Overweight Nurse?

[MissKatie]

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. :)

[alf314888]

My nursing unit has it's share of overweight nurses and I'm now battling some weight gain for the fiirst time, but..

Our cafeteria serves pretty crappy food, so I usually try to pack my lunch. I am really surprised at how bad (both healthwise and quality wise) our food is. We are getting a salad and sandwich bar soon, and I can't wait. Right now, all we get to choose from for lunch and dinner is two entrees, 4 sides, a dessert, and a soup. Triple meal buyers (B, L, D) tend to buy one entree for lunch and the other for dinner, no matter what is served, just for variety. Breakfast is the same 8 items every day.

We work 12 hour shifts so those who don't pack a lunch may eat 2 or 3 bad meals in a day. Recently, our unit director served us a breakfast meal of fried bean burritos and breakfast tacos. Ugh. They were awful, but free, fast, and available.

We don't get much time for lunch (30 minutes) and are often so busy we just tend to grab what is lying around. Usually that is not very healthy. We do eat a lot of frozen dinners.

Another thing that happens is that the (wonderful) patients and their families bring us things as thank-you gifts. They bring us pizza, cookies, cakes, and donuts most often. No one ever sends us a fruit plate. It's all too easy to toss down a few cookies or pizza slices when you are rushed.

I'm actually afraid to go into the nurses lounge between mid November and late January.

I went in one day during the holiday season and found one box of donuts there already. Then some nursing students brought us two more boxes, then a patient's family member brought us two more. Then someone brought us cookies, then a basket of chocolates, then an Italian Cream cake- all in 1 day! It can be very difficult to not partake in these gifts, particularly on a very busy day.

Today, I walked 4.4 miles at work. This was an average-busy day.

If you can work well with a team, then you should have no doubts

[nursedora]

Yes, I agree, working in a hospital or Nursing home, as been my experience, you do get overwhelmed with holiday foods that are high fat, caloric, and oh so oooy and goooy tasty! It would be nice for well meaning families and friends to think of our health for a change. This is where those of us who are a little more rotund than others have to be careful. It's just as easy for us to grab whats in the lounge as it is for the skinnies.

About buying your meals at work. It does save money if you pack your own lunch, and you can control the nutritional value. Plus packing your own lunch, you can pack some carrot, celery sticks and some cubed pieces of cheeze to nibble on if you can't break away for a sit down meal.

And working nights does play havoc on your eating habits. You are always hungry, and during the day when it's your "night" someone always thinks you should be eating breakfast at 8A, lunch at noon, supper at 5P, all the hours you are either getting ready to go to bed or are in bed. If you do have to work night shift, stick to a schedule, eat breakfast when you wake up from your days sleep, lunch about 4 hours later, then your supper at work. Making your lunch at home the larger meal. When you get home and are ready to go to bed, if you are hungry, then eat a pice of fruit, a banana is a good choice, or a cup of warm milk. Keep it light to go to bed on. And remember to drink lots of water, just plain, old fashioned water! Choose water over the coffee to wake you up. You'll be surprised at how well water works wonders.

[Catty Ann]

Hi everyone!

I have been in the health care field for 20+ years as a CCA. Im on my way to become an LPN :) at my local CC, in a part time studies course and still working full time.

I too am obese, at my heaviest I was 320lbs. Im now around 240-50, my lowest was 185 and believe me I wish I was there now. Your weight may not bother you now, but in later years it may and in your later years it will be harder to lose.

So I would like to say keep at it, go slowly with the amount of weight to lose each week, break it down to small goals and watch out for stress eating triggers and have lots of veggies to munch on. I hate them but I lost some weight during school.

Its all about health and not the scale. Good luck with school and your health goals!:anpom:

[AcidicLemons]

:] I thought I'd add to the PCOS/overweight conversation here, since I can wholly relate to it.

Diagnosed with PCOS about 7 years ago (I'm 2o), & I was in middle school.

Was not on The Pill, but my family doctor diagnosed me as being diabetic not too long before that.

PCOS/diabetes go almost hand-in-hand. PCOS is being attributed to an unhealthy lifestyle that leads to diabetes & other serious diseases. So if anyone's been diagnosed w/ PCOS w/out diabetes--this is your wake-up call!

Anyway--I got on The Pill to regulate my cycle (& another pill, which I forget the name--to jumpstart my period since it hadn't been on in awhile).

The Pill actually aids in the nasty symptoms of PCOS. It regulates your periods, makes them lighter (in my case), controls excess hair growth (though it does not rid of it).

Well. Fast forward seven years later. I am off of The Pill, & my cycles are regular w/out needing to be on it. My PCOS is greatly controlled through diet/exercise, as redundant as that sounds. If you lose even a little weight, your symptoms will start to go away or be reduced.

:] I'm still overweight, but I've started going back to the gym at the beginning of the summer. Lost 15 pounds so far--have a lot more to go! PCOS weight loss is slow, but when you find that balance you'll be good to go.

As for the OP;

Being overweight as a nurse might put a strain on you physically. I have seen overweight nurses, & my grandmother is still a nurse (& teaching other nurses) & she is overweight. It's more about your fitness, in my opinion. Losing weight should be the long term goal, while getting in shape should be right under that--if that makes sense. I got into decent physical shape (able to stand for longer periods of time, able to run up stairs) in the course of a couple of months). Most importantly, it's how you're going to feel when you're up for hours at a time with hardly (if any) sit-down time in-between.

:) Hope my post was somewhat helpful !

[iPink, BSN, RN]

PCOS is being attributed to an unhealthy lifestyle that leads to diabetes & other serious diseases.

This isn't a PCOS thread, but I have to ask where did you do your research?

[glitterygirl]

I just wanna jump in to this too.I too am a "bigger girl"lol.For many reasons....and since this isnt my thread,,,I dont wanna get into all of that right now.The point is I WANT to lose the weight.Ive tried many diets,,,pills,,,etc and Im over 40,,,i want to be a great nurse and I simply MUST just do it.

Does anyone have any tips on food ideas and exercsie for working NURSING STUDEnTS?hahah

short on time,,,cash and resources.I hope the OP dosent mind my asking,,,but i thnk it may help the ones of us here that still need to shed those pounds

I wont be able to cook a LOT....with school and a job..studying etc

Any easy to pack on the go foods?Thanks guys

[AcidicLemons]

This isn't a PCOS thread, but I have to ask where did you do your research?

:0 Sorry--I know! I just felt really compelled to share my story, because it's quite hard to find people to relate to me w/ the whole PCOS issue.

But! I use the website SoulCysters. They have a ton of articles, & research findings about PCOS.

It's been the most helpful website so far in helping me understand it.

[iPink, BSN, RN]

:0 Sorry--I know! I just felt really compelled to share my story, because it's quite hard to find people to relate to me w/ the whole PCOS issue.

But! I use the website SoulCysters. They have a ton of articles, & research findings about PCOS.

It's been the most helpful website so far in helping me understand it.

A couple pages in, a staff member wanted us to stay on topic. I don't see a problem sharing your story. But, I had to ask, because "unhealthy lifestyle" is not the sole attribution to getting PCOS and wanted to know where the research was coming from that's all. I use to run track in high school when I got diagnosed and had a "healthy" diet.

[AcidicLemons]

A couple pages in, a staff member wanted us to stay on topic. I don't see a problem sharing your story. But, I had to ask, because "unhealthy lifestyle" is not the sole attribution to getting PCOS and wanted to know where the research was coming from that's all. I use to run track in high school when I got diagnosed and had a "healthy" diet.

Ahhhh!--I see what you mean. I didn't mean to make it sound as if it were the only cause. At least especially from my personal experience it was because of my own personal habits (I'm assuming, because my family claimed of no such condition running in the family--as far as they know). In no way am I an expert, but I do attribute the control of my symptoms because of my lifestyle changes.

[N2NRSING]

If you want to lose weight and are already in the process then move forward, you can do this. good luck.

[Kaychell]

I'm a first year NS and obese. I have lost 22 pounds this year (I started in January at 248) and have about 50 to go before I'm happy with where I'll be. I went to my PCP in July before school started and asked about the LapBand. My insurance requires 6 months active weightloss programs before they approve the LapBand. I tried Weight Watchers for 3 months and lost 10 pounds, then I staled out prior to seeing my PCP. Then after the July visit, PCP prescribed Phentermine and it's been a godsend! I've lost 12 #'s since the middle of July. I'm considering just sticking with the Phentermine and diet and exercise instead of looking instead the surgical option.

My concern about being an obese nurse is trying to teach an obese patient why it's so important to maintain a healthy diet and lifestyle and them looking at me like I'm a hipocrite. I also worry about being able to stand for 12 hour shifts. I know I can shop for 12 hours ;0), but my kneese hurt something fierce after a day of shopping so I can only imagine a 12 hour nursing shift.

[dizzyelizzy]

First off, it is absolutely fantastic that you want to loose weight and be a healthier person! My two cents on that is: walks around the block do wonders!

Secondly, I don't want to hurt feelings, but when I see a nurse who is overweight, I do question how someone working in the medical field could let themselves get that way, because you will most likely be doing so much walking/standing/working, how can you find time to get in that many calories? You know?? But anyway, I do see many overweight nurses who seem to do fine.

I would rather see an overweight nurse, than a nurse who goes outside for a smoke in their scrubs :/ that just screams stupidity to me.

Good luck with everything!!