Nursing and height

bobnurse · Apr 11, 2005

nurses come in all shapes and sizes.........You'll be fine........

MissPiggy · Apr 11, 2005

Our DON is about 4'10'. She has been a nurse forever with no complaints. And to top it off, we work at a psych hospital! I wouldn't give it a second thought.

Jo Dirt · Apr 11, 2005

I'm barely 5'2" and am about as wide as I am tall. I haven't had any trouble getting a job.

z's playa · Apr 11, 2005

You are always advised to not move pts larger than yourself or at least larger than 1/3 your size so you will have help. I'm 5 10 and I intend on asking for help too. Your back is the only one you have.....so regardless of your height..you can always hurt it. :)

Z

dazzle256 · Apr 11, 2005

You are always advised to not move pts larger than yourself or at least larger than 1/3 your size so you will have help. I'm 5 10 and I intend on asking for help too. Your back is the only one you have.....so regardless of your height..you can always hurt it. :)
Z

Very true about your back. Treat it well or you can't work.

Is it just me or has anyone else noticed that most of the people that hurt their backs are usually the taller persons? I was talking to a girl at work about that and we were wondering if it had something to do with center of gravity.....or whatever.

z's playa · Apr 11, 2005

Very true about your back. Treat it well or you can't work.
Is it just me or has anyone else noticed that most of the people that hurt their backs are usually the taller persons? I was talking to a girl at work about that and we were wondering if it had something to do with center of gravity.....or whatever.

As a tallperson I find I tend to do more because of my own illusion of strength and the illusion of others to call on me when they're in need of "muscle". They don't notice I have barely enough muscle on me to keep myself upright...they just see my height. So I'm always reaching for this...reaching for that..lifting this and that.....the ratio to do it improperly gets bigger because I do more and do it more often. I know..no excuse but I learnt the hard way. I'm in physio right now and making progress. :)

flashpoint · Apr 11, 2005

I'm 4'9" and I do just fine...with proper mechanics and a good weight training program, there is nothing you cannot do that a taller person can do...

danu3 · Apr 11, 2005

I'm thinking about going into nursing but I'm only 4'11". Could I still be a good nurse even though it would be too difficult for me to move larger patients (i.e. anyone over 5'5" - LOL)?

There are some height requirement but being 4'11" is fine.

Basically you don't want to be like 2 foot tall or 12 feet tall. :) Anywhere from 4 foot to 7 foot is fine.

Lots of it is techniques. When my mom was sick, one nurse who is all skin and bone (no muscle) moved my mom (who is overweight) as if my mom was a piece of feather. I mean talk about 100% pure techniques. Actually it is very facinating to watch someone who is 100% pure techniques, I was sort of in awe...

-Dan

twinkle · Apr 12, 2005

Thanks for the replies! I know that nursing is very physically demanding so I'm glad to hear that my height wouldn't be a hindrance. I guess I should hit the gym so I won't have to ask for too much help. :)

studious · Apr 12, 2005

Over here, no matter how tall or small, you are not (SUPPOSED), to lift anything heavier than your pen. If you need to move a patient, mechanical aids need to be used with two people. I know, what a load of twaddle, it goes on.

You need to be careful though and be sensible, use the aids provided because if you hurt you back and have not followed policy, you can't sue.

z's playa · Apr 12, 2005

Thanks for the replies! I know that nursing is very physically demanding so I'm glad to hear that my height wouldn't be a hindrance. I guess I should hit the gym so I won't have to ask for too much help. :)

Make sure you ALWAYS ask for help! Even if you turn into the Hulk :)