There's nothing worse than a FAT nurse!

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Ok, I'm sure that title made you want to throw up in your mouth. I don't blame you. I felt the same way when my physician said it to ME.

In January, I decided to take control my life and lose weight. I have lost about 30lbs so far. So, when I went to my doctor last week, he noticed that I was 30lbs lighter. He asked if I was on a diet and I told him yes. I told him I was going to nursing school and want to be a good example if I'm going to lecture on proper diet and exercise.

I guess my statement gave him a green light to be an a-hole.Doctor: that is so refreshing to hear! Nurses are notorious for ignoring their health. Keep up the good work. Remember, THERE'S NOTHING WORSE THAN A FAT NURSE! ::::doctor laughs::::

I was in shock. I could not believe it. I went numb. I did not find what he said funny or supportive. Yeah... I'm actively searching for a NP to be my primary care provider.... I happen to like NP's better. I find them to be less socially retarded.

What's the general consensus on obese nurses? Are obese nurses not taken seriously? Is what my doctor said a common thought?

We don't hire fat nurses. It's great.

Fat Nurses Need Not Apply | Those Emergency Blues

Imagine working in a heart unit and you've dealt with a patient all day post-op, with diet instructions, etc. And then you hand off the assignment to a night shift pig. Doesn't work. I'm glad Texas got the ball rolling with no fat nurses.

I can understand not wanting fat nurses I suppose, but to refer to an obese person as a pig is contemptible and reflects a shallow and arrogant attitude. People gain weight for various reasons, d/t meds, antidepressants, quitting smoking, etc. You as a nurse should know that right? You sound like an SS from Hitler era, you have no empathy; the nr. 1 ingredient for being a good nurse. I'd much much rather being looking up from a gurney at a fat kind nurse than you, that is for certain.

To refer to an obese person as a pig is contemptible and reflects a shallow and arrogant attitude. People gain weight for various reasons, d/t meds, hypothyroidism, joint surgeries, antidepressants, quitting smoking, etc. You as a nurse should know that right? You sound like an SS from Hitler era, you have no empathy; the nr. 1 ingredient for being a good nurse. I'd much much rather be looking up from a gurney at a fat kind nurse than you, that is for certain.

Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.
Imagine working in a heart unit and you've dealt with a patient all day post-op, with diet instructions, etc. And then you hand off the assignment to a night shift pig. Doesn't work. I'm glad Texas got the ball rolling with no fat nurses.

First, calling someone a "night shift pig" is extremely rude. How would you feel if people were calling you names behind your back?

Secondly, just because one is of normal weight does not mean one is healthy. If we had only nurses in perfect health, I sure as heck wouldn't want to be a patient because those patient loads would be horrendous!

Third, sometimes those patients can better identify with someone who may be going through the same struggles they are than someone who has no clue what it is like to be overweight and trying to lose weight and eat healthier.

I'll happily take the overweight nurse who is fully competent in her job over the skinny nurse who doesn't have enough time for her patients because she's too busy getting in her smoke break.

Specializes in Pedi.
We don't hire fat nurses. It's great.

Fat Nurses Need Not Apply | Those Emergency Blues

I have never heard of this hospital. There are no hospitals in my state that have such rules and I would most definitely rather be at Mass General or Brigham and Women's (both nationally ranked in the top 10 in Cardiology/Cardiac Surgery) being cared for by a fat nurse if I was a cardiac patient over being cared for by a skinny nurse at some unknown hospital in Texas.

Imagine working in a heart unit and you've dealt with a patient all day post-op with diet instructions, etc. And then you hand off the assignment to a night shift pig. Doesn't work. I'm glad Texas got the ball rolling with no fat nurses.[/quote']

#1: I work in a heart unit. Patients are not educated about their diet immediately post op. the nurses are more focused on extubating, titrating drips, and keeping the patient stable. #2: weight doesn't affect a person's ability to be a good nurse, but your blatant ignorance does.

I don't think he should have made a comment like that....would have made me upset too.

I don't mean to be mean - but after reading the initial post** I TOTALLY agree with the doctor!!!

We should set the example. Does it mean we new six packs and live an eat perfect? No. But it means we should at least show the patients we are trying to teach what they should do. Just sayin.

I think doctors tend to view nurses as "friends/colleagues/whatever" rather than their patients. What he said was unbelievably wrong. He could have phrased it much more professionally.

SWR, you brought up some excellent points. My doctor is overweight and I never gave it a second thought b/c she is kind, compassionate and is an excellent doctor, I feel safe in her hands. I went to nursing school with some students who had the same attitude as portrayed in easyblonde's post. I wouldn't want them around me if I was sick. I don't want them around me when I'm healthy either.

I fully agree with the doctor's comment: A primary component of nursing is education/teaching, and someone who is obese has no business in an environment where health is stressed. I remember watching a show on The Learning Channel a few years ago that was a reality show taking place in an inpatient center for eating disorders. Every staff member was overweight. And this was supposed to encourage the women to eat more? It was ridiculous.

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