Overweight RN talked about

Nurses Relations

Published

I work in LTC and we had a pretty overweight RN who applied for a position. I noticed that when she was shown around the building (only because one manager started the interview and another joined in halfway through and had to review the notes the first manager made, and asked her to show the RN around). As they stepped out of the interview room, they stopped to say hello to me at my med cart, and I wished her luck and happened to look at the nurses' station and saw several RNs and LVNs trying hard stifle their laughter!! I was horrified for this woman.

We all know that those of us who care for others should be healthy and fit, but what happens when a nurse is overweight or even obese? Does she automatically become unworthy of working as a nurse? Not sure what I'm expecting from writing this post, just that I thought it was a rather sad way to treat a human being. Needless to say, she didn't get the position, and although I'd like to think it was for some other reason, I can't help but wonder if it was because of her weight.

Specializes in Cardiology, School Nursing, General.
Amethya, thank you for sharing. Being overweight is no ones business but the person who is overweight. If overweight nurses were eating the food of others, and not doing their jobs and using their weight as an excuse, then I can see it being a problem. I've worked with overweight nurses in the past and never had any issues with any of them performing well as nurses. In an emergency, I see all nurses rushing to help, even the overweight ones, so obviously that's not as issue. It's strange how people think it's OK to make comments and give advice to obese or overweight nurses, while they don't stop a nurse who's smoking and give her their opinion on that. Well maybe some do, but I'm pretty sure overweight nurses are given a lot more advice than smoker nurses.

Btw Amethya I'm glad that you're now in a better place where you can eat in peace without anyone bothering you. I personally would think that being bothered while eating, or having people make comments about one's weight would actually cause someone to feel that they have to hide and eat alone, or rush though their meal when others are not around. That's certainly not a good thing for anyone.

Thank you. I'm just glad I left that job, it was just filled with nasty witches and would pick on me after that more because I guess they needed me to go. They got what they wanted, but I'm glad I did. As this quote says,

[h=1]No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.”- Eleanor Roosevelt[/h]

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Psychiatric Nursing.
Fawnmarie, wow that's pretty horrible. I can't even begin to understand why the NP would think that it was OK for her to berate the obese RN, and in public, which is even worse. I wonder if she does that to smokers as well? While in nursing school, we had a clinical instructor who'd make comments about a couple obese students in our class, but never in front of them. She'd talk about how unhealthy they were, but the instructor was a smoker who'd take frequent breaks during clinical to go out and smoke with the other smokers in our group! Strange how some can't see their own issues, but are quick to point out others'.

I think Esme had a great point, that fat-shaming happens every day, in every corner of the world. I think some people don't want to confront their own issues and problems, or admit that they are far from perfect themselves, and the overweight are an easy target for scapegoating.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

If you feel they were making fun of her weight, what did you do to show them that was wrong? Did you speak up? If I were there, and this happened I would have, and have done so in the past. It's despicable. You know the old saying, that all that is needed for evil to prevail is for good men to stand by and do nothing.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I remember at one job, there was a gal who was actually probably morbidly obese. A funny thing that I noticed was, the heavy coworkers were the ones who made fun of her behind her back. I never saw thinner nurses do it. it was kind of like the syndrome where people kick the dog who are victims themselves.

I agree with you, it's cruel to mock anyone for their physical appearance behind their back.

I see this sometimes in other places besides nursing. Heck, comedians who are overweight make fun of overweight people and use them as joke fodder.

I've had to remind a family member with a pot belly when he/she laughs at a "fat person" . . . I usually just do it by pointing at said pot belly and smile and wink. ;)

If you feel they were making fun of her weight, what did you do to show them that was wrong? Did you speak up? If I were there, and this happened I would have, and have done so in the past. It's despicable. You know the old saying, that all that is needed for evil to prevail is for good men to stand by and do nothing.

In my old age, I've become the one who speaks up and challenges them. Usually using humor back at them or as said above, pointing out a pot belly. :whistling:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Hospice.
She took the time to compose a post on a nursing forum about it, and is clearly upset at what she witnessed, so I'm personally totally fine with taking her word for it. Could she be mistaken? Possibly, but even if she is - it brings up important dialogue and no one is being harmed by participation in this post.

This is an online forum, we can't have evidence based scientific research and data for everything.

I've already addressed this twice ... there was no information in the original post to lead me to believe that the behavior in the nurses' station had anything to do with the appearance of the applicant.

Perhaps "evidence" was the wrong word to use, but I was posting in haste and simply wanted to know why the OP was assuming so much. She subsequently added information that clarified her perceptions.

In a world where so many are advocating that eye rolls and facial expressions become cause for discipline, it seems only sensible to consider the role of projection as a factor in our interpretation of non-verbal behavior.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hi, I have to say that the behavior or your coworkers laughing about another persons weight is appalling. I know I'm not skinny by any means, and weight has nothing to do with your intelligence, critical thinking skills, or just how good of a nurse you are. I work with a myriad of shapes and sizes, and the only time I have ever questioned someone's abilities is when their over all health did compromise the quality of care for the clients, and safety of said staff member. She was smart as a whip, and had such a wealth of knowledge in this field, she was awesome to work with, and I learned so much from her. However, she had many health issues, along with being overweight, that effected her work, and she had to call in... a lot. It really wasn't her weight, but the comorbidities that came with it. Again, I never judged her solely on her weight.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

most of us do tend to look when someone is too heavy or too skinny , whatever. However, that said, everyone apparently noticed this RN that particular day and you witnessed a few staff being rude. How sad for them .

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I'm overweight, actually obese. I wasn't always fat. I didn't start to put on weight until my late twenties. In fact, I was a good looking guy. It's amazing how differently I've been treated, since I gained weight. I'm not looking for sympathy, and I take compete responsibility for the choices I've made; however, it still hurts. I have a lot to offer as a nurse. I choose to work in specialties that require less physical endurance. My guess is that if an overweight nurse applies for a position, he/she can handle it. In my humble opinion, the best nurses are the ones that are not judgemental. I'm new to working on an inpatient psychiatric unit. What I lack in experience, I more than make up for in kindness, empathy, and compassion.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

who is to say that she wasn't healthy and fit??? YOU???

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU; Telephone Triage Nurse.

Imagining this scenario playing out hurts my heart. It's no fun being singled out and mocked for any reason. Being on the receiving end of ridicule and scorn is a painful experience - adult or child.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

How sad when grade school mentality and bullying invade the work place. What a terrible message to send to both the nurse candidate (make her feel less of a person) and the public in general. I'm sure visitors/other patients may have heard about their behavior.

It shows an awful example of the integrity of nursing to others!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med/Surge, Psych, LTC, Home Health.

Almost makes me glad to live in a part of the world where most

people are at least overweight. I'm a pretty large person and

very rarely does anyone even seem to remotely notice or care.

Just glad I don't live in SoCal.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment