Personal Advice Needed

[LatinRN1]

Hi everyone-

I have been contemplating this dilemma for some time and actually about asking you guys what your thoughts are. I want some direct, honest responses. I recently finished nursing school and have passed NCLEX. 3 years ago I worked as an EMT-1 in an ALS crew and I did it for a year before moving into a better paying job that I had to take in order to pay bills.

The dilema deals with my weight and my passion of emergency nursing/medicine. If I had a choice, I would love to start my career as an ER nurse, but I am scared what the staff and other personnel might think about my functionality as an RN.

I am 6'2" and weight 385lbs, Pretty big dude huh? My scrub tops are usually 3XL and some even 4XL. During nursing school I never never had an issue with my weight, I performed amazing, was able to do all routines/procedures and even nurses and personnel loved having me in their floor because I could do a lot with moving and helping patients. My clinicals were twice a week 8-9 hrs per day and even when I did my preceptorship, which I was working 12s, which in reality were 13s I had no problem functioning at all! I am not going to lie, there were times when I got home and was pretty tired, but not immbile! lol

Due to this dilemma and insecurity of mine, I am applying to med/surg floors where I know it can also get crazy, but maybe not as intense as the ER. I joined a gym last week and started working on myself more to health reasons and to be able to do my job better, but do you think I should let this hold me from applying to the ER? What are your honest thoughts and advice?

Thanks in advance.