Obese Nurses

SleeepyRN · May 1, 2016

Yes. You have to have a BMI of 20 for women and 22 for men. Studies show critical thinking and task performance are directly related to weight. I personally refuse care from a nurse who is overweight, as he/she cannot possibly care for me safely.

MidLifeRN2012 · May 1, 2016

Is the OP for real ?? This has to be a joke ...right ?

guest769224 · May 1, 2016

It's illegal to hire an obese nurse in Illinois. Don't take the risk

roser13, ASN, RN · May 1, 2016

Yes. You have to have a BMI of 20 for women and 22 for men. Studies show critical thinking and task performance are directly related to weight. I personally refuse care from a nurse who is overweight, as he/she cannot possibly care for me safely.

I believe Illinois also requires shiny, well-oiled hair.

SleeepyRN · May 1, 2016

I believe Illinois also requires shiny, well-oiled hair.

Yep. I have to regularly pay a lot of money at the salon to maintain this critical requirement. I just tell myself as I hand over my debit card, "It's making me a better nurse."

nutella, MSN, RN · May 1, 2016

I believe Illinois also requires shiny, well-oiled hair.

I thought it has to be free - flowing?

AlphaM · May 1, 2016

Actually in my field of nursing (aeromedical) we have a strict weight policy, BMI cannot be >30. This is done because of the helicopter's weight and balance requirements as well as the mechanics of working in tight quarters. Most do not like it but it's the price we pay for safety. This stupid six pack though makes my stomach look like a washboard

Larry2016 · May 1, 2016

This is garbage. The only reason weight requirement is implemented for safety reasons is life flight nursing (as per AlphsM post). Ever see Terry Foster from untold stories of the ER? (side note he really is an (ER nurse).

I wanted to do life flight, but I have a double whammy. Even if I were to lose 20 lbs, I'm 6-4 and can't fit in most coptors

PS: if we went by military standards, there would be a huge nursing shortage. A woman who is 5-7 and over 160 is considered overweight by military standards, which is usually the basis of height/weight/BMI charts.

In my view, this is a better way to calculate it (SBMI)

Calculate your BMI, correctly rated according to age and sex

AlphaM · May 1, 2016

This is garbage. The only reason weight requirement is implemented for safety reasons is life flight nursing (as per AlphsM post). Ever see Terry Foster from untold stories of the ER? (side note he really is an (ER nurse).
I wanted to do life flight, but I have a double whammy. Even if I were to lose 20 lbs, I'm 6-4 and can't fit in most coptors
PS: if we went by military standards, there would be a huge nursing shortage. A woman who is 5-7 and over 160 is considered overweight by military standards, which is usually the basis of height/weight/BMI charts.
In my view, this is a better way to calculate it (SBMI)
Calculate your BMI, correctly rated according to age and sex

Good points Larry and I agree with most. Oh and we have a few 6-4 guys in our service, they are good contortionists hahahahahaha

SleeepyRN · May 1, 2016

Actually in my field of nursing (aeromedical) we have a strict weight policy, BMI cannot be >30. This is done because of the helicopter's weight and balance requirements as well as the mechanics of working in tight quarters. Most do not like it but it's the price we pay for safety. This stupid six pack though makes my stomach look like a washboard

Yes, flight nursing is obviously an exception.

SleeepyRN · May 1, 2016

I thought it has to be free - flowing?

You're right. The nurse practice act states that hair style is specific to race and ethnicity. However, current research is being conducted into which race makes for a better nurse. They are close to an answer, so we will soon see a weaning process of certain certain races. Then everyone's hair will be the same too.

Happy side note: I lost 5 pounds in our work's monthly weighing in process, so I got a .50 cent raise.