Ok, so there's this obese patient...

Specialties MICU

Published

....I'm caring for. She's approx 400lbs, and since I'm in the prn pool, naturally I am assigned to her for the night. So as usual, I dive right in and bathing her, cleaning her room. I normally don't mind as long as there's some help to turn her. Well, I'm finished with her front, and I come out to request help in turning. We need about 4 people to turn this woman as she is too weak to help.

Well, one nurse says, "I've taken care of her 4 days last week and my back hurts" She turns her back to me and I just stood there with my mouth open. Luckily a few of the staff took pity on me and came to my rescue.

I have said nothing to her, and I've only worked with her here once before and got the same attitude.

I'm definately considering a full time position in this hospital as the prn work isn't really my thing. I thought I would be able to deal with the attitudes, but it's become too much, and I really think the patient suffers.

Anyhow, just wanted to vent. I'm not going to say anything as I thought for sure my mouth would get me in trouble.

Thanks for letting me bend your ears, or eyes in this case.:uhoh3:

Hi - thanks for the reply. I will start over as I accidentally lost the last explanation before it was "posted."

In this country - I am guessing that close to half the population would be deemed as overweight. It's my understanding that the percentage of "morbidly obese" people is about 2.2% of the entire population which means that roughly 5 million people could be classified as morbidly obese in the United States - something that we are definitely not proud of.

Morbid obesity is defined as having a BMI of 40kg/m2. In the average person that would be approximately 45kg overweight. That's highly variable.

Bariatric refers to the care of morbidly obese patients. This requires special equipment and large beds, etc. Hill-Rom (a major manufacturer of medical equipment) is now developing a bed to accommodate a 1000 lb (455kg) person. It's truly unbelievable.

When I visited the Hill-Rom factory in Indiana last Oct, we fit 3 people comfortably in one of the larger wheelchairs. I took a picture that I can email to you if you'd like. Can't put it here.

In the US, obesity is a national epidemic. There is exponential growth in diabetes (especially Type II - even in young kids). I doubt that you have seen someone THAT large in the UK. I visited a friend in Manchester a few years ago. I was about 53 kg at the time and I was generally the largest person anywhere I went with few exceptions. Here, that is relatively small by comparison. We went many places between the Lake District and London.

I could go forever about this topic especially since it directly affects me - and will continue to affect me. Although I have no problems to speak of from the cervical fusion last year, there is the ever-present risk of having the same thing happen again. The patients are only getting bigger all the time.

Did I answer your question or am I simply rambling? Sorry.

Hi

Thanks for that info - its very interesting and worrying and must be distressing to see such a waste of active living. We too use Hill-Rom where I work. The UK is supposed be be going the way af the US - weight wise :rolleyes:

cheers

Kay the 2nd :)

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