There are several big ladies in my class. While I'm not overweight, I sure don't see why it would hinder performance in NS. As a matter of fact, being tiny seems like it would be a bigger problem. As a guy, I'm always asked to help with heavy patients and if I had to choose between someone that's 100 lbs or 185 (my weight) to help, I'd pick the bigger person every time. For health reasons I class being overweight with smoking (I started back) in that it seems like it would be hard to teach patients to make healthy lifestyle choices when we are not making them ourselves. Good luck in NS !
Though I am not in nusing school anymore, I know exactly how you feel. I've been a nurse for over 3 years now, but not so long ago I was in nursing school and was overweight. It didn't stop me from excelling in school, graduating with honors, and passing the NCLEX on the first try, so don't let it stop you either!! Since then, I have lost 60 lbs. and am not overweight anymore. For me, it was really hard and sort of hypocritical to counsel patients on the importance of eating properly and participating in physical activity if I wasn't even doing it myself. So I made changes in my life. This may not be the path for everyone though. Be happy with yourself, focus on school, pass the NCLEX, and be the best nurse you can be. Good luck!!
I'm bigger than anyone who's posted so far to this thread (big enough that I won't even tell you, but suffice it to say, much bigger), and I was very nervous about skills lab when we first started, and there are lots of skinny girls in my class. But I got over it by taking the following attitude:
"Yo, girls, it may not be pretty, but you're going to see a LOT of this type of body when you're a nurse, so you better get used to it. Unless you're going into pediatrics, you won't have the luxury of doing draw sheet repositioning on someone who weighs less than 100 pounds. I *AM* the patient you're going to be dealing with, so start practicing now." Of course, I need to lose a lot of weight, and I'm aware of that. But in the meantime, they might as well get a dose of reality. I like to think that I'm contributing to their learning experience.
That's exactly how I look at this same situation.
I too am very big, and slightly bigger than the original poster. At first I did feel very out of place among my peers (always have), but then I realized that my size isn't going to hinder my nursing skills and I can provide a very real practice assessment to my fellow nursing students. Plus, everyone is actually really accepting, even if it is only because they know that they're going to need me to help them out one of these days.
I am so glad you posted. I too am not on the skinny side yet I have several classmates that are. And they love to eat healthy, always talking about how many calories are in this and that. Whatever! Love your body, its the only one you've got.
Me too. I am in my last class and it is long. My classmates bring in their trailmix, oranges and stuff. I bring in REAL food and everyone is always saying how good my food smells. Of course I want to lose weight and eat healthy but that will come in due time. Right now I am just trying to survive school and NCLEX.
My class has all shapes and sizes... personally, I'm 5'9" and wear sz lg clothing (so I'm definitely not small)... nursing school is so stressful and demanding that it IS hard to eat right, exercise, etc. A group of students and I decided that we wanted to become healthier, not to become skinny, but to best be able to serve as nurses and set a good example. We formed an exercise group, meeting in the school's gym (which is free) during our hour or two breaks from class. So far it's been a GREAT stress reliever, plus we're able to put our books on the treadmill/elliptical and study, while exercising! Not sure if any of you could implement the same type of thing, but if you are, it's a small way to work exercise into a busy schedule! I'm down 10 lbs so far! At any rate, love yourself for who you are and who God made you:) If you're wanting to become healthier, do it for you, not for anyone else:) Hope everyone is having a GREAT school year!
Thank you so much to who ever started this thread. I just got accepted into an accelerated nursing program that starts in Jan. I've been overly concerned because I am overweight. I was afraid that I was going to be the only one overweight there. I am trying to lose weight and so far I am doing a good job. But this thread made me feel so much better.
Thank you, already I have gone from constant 8/10 pain to virtually pain-free, but it has been a long road and I don't wish it on anyone!
I don't mean to be preachy, but back mechanics are sort of my soapbox issue now because of all this. I'm sure my clinical partners are sick of me yelling "BEND YOUR KNEES!!" at them when they lift :chuckle
You're welcome! :)
I am also an EMT, but I'm not currently working at it, due to the stress of taking a full load in Nursing school. I'm maxed out on credit hours. It is *essential* to lift patients on the stretcher, and *especially* into the truck with those strong leg muscles. I think that might be another reason I'm overweight: a LOT of it is muscle. lol Still no excuse, though!
I have been worrying about this a lot since I started the full time day program this year. According to my doctor, I am 80 lbs over weight which equates to about a xl for me. But all the girls are super skinny in my class too. I am also taking nutrition. I have decided to just make small changes. I don't want to "diet" because that is temporary. I am trying to make a lifestyle change. Over a month ago, I stopped drinking energy drinks, then the next week I gave up fast food, then after that I switched to whole wheat products. Last week I started taking the stairs at school. Someday, I hope I will have a regular exercise routine and quit smoking. I have not lost any weight so far but I am sticking to it because it is all around better for me. Hopefully the weight will start coming off soon?!?
I have been worrying about this a lot since I started the full time day program this year. According to my doctor, I am 80 lbs over weight which equates to about a xl for me. But all the girls are super skinny in my class too. I am also taking nutrition. I have decided to just make small changes. I don't want to "diet" because that is temporary. I am trying to make a lifestyle change. Over a month ago, I stopped drinking energy drinks, then the next week I gave up fast food, then after that I switched to whole wheat products. Last week I started taking the stairs at school. Someday, I hope I will have a regular exercise routine and quit smoking. I have not lost any weight so far but I am sticking to it because it is all around better for me. Hopefully the weight will start coming off soon?!?
I have the same problem. I try to lose weight, but absolutely nothing happens. Last semester, I started counting calories AND exercising. I would exercise about 45 minutes a day, at least 3 - 4 times a week. And NOTHING happened. I was SO confused. I even stopped drinking pop and started drinking all water. I did it for an entire semester, and didn't lose even ONE pound. I used an elliptical machine when I exercised, too. And I kept my heart rate up. When I didn't use the elliptical, I ran on the treadmill. I don't know what's wrong with me and my body?! Finally, I just got so disgusted that I gave up.
Your body is different than mine, so I'm sure you'll start losing some soon! Hang in there, and don't give up! (Like I did, lol). :)
Count me in! I'm a 2x, and while my first reaction was to be defensive, I think that the support of my peers has been the most helpful. There is this one gorgeous, beautiful, tall, Vogue-model in my class, and I thought she'd be unfriendly. How wrong I was!!! She has been my friend through these four semesters, and explains that the women in her family are larger than I. She helped pave the way for me to be confident in my skills, my intelligence, and my capability. For the first time, I'm using my voice (probably louder than I should given that it is an RN Graduate program), but we all go the other way before coming back to center.
I'm a lucky one. I thought it was going to be all Hollywood and Dr 90210. Instead, it has turned out to be very real and for the most part, very kind.
This is my first post here. There are plenty of big and skinny ppl in my class. I am a large. When doing each other's BP in lab, one skinny small girl said to me: "smaller ppl tend to have lower BP". I know Htn can exist in anyone regardless of sz. I am on BP meds to make mine normal, but it really hit me where I live.
It is *essential* to lift patients on the stretcher, and *especially* into the truck with those strong leg muscles. I think that might be another reason I'm overweight: a LOT of it is muscle. lol Still no excuse, though!
but I am sticking to it because it is all around better for me. Hopefully the weight will start coming off soon?!?
studently42
56 Posts
There are several big ladies in my class. While I'm not overweight, I sure don't see why it would hinder performance in NS. As a matter of fact, being tiny seems like it would be a bigger problem. As a guy, I'm always asked to help with heavy patients and if I had to choose between someone that's 100 lbs or 185 (my weight) to help, I'd pick the bigger person every time. For health reasons I class being overweight with smoking (I started back) in that it seems like it would be hard to teach patients to make healthy lifestyle choices when we are not making them ourselves. Good luck in NS !