Dragan

Eternally unsatisfied patients, families...don't get me started ha ha. I have sympathy for patients to a greater or lesser degree, but families who threaten, abuse and attempt to bully staff, possibly my biggest obstacle in providing the best care that I can.

What's a Hoyer?

I certainly wouldn't last in this job if I hated any group of patients, for a start. As with a lot of threads on the site, this one (although it could have been worded better), represents a genuine, relevant increasing concern for nurses, so discussing it does not mean being judgemental, its just another nursing challenge.

I didn't start the post, just commenting on it, like you are.

For the last time; I'm referring exclusively to people who are morbidly obese and not simply 'overweight' people. You've labelled me as some sort of shallow,biased ,hating, judgemental, fat-hater and completely taken out of context what I've said to demonstrate your point. If you want to keep defending yourself and these patients against non-existent attacks, go right ahead, but don't put words into my mouth that I never said. Read posts carefully rather then jumping to conclusions. Ill say it again: no, MOST morbidly obese patients I've encountered didn't have any deeper medical issue, I was well familiar with their medical history and YES it was because they ate too much.

All I see in your response is 150lbs, but that's ok. Obviously you've had more experience on the matter. The fact that I'm working with is that most patients that I've had experience in (mostly general surgical) did not have as interesting combination of whatever you mentioned above, but were morbidly obese due to not looking after themselves. You can write 100's responses of exotic weight gaining conditions the fact is most 150kg+ patients I've looked after were so because they ate too much and continued to do so.

I said over 150kg, not 150lbs (I'm 240!), bit of a difference, but you are right, certainly more to it then people think of.

You have made many good points and I agree with most of what you've said. AS IVE POSTED EARLIER-there is a big difference between overweight, as a lot of people are, particularly what you have pointed out adequately, and morbidly obese to a point where they struggle to ambulate, which is a part of my argument. Most people due to either various conditions which you've pointed out, poor diet, lack of education on the matter, or no time to exercise will carry around a bit of extra weight, the issue is people where it significantly impacts on their life. How many people that you've mentioned above have over 150kg? You mustn't think I'm making an argument of overweight people, that's absurd, its those in the extreme end of the spectrum.

So you're comparing for example cancer or elderly patients, situations that are out of the patients control, with obesity, a situation where the patient can, or at least could have, done something? Big difference.

Something else to complain about: every BP cuff being too small! The fact is most obese people are so because they eat too much. We can argue about medical conditions, slow metabolisms and whatever anyone likes, its not like these conditions didn't exist 100 years ago when there was far less obesity. They certainly should not be discriminated against or given less care. Its normal for most people to be a bit overweight, we are not talking deranged Hollywood 'ideals', most people carry a bit more, that's not the issue...the issue is the increasing number of 170kg+ patients not taking the responsibility of themselves and expecting someone else to move them around. The physical effects on nurses have been discussed to death so I won't continue with that, however what about issues like other patients getting less quality care because obese patients are simply much more time consuming?

'I wanna haircut JUST LIKE THAT, got it?'

'I think he just farted...'

Do it. The way I thought of it is 'if there is absolutely nothing else I achieve in life, at least I'm helping people'. If you're the main breadwinner then the money isn't ideal until you become a bit more experienced, if there are two of you doing it, great. I advise do some volunteering or something similar for a short stint to see if you like it, if you can handle it more specifically. It certainly is NOT for everyone.

If only the NMC kept people updated, there would be much less stress and confusion. Its the poor communication which is more frustrating then the delays; if they could say 'you'll get such and such document in 3 months', whatever, rather then pulling the rug out from under people all the time...

Pass the buck to the duty nurse manager/after hours manager, this is the best option. I've seen good staff ask too many questions then the conflict continues when they see each other on the ward. Whatever they say, 'I hate my life and my job so I'm not coming in ; p', just get them to ring the above mentioned and they can explain to them or if you have to ring them, leave them to explain to the ward manager when they're on next...

As uncomforting as it is, I'm agreeing with the 'get used to it/it's here to stay' comments, which make it no easier. I'm also a male RN, I'm 240 pounds and 6'4 tall and -you know it-any manual handling needed within sight, I'm the first one called in there; my patient or not. Your best bet is to be honest to your back, yourself, your colleagues and your patients. Look after your back at all times, no matter how busy it gets, which means sometimes waiting while equipment gets organised etc. There will be frustrated staff and patients who'll hurry you along, but you must follow correct protocol, no matter who's screaming their head off. Your back (nursing) is your bread and butter, you ruin that and...you know. The most frustrating factor is patients who won't do anything about it, despite education and resulting poor health and then we have to move them around. They should ultimately make every bed a bariatric bed, that's how bad it's getting.

On admission: Asking patients repeatedly if they have any medical history. They say no, they are healthy, you go through their 100 medications and notice Ramipril, Metoprolol etc. and ask 'so you've got high blood pressure'? 'Oh not since I've been taking my medication'. Coloxyl and Senna: 'So, constipation?', 'oh my no, since I've been taking the little brown tablets I've been going regularly' and so forth...

I've just moved from Perth to London and I certainly sensed jobs weren't easy to come by anymore. I reckon find a community job and do that until you find a hospital job you like ? Good luck hunting. I'm certainly keeping an eye on the job scene, so whenever I decide to come back....But yeah, especially for the RN grads, absolutely brutal, no jobs anywhere, I know girls that had to leave Perth because of it.

I've been on the queue since for only two weeks now, I got the impression that it wouldn't take more then a month for the final letter to arrive, but am gearing up for a longer wait after reading some real horror stories on this site. Its beyond frustrating!!!!!!! Have you gotten your pin yet? Anyone else in a similar situation who got their pin, how long did you wait?

Very funny!

Hey guys, any updates? I'm confused a bit, is the decision letter you are referring to the one you receive telling you whether you need the ONP or a 3 month training period, or the one after the ONP? I've completed my ONP 10th of October, sent the letter ASAP and have been in queue since the 17/10 and already very nervy about waiting for another day. Reading your posts, if I have to wait the 90 days or more... I don't know. Anyone else get their letter? What was the waiting period? The NMC have been making me send everything like 10 times, really hoping they don't invent any more stumbling blocks. Good luck to everyone.