Obesity

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I'm a charge nurse at night, plus the house supervisor, plus the ER nurse. I have a major problem. The RN traveler that takes patients on the med/surg floor is extremely obese and simply cannot perform the tasks required to take care of her patients. She's wonderful to her patients, has great skills, but just cannot move around to get her work done. Thus, I end up doing most of her work. Any suggestions?

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Specializes in ER.

Document what doesn't get done, and give it to the manager.

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New study out...cost of obesity $39 billion a year!

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Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.

Document, if you don't document, then it never happened.

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How about a little compassion and encouragment to loose weight?

Dave, who's got his flame retardent suit on for the flaming his remark will entail.

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Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.
Originally posted by MD Terminator

How about a little compassion and encouragment to loose weight?

Dave, who's got his flame retardent suit on for the flaming his remark will entail.

But until that would happen, if the nurse in question wants that to happen, what to do about the care that isn't getting done?

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Is it just purely their obesity preventing getting jobs done or is there an underlying issue?

Are you sure you are not using the excuse of their obesity to cover up the fact work doesn't get done, do you think if this person was not obese the work would get done??? Just some thoughts.

As someone has mentioned document everything, maybe approach this person and ask if they are coping with the work load, maybe they don't want to be seen as not coping and therefore won't ask for help.

Maybe just try not to judge the person and assume that the problem is due to their obesity, there could be a million reasons why jobs aren't done.

If it does turn out to be the obseity causing the problem, some support and a friendly ear about losing weight might be an idea.

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Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.

Originally posted by Karen30

Maybe just try not to judge the person and assume that the problem is due to their obesity, there could be a million reasons why jobs aren't done.

ITA

If it does turn out to be the obseity causing the problem, some support and a friendly ear about losing weight might be an idea.

But like i asked prior, what's to be done about the pt. care that is not getting done?

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Im curious...how obese is this person? I work with somne overweight people...very overweight, In fact our noc shift supervisor is well over 300..and she does her job..plus countless other tasks that are not asked of her.

What tasks is she not performing? Is she able to perform CPR if theres a code? If she cant...wow...something to think about yeah?

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Specializes in Geriatrics/Oncology/Psych/College Health.

I will step in early to hopefully keep this thread from going the way of other "obesity" threads. (This is a pre-emptive strike, not aimed at anyone.) The question could just as easily be worded, "What to do about a coworker who isn't able to perform his/her job because ___________ (whatever reason.)" I want to make sure no one takes the particular reason in this case personally.

Karen, since you are the last person who posted right before this, I'd like to commend your great response that it's best to report or discuss with the person merely what's not being done without speculating on why.

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It sounds like this has been a long standing problem not one that has developed overnight.

There is obviously a problem, and it needs solving. Yes it's unfortunate that this nurse isn't able to do her job properly, but by the sounds of it the caring nurse who has posted her problem on her has been covering to ensure the patients don't suffer. Unfortunaltely this is not acceptable and needs sorting, but is it not better to find out why there is a problem rather than condem the person before finding out why the problem has occured in the first place?

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Specializes in CCU/CVU/ICU.

Thats a sticky issue, and you're running the risk of being labeled 'prejudiced'....and any institution that reprimands, demotes, terminates, or otherwise messes with a person because they're obese is opening itself up to a big-fat (no pun intended) lawsuit...

Also, if you DO write this nurse up or otherwise document anything, please refrain from "...she's so fat that..."OR..."her obesiity caused her to.." :)

If i were you, i'd keep these thoughts to myself....even if you're right...

...but i totally see your point. Slow and/or lazy nurses (fat or skinny), can really get under your skin in certain situations...can make you want to scream.

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