Overweight Students

[jmqphd]

What, if anything, do you say to students who are significantly, morbidly obese? In my mind I'm thinking they are headed for a short career with a lot of unsuccessful job interviews. Is it totally forbidden to bring it up? Is counseling possible? I have two very bright students who are managing up to now. I don't know yet if they will have problems with a full patient load.

For sure it should not factor into whether they pass or not as long as they can do the work. I'm not suggesting that. Nor would I want to discriminate against the morbidly obese in the admissions process. But while they are in school, should/can we take them aside and have a heart-to-heart talk with them, get them some help?

Mostly I'm concerned for them. But our school does need to keep track of the % of graduates who have jobs 6 months after graduation. It's a factor in getting and keeping our accreditation.

[VickyRN, MSN, DNP, RN]

My advice - treat them just like any other student, as long as they have the physical capacity to fulfill clinical and course objectives. To treat them any differently could backfire and be perceived as discrimination based on their weight (even though you have the best of intentions in mind). I have had several students who were morbidly obese in my classroom and clinical groups. These students, now practicing RNs, have been (to the best of my knowledge) successful in their nursing careers. I wrote about one "Gladys" in my blog.

[jmqphd]

Good advice. I'm glad your students succeeded because (though early in our semester) mine seem bright and able.

[SheaTab]

"mine seem bright and able." This seemed inflammatory and stereotypical. You probably didn't mean it that way, but that is how it read. Last time I checked, weight doesn't correlate with IQ. My observations have been that students with weight issues tend to overcompensate in other areas -- academia being one.

[Whispera, MSN, RN]

I think anyone who is morbidly obese or even plain old obese is painfully aware of it. Many of them, also, have probably done things to lose weight. To take them aside and talk about it could come across as a less-than-helpful measure.

What matters is if the student can do the work. That's all we can judge. Do we take aside those who smoke and talk to them about their smoking and the risk it poses, or the possibility that it could make nursing more difficult.

If a student voiced any concerns to me about his or her weight (or smoking), then I'd offer whatever help I could offer. Otherwise, I'd keep my opinions to myself.

That being said, it's nice that you're concerned about your student...

[JoanKayRNBSN]

All students come to nursing with challenges to providing patient care. It may be that they have learning disabilities, mobility issues, or other things that might make nursing care difficult. I had no problem showing a student who was missing several fingers from her dominant hand how to adapt the equipment to be able to insert a catheter using sterile technique, and adapting other skills for all students is just part of what I do. I would also like to say that as a floor nurse I have worked with many nurses who are obese, but when I think about them I think first of their pharm knowledge, or ability to work with difficult families, or who they are as people.

Regarding smoking students - I do tell that they cannot smoke in their uniforms or prior to clinical. I ask that they be respectful of the patients in their care.

[ImThatGuy, BSN, RN]

Aren't one in five Americans obese? Healthy or not. Attractive or not. They're just fitting in, lol. Seriously, when people are fat they know it.