The Fat One

[Pink86]

Do you find it inappropriate and unprofessional for a charge nurse to describe a student nurse as the fat one to her instructor? This happened the other day where I work, and I felt very bad because the student heard her and was upset about it. There was an incident on the floor and our charge was trying to blame the student for it, even though they weren't on the floor at the time.

I really don't understand why some nurses hate working with students. I've always found them helpful, especially when it comes to ADLs and answering call lights. Our charge was angry at the time, but I still feel that it was wrong for her to describe the student like that, and to report her to her instructor after both I and the student explained that she was off the floor at the time.

[kbrn2002, ADN, RN]

My sister is fat, like 5'4" and 350+ lbs and she calls herself fat. I don't, I never have and never will. She claims to be unaffected when others call her fat, but I can tell it bothers her. I don't think I'm being overly PC by not calling her fat, just trying to not be mean. There are better words to use.

[NurseJacelyn]

This kind of reminds me of when my daughter was in grade 1. She could never remember anyone's name so always described them by their hair, eye color and what they were wearing. She kept describing this one girl in particular..with the gold eyes and pretty black curly hair. When I met her friend I was surprised that she was a black girl. My daughter just didn't see that as important to include in the description (nor have I ever heard her describe anyone as fat). When I grow up I want to be just like my daughter.

[Gooselady, BSN, RN]

When my daughter was little (back in the 80's) she announced her best friends in kindergarten were 'a peach girl and a brown girl'. I was pleased to note she didn't consider her own 'white' skin to be some kind of default position for skin color, unworthy of mention :)