will be running around in clinicals and you won't have time to eat once things get into full swing! :cool:)

Specializes in HomeHealth / geriatrics.

I am so sorry that people are treating you badly I have had problems with weight myself I am by no means skinny . I am very curvy or plump for better words I wear my weight with pride at 150 and 5'5 people gawk at me because I am not your typical skinny girl aka malnurished type. My DH is a trim latin hotty he is significantly different in size then me. But loves me and embraces my curves and womanly figure . I say who GIVES a RATs behind what people perceive you , your beautiful no matter what they say or the looks they give. Keep your chin up and get school finished and move on to better future as a fresh new nurse . And be a advocate for us real girls with curves and be proud of who you are !!!!!!

personally, if it were me, and i am a raging ***** lately. i would document every incidence of prejudice or mistreatment by your instructor and go talk to the director of the program. weight discrimination should not be tolerated. and why should you have to work harder to change a teachers prejudice. if the director of the program doesnt change the situation you could either go to the press. (every lpn program director has nightmares about bad press.) or you could sue.

You would hope by the time someone graduates high school this kind of childish behavior would stop. The other students in your class & ESPECIALLY the INSTRUCTOR should be ashamed of themselves. I hope that people are getting into nursing for reasons other than it is a booming career field. The caring & compassion of nursing may be getting stepped on for the prospects of job security & greed. You seem better than that - you are compassionate about your feelings, and I am sure you will make a wonderful nurse.

Specializes in At the moment, TLC..

I too am a large woman in nursing school and I feel bad that you are going through this. Your teacher is not worth giving another thought, however I would keep asking questions, others may have the same and are to shy to ask and my darker side would like to see her get fluster and my questions! {WEG}. This said the only person that you should be concerned about is you and your studies and if there is something that you are not happy with, find a way to change it.

Just on more thing, I never said I was a nice person, others do! HEHEHEHEHEh

Take care of your self.

Toodles!

Specializes in Finding my niche....

Without compromising your integratey, you may just have to put someone in their place (whether in private or subtley out in the open). IF SOMETHING OR SOMEONE IS TAKING YOUR SUNSHINE AWAY, you may have to take a proactive approach and speak up. Most times we have to let things roll off, because we know that some things just don't make or break us. The world is rough so, we all take our hits. HOWEVER--DON'T ALLOW ANYONE OR ANYTHING TO MAKE YOU FEEL SO BAD THAT YOU CAN'T SEE PAST IT. DON'T GIVE THEM THE SATISIFACTION!

Good Luck to you and God Bless you! Keep up with your studies and do what you have to. The HATERS don't put food in you mouth, clothes on your back or a roof over your head. JUST KNOW THAT YOU'RE IN SCHOOL FOR A GREATER PURPOSE; TO IMPROVE YOURSELF. DISMISS THEM. Remember that.

Don't let people take away your dreams, and try to think more of yourself than to be so kicked down by how others treat you. I'm sure this is easier said, and I have to admit that I have never been overweight. I'm one of those small people (who exercises a lot!)but I would never discriminate against someone's size. My only concern for you is your own health, and whether or not the people you take care of in the future will have confidence in your ability to take care of them if you are not properly taking care of yourself. Don't turn to food as comfort because food is not your friend in that instance. It is unfortunate that you are in this predicament through no real fault of your own, but the sooner you can take control of your health, that will be one more obstacle you have overcome and will make you that much stronger as a person. I know you can do it! Part of succeeding in life is rising above others mentally and overcoming the obstacles in your path. There will always be something that gets to you on such a level that you want to throw in the towel - DON'T. In the end, you will have given them the satisfaction of weeding you out, and only you will suffer for it. You are worth more than that!!!

im fat. i weigh 198 lbs... and im 5ft 2... but i never ever ever felt discriminated against due to my weight... i think its about attitude and knowledge...personality... let your self shine for you.. not your weight... my teachers always take me seriously and i am relatively popular with my peers.. you need to forget about you weight...just be you.:yeah:

Specializes in LTC, rehab, medical review.

Awwww hun, I am so sorry you are going thru this...I know the feeling. I have made friends in my class, but they arent close friends, more like clinical aquaintances that I have never met outside of school. I am overweight myself, and have struggled with my weight since I was little. I am currently 31 weeks pregnant, and when I told the nurse I was with at clinicals this (my instructor wants me to inform all the nurses I am with of this just in case there are underlying conditions with my assigned pts that I shouldn't deal with that she isnt aware of) and the nurse looks at me and said, "Gee you don't look pregnant at all! I would have never guessed! I just thought you were heavy!" I laughed, but it really hurt. I kno I am fat, but I dont need it thrown in my face. Esp being as pregnant as I am...with my 4th child, mind you, so I should at least look like a FAT pregnant person, not just fat...:p And the girls in my clinical are these tiny little things and they always go on about they need to lose weight and I am just sitting there thinking I would give anything to weigh what they do. BLAH! I know I can say try not to let it get to you till I am blue in the face, but speaking personally, I kno it doesnt really help because I know it hurts no matter what. I know that it hurts a lot, just try to look toward your graduation and what you are doing for yourself and your future. I just try to know that I will be done in 7 weeks and will be able to graduate and I look forward to that. If you ever want to talk, feel free to msg me.

~Missy

Specializes in home health, LTC, assisted living.
:eek: (((((HUGGS)))) I bet you are a beautiful person!!!!!!! and your nursing instructor is RUDE!!! I can empathize with you and maybe a few others could too, I am an older student and feel shunned by a few because of my age (I must remind them of their moms) but yet there are always one, two or three who don't mind sitting by me or asking me to be a lab partner. So it is not just your weight, there are other reasons people are clicky.
Specializes in home health, LTC, assisted living.
awwww hun, i am so sorry you are going thru this...i know the feeling. i have made friends in my class, but they arent close friends, more like clinical aquaintances that i have never met outside of school. i am overweight myself, and have struggled with my weight since i was little. i am currently 31 weeks pregnant, and when i told the nurse i was with at clinicals this (my instructor wants me to inform all the nurses i am with of this just in case there are underlying conditions with my assigned pts that i shouldn't deal with that she isnt aware of) and the nurse looks at me and said, "gee you don't look pregnant at all! i would have never guessed! i just thought you were heavy!" i laughed, but it really hurt. i kno i am fat, but i dont need it thrown in my face. esp being as pregnant as i am...with my 4th child, mind you, so i should at least look like a fat pregnant person, not just fat...:p and the girls in my clinical are these tiny little things and they always go on about they need to lose weight and i am just sitting there thinking i would give anything to weigh what they do. blah! i know i can say try not to let it get to you till i am blue in the face, but speaking personally, i kno it doesnt really help because i know it hurts no matter what. i know that it hurts a lot, just try to look toward your graduation and what you are doing for yourself and your future. i just try to know that i will be done in 7 weeks and will be able to graduate and i look forward to that. if you ever want to talk, feel free to msg me.

~missy

and don't you wish some of these people would keep their big "trap" shut! :twocents:

+ Add a Comment