SCALE DRAMA

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Specializes in Trauma, ER, ICU, CCU, PACU, GI, Cardiology, OR.

admitedly, i love my job, however, there are times that i wonder, patients behavior. certainly, i'm not alone on this one, every time i get a patient to get their weight on the scale they have a fit, and the drama begins "oh! your scale is broken, i can't weight that much, my scale at home said that i weight much less" then you get the ones that take off their earrings, bracelets, necklaces, and the men give their wallets to their wife etc. while we nurses wait so patiently waitingtoo.gifand the drama seems to happen every time when you have a million things to do. i'm sure that i'm not the only one, that goes through this every time i'm at triage.

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You can always tell at weight watchers when someone had a bad week by how much they take off to weigh. I once had a lady take off her bra!

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The worse thing is when we weigh kids who are a nice healthy weight and their parents say things like "oh my I didn't weight that until I was much older, we need to put you on a diet, this cannot be right you can't possibly weigh that",etc.:banghead:

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Specializes in ICU, ER, OR, FNP.

I've been known to tell all of my patients that make a comment about our scale being inaccurate, "yep, I think ours adds about 25 pounds". The only time I discuss weight anymore is when the BMI is >40 so I can refer them to bariatric surgery.

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Specializes in Peds, School Nurse, clinical instructor.

I must side with the patients on this one....I personally think scales are evil ;)

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Specializes in Neurology.

This is a great post! I can really relate. It's really a shame that our society has placed such a social stigma upon being overweight, or what an acceptable weight is for that matter. I almost feel like I am a bad person when I tell the patient that I need to obtain his or her weight. I almost feel like the patient thinks that I am judging him/ her, based on what their weight is. I don't care what they weigh! I just want to do my job as effectively and peacefully as humanly possible, while giving the patient the care that they require.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

I know why patients need to be weighed but frankly now a days......If I have to step on a scale to recieve treatment......I guess I'll be returning to my car.

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Specializes in Emergency/Cath Lab.

And here we as nurses weighing ourselves before and after a BM to see who had the biggest one. Everyone does that right?

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Specializes in ICU.
And here we as nurses weighing ourselves before and after a BM to see who had the biggest one. Everyone does that right?

i sure as he ll do!

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Specializes in Gerontological Nursing, Acute Rehab.

I agree....scales are evil. So are numbers for that matter.

I can relate...my primary MD's scale always, ALWAYS has me about 8 lbs heavier than any other scale I step on. I tell them their scale is off, but they don't believe me....:rolleyes:

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Sometimes denial is our friend... I support my patients in all phases ;)

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Specializes in nursing education.

You forgot the BIG SIIIIIIGH.

If patients have CHF or they are on diuretics or they have edema (you get the picture) I do not allow them to not get weighed just because it might make them sad. I'm sorry you are unhappy with your weight. We are not here to make you feel self-confident, you came to us for your medical care, you have fluid/electrolyte balance issues, we need to know your weight today, and I'm not sorry that you are bored with this information, either.

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