Overweight Nurse?

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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Hello all, this is my first post to the site so I'm a bit nervous but I want some real answers from those in the field, and I don't want it sugar-coated as some of my friends/family may have been doing.

Long story short: I am morbidly obese (over 300 lbs) and have been working on getting in better shape over the past year. While I have lost some weight, it's a slow process. The reason for my recent determination, aside from WANTING to be healthier, is that I want to be a nurse (with all my heart) and I do not want my weight to limit me in providing top quality care to anyone. I also know the perceptions people have of obese people in the medical field (not to mention anywhere else).

In the meantime, I am just finishing up on my pre-nursing classes this coming Fall and have applied to the Nursing program (will find out by October if accepted).

My question: I am wondering if there is anyone else on this site that is an overweight nurse and what struggles they may or may not have. For those who are not overweight, are there any immediate issues you see with someone of my size?

Thank you for your honesty and any words of wisdom you may have. :)

Good idea Miranda! After all, the OP didn't even ask about PCOS! :)

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I think that if you work hard and have determination and love for Nursing, you will be just as amazing as the skinniest nurse! It may prove to be a little bit more challenging, but I feel as you learn and overcome each challenge it makes you a stronger and better person. Congrats on your dedication on your pre-reqs! And good luck to you on your weight loss Journey ;) I am sure you will make an incredible Nurse!

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You are all amazing. Thank you so much for your honesty, I was pleasantly surprised to find such encouragement! :) You all have given me a new-found confidence. Much appreciated!

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I think the key here is that you desire to get healthy and you are working on it. That deserves a :yeah:

As long as you continue to work on it, I don't think it's going to be an issue.

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Specializes in Med/Surge, Geriatrics(LTC), Pediatricts,.

I'm an overwieght nurse too. When I first started in the nursing field, I was just "a little bit" overwieght, and then as the years went by, working night shift, I packed on the pounds, to a top wt of 350 pounds. I was so bad health wise I was in worse shape than my pts I cared for. I was a liability to the company I worked for, as well as a danger to my pts. When I'd be told of a pt down the hall who needed my attention, I'd have to stop outside the room before entering to catch my breath. I was always tired, not just from working night shift, but from ill health. I developed arthritis in my knee's. I was so bad, I actualy made my funeral arrangements. Then my family stepped in, and stopped "sugar coating" things, and forced me to do something about my wt issue. That was 15 years ago, today, all I'd have to do is claim disability and go on welfare, and just pack the pounds on more. I'm glad my family didn't enbale me to keep on that track.

In this field even though there are a lot of us who are overweight, being morbidly obese can cost you a job, or even admission to nursing school. This is the plain truth. So, stay on track, and get fit, loose the weight.

If your nurse was telling you for your health you need to loose wt, and if she/he were a fatty, would you listen to him/her? I know I wouldn't, and I didn't. When I was in the hospital, the dietitian told me all sorts of foods to stay away from to loose wt. (I was in for a lap-chole, and had complecations, I also had been on wt loss program for about 8 months prior to crisis, and had lost 150# by this time) I just laughed at the dietitian, and told her she didn't have the right to tell me what I could and couldn't eat, if she wasn't going to go on a wt loss program herself. She was around 400# and had about a 56 inch waist line.

The truth of the matter is, your pts won't take you sereousely if you are trying to talk to them about wt loss if you aren't sereous about it yourself. Now, I'm "average" not so overweight I'm out of breath and can't do my job, but I'm not a "10" either. At 52 I'm happy to be in size 14. And have fun on free time going for bike rides, hikes, campouts, and other activities I couldn't do when I was 350+pounds. And this is a testemony to the pt who claims they can't loose the wt, you will be able to say "yes, you can, I did!"

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Specializes in LTC, Medical, Rehab, Psych.

Hello all,

I'm not overweight but I know that many nurses are and this is something that has struck me over the years I've worked in healthcare (not always as a nurse). I've wondered if it has much to do with the caregiver phenomenon: So busy taking care of others that we forget to care for ourselves. This can manifest as any other type of problem but weight issues are so much more difficult for women anyway.....

So I congratulate any woman who is aware of her difficulties and chooses to deal with them. I know it can't be easy. Just remember that you NEED to take care of yourself NOW- not wait to become the patient of another nurse. Good luck to all!

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I managed a nurse (not my hire) was was morbidly obese I mean over 400lbs. she could barely walk down the hall without gasping for breath. If an emergency occurred she was unable to help effectively If you are this overweight I would discourage you from being a nurse - not safe for you or your patients. I also had to deal to with complaints from other staff about her hygiene - which I am very sure was difficult as my director pointed out she was unable to fit in a bath tub or shower.

I am not saying you are a bad person or anything about your character - simply that being morbidly obese is not compatible with safe nursing.

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My weight is with in normal limits, I work out, and I eat fairly healthy. That being said:

In my second week on the floor I threw out my back. (working as a CNA)

Moral of the story:

Use proper lifting techniques and proper body mechanics. They will be a career saver.

There are so many reasons to do things to take care of your self and it sounds like you are making great choices. Do not let anything hold you back from getting to where you want to go. You can change and you are not defined by your waist size.

I start Nursing school in a couple of weeks and I am scared to death! But I know I can be a great nurse and I know that I can overcome challenges! You can too!

Go get 'em girl!

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Specializes in Case Manager/Administrator.

There is so much variance with the human body. I say think about how you perform your activities of daily living now. Can you do house work without stopping for over an hour? Do you walk alot? I know some very overweight nurses, doctors, teachers...people. I am not skinny, not obese my husband says I'm just right. You maybe just right too. I say go for it, follow your dream. As you beging to get more excerise you will be able to do more. Do not let anything stop you. Get a note from your MD and GO FOR IT, it will be a pleasure working with you someday.

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Specializes in Med/surg, ER/ED,rehab ,nursing home.

Are you 6 ft plus in height? Can't just go on weight alone. Some of us are solid as a rock and obese. Others are marshmallow squishy...not as good. But the extra weight will make it more difficult to go up and down the halls, getting close to your patient, pushing beds down the hall, etc. All of that may not be a bother much at first, but it will take a toll on you. I am considered obese at 210. But I had the strength and endurance more so than some younger and thinner nurses. I did not find that it was held against me by my patients, but it has been a problem with some of the supervisors. BTW, my last supervisor made me look like Twiggy next to her bulk. So we all can do well with our weight. If I could do it again, I would like to have been more at 160 lbs. Working night shift is not the best to hold off weight gain either. So I would suggest that you do lose the weight, and get your strenght built up.

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Specializes in home health, public health, Parrish nsg.

of all things to worry about in relation to nursing school this is the least. As long as you are healthy, no worries. I have been as much as 372 pounds. Really I can do whatever I need to, maybe not as fast as skinny minnie but that is A OK. Plus I have worked with a ton of petite women that have more troubles with perforning their duties than I do.

It is great that you want to live a healthier lifestyle and it will have an impact on all aspects of your life. Weight alone will not impede your abilities

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OP...I know exactly how you feel. I was 260 lbs at my highest weight. I could lose the weight but I could never manage to keep it off. I would get winded walking up a flight of steps. I decided to take control of my weight instead of letting it control me. After much consideration, I decided to have gastric bypass surg. I'm 6 mos out and down 64 lbs. I've not only changed how much I eat but what I eat. I now exercise 5 days a week. Do not give up on your dream of being a nurse!!! You may find that you desire to become a nurse will help you in your victory with being overweight. Good luck!!!!

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