Overweight Healthcare Workers

[EmpoweRN]

Imagine a weigh in as part of your employment application… followed by a reassessment throughout the year. Could this be a reality in the future? Since hospitals stopped hiring smokers - it does bring up the question: How far could employment requirements go?

Whilst hospital staff should be shining examples of health and happiness, the reality is, we are really just normal people; Some mothers and fathers, many of us struggling to manage long shifts combined with our other responsibilities.

Nurses work long hours, and throughout the day must put their needs aside for their patients, making it especially hard to stay healthy. I do believe it is possible to stay healthy and fit on the job. However, it does take a tremendous amount of planning, focus and discipline.

Some argue that patients will not accept our advice or education when they think we do not care for our own bodies as they think we should. In this situation, stick to the research and facts. Regardless of your own health issues, it does not have any effect on your patients.

[video=youtube_share;oC0f8QBLB3s]

[NurseOnAMotorcycle, ASN, RN]

How about cool tips and hacks?

For example, using a BVM on a guy with a thick beard in a code is hard. Use tegaderm to cover it to get a great seal for bagging.

Beard problems can be eliminated for BVM... - High Performance EMS | Facebook

[NurseOnAMotorcycle, ASN, RN]

Instead of judging and making each other feel less, why don't we lift each other up and educate and encourage?

How to decompress after a traumatic experience.

Finding the impossible to find vein.

Handling escalating situations/ de-escalating techniques.

How to talk to other caregivers when they snap at you.

How to talk to patients who have just been told devastating diagnoses.

Understanding type A personalities/understanding introverts.

Orientation and what to expect.

A day in the life of X specialty, understanding the other specialties.

NCLEX.

What to expect if you make a med error/if a patient falls/IV line infiltrates?

Why does it have to be "are you too fat to be a nurse"

[guest974915]

Agreed! I also found the perky 22y.o. in the video, four months out of nursing school, yet giving 'pearls' to us seasoned nurses, a little over the top and offensive!

[Elvish, BSN, DNP, RN, NP]

God forbid this sweet young thing end up having to have long-term corticosteroid therapy that causes her to gain 40lb and have a moonface. That's life, though. It happens and there but for the grace of God she goes.

[martymoose, BSN, RN]

ageism at its finest .........

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

Totally agree. The video seems just another way to try and present the same old argument and seems a bit self aggrandizing to boot, particularly since it is the OPs second post ever here. Shopping for fans I am guessing.

Not a fan here. I don't even accept the premise that hospital employees SHOULD be shining examples of health and fitness.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

It's a touchy subject for some. However, this article and the author's tones are light-hearted, sincere and informative.

Nothing wrong with bringing this topic up again IMO. I think it needs to be spoken of openly more often actually.

I mean... I'm a size 14/16... Hips to spare. But I know being healthy is important. Especially for those of us with families at home. I'm open to the truth of my weight and how it may effect my health and how I might work to change that because it's a positive thing. It is anything but shameful (shaming).

And pertaining to the patients not respecting an overweight nurse... There will always be patients that won't listen. It can go either way. If a slender nurse is giving advice to an obese patient regarding healthy living, you think he/she is gonna have their listening cap on?? Not likely... more likely, the patient will be defensive and feel as though this slimmer individual could not possibly relate. Hence, my opinion that this subject in general needs to be discussed more.

I don't understand why people get so frazzled over the idea of taking better care of their bodies. That's really all that it is. Living a better quality of life. Leading fam/patients by example.

Like the aforementioned comments, I do agree that an employment screening based on weight is very unlikely in the near future. There are just way too many factors that come into the mix in this light.

Take it or leave it. But snarl at the helpful hands that are trying to feed you sustainable knowledge and insight... Well that's just self-destructive.

Rant complete.

People don't get frazzled about the idea of taking better care of their bodies. They get irate over fat shaming, which seems to be the last bastion of allowable discrimination. If my patients don't want to listen to me because I'm slender and that don't think I can possibly relate to their weight struggles, that is their choice. If they won't listen because I'm fat and I couldn't possibly know what to do to be skinny or I would BE skinny, that's their choice.

In reality, my weight is the sum total of eating and fitness choices along with the health conditions I have and the meds I must take to treat them. And that's not anyone's business.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

Hi NurseOnAMotorcycle, what would you like to see?

You're going to be seeing a lot more videos.... not just from me, but from other creators, so if you let me know what you prefer to see, that would help :)

xoxo

~Caroline

I'd prefer not to see them at all. Is there a way to put them in a special category so they can easily be ignored?

[Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN]

What's wrong with the video? (Other than it may not resonate with everyone). Isn't it saying that we shouldn't judge or discriminate? And seemed directed at the presenter's peer group who might be judgmental?

I agree. Was there another video up?

The one I saw was not judgmental about overweight nurses and made the point that being overweight doesn't mean you are a bad nurse.

I don't get it.

[imenid37]

So your article is a thrill and a half. Peoples' bodies sizes are influenced by a multitude of factors. A lot of healthcare workers who work shifts become overweight. Non-night time sleep, staying up for long periods, and a varying bedtime are all associated with weight gain. The 24/7 nature of nursing and other health occupations makes this a dilemma. Not everyone can work 7-3, eat a yummy organic meal, and bop on over to the gym after work. If there's a weight requirement , there will be a huge shortage of healthcare workers.

Many nurses and other folks in healthcare put themselves last. Many are very giving people. They are caring for kids. elderly parents, and maybe even neighbours. It's their nature. Sure it is their "fault" they are not exercising and eating "clean." However, we do not make choices we do in a vacuum. We are often under pressure. Often the nurse steps up to help when others don't. I would love to have a BMI of 24, but it ain't happening anytime soon. There are things I can try to do and make some better choices, but at this point in life I am not going to be 5', 51 years old, and 100 lbs. I'd love to get down to 150. As I have gotten older, I realize that health is important. Outer beauty is not. As you go through life what you discover is most important is what really made of in spirit. It can't be found at the gym or Ulta. I am sorry I am overweight, but not sorry I worked nights, took care of hundreds of moms and babies, cared for my chronically ill daughter, and helped my elderly parents. Oh yeah and I have a husband and two other daughters. I have given them a bit of attention too over the past 30 years. I also went back to school in my early 40's and again a couple of years ago. My choice. I wanted to do that more than I wanted to be 100 lbs again.

Why do we always have to look at each other so critically? Being fit takes discipline and focus. I think being a nurse does too. I am happy you are healthy and slim. I was at one time too. I hope you continue your travels onto the road to good health and great looks. Sometimes, however, life happens. Please don't be so foolish to think that us "fatties" lack discipline and focus. It isn't that simple. Many people have a lot of balls they are juggling in the air. There is something to be said about accepting others where they are at and hoping they do the same for you.

[tnbutterfly - Mary, BSN]

Agreed! I also found the perky 22y.o. in the video, four months out of nursing school, yet giving 'pearls' to us seasoned nurses, a little over the top and offensive!

God forbid this sweet young thing end up having to have long-term corticosteroid therapy that causes her to gain 40lb and have a moonface. That's life, though. It happens and there but for the grace of God she goes.

I'd prefer not to see them at all. Is there a way to put them in a special category so they can easily be ignored?

I am amazed at all the rude comments. As one poster said.......ageism at its finest.. Although I would not call it anyone's finest.

The OP is older and has more experience than you think. All of you were younger once upon a time.....and new to the site. Would you appreciate this type of posting directed at you??? I think not.

No one is forcing you to look at the video.......or to post. If you do not care for this or other videos, I suggest you bypass them without making comments.

Further comments posted in this vein will be removed.

[BabyFood26]

People don't get frazzled about the idea of taking better care of their bodies. They get irate over fat shaming, which seems to be the last bastion of allowable discrimination.

I think we interpreted the intent of the OP differently. I am considered overweight. I, like some here I'm sure, also have health issues that get in the way of my weight. However, I did not feel as though there was any fat shaming going on. Everyone is entitled to their own feelings on the topic though, but as I said in my previous comment, this is a touchy subject. And that's Ok.