'Unhealthy' nurses...bad examples?

Nurses General Nursing

Published

I hope this post doesn't offend anyone,but I have noticed a lot of the nurses I know are overweight,smokers or both. Obviously people become nurses because they completed school,and are qualified to do their jobs,which has nothing to do with physical appearance or vices.

Its common knowledge that smoking and/or obesity can kill you,but I would think those in the healthcare field would have a more acute idea of how health is jeopardized by these things. I am asking one out of curiousity,and secondly because I myself am overweight. I was just wondering if anybody has ever gotten any flak from patients or higher-ups? Or do you feel you aren't taken as seriously because of how you look,or because you need a cigarette break? I hope this hasn't happened,since its discriminatory and wrong,but we all know that doesn't mean much! :(

Specializes in Telemetry, OR, ICU.
Ladies and gentlemen,

A gentle reminder to not focus on each other please. :)

Thank you,

Roy

Roy, my apologies for going waaaaay off topic.

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Specializes in Pain Management.
Okay, then I'll say it...

If this is true, then the implications would be dramatic. If I decide to succumb to my genetic programming and show up to work drunk, then it wouldn't really be my fault, would it?

A medical diagnosis is an explanation, not a justification. Some people have to worker harder to be healthy than others. It isn't fair, but that doesn't make the ideal of living a healthy lifestyle any less worthy.

:mortarboard:

Josh, I tried to send you a PM, but you need to empty out your box.

So I'll take credit for the above post, although I think the context in which it was made [conversation to that point] is long past.

Was that a screen capture?

My box has space now.

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i also am overweight and agree with you on that i also love the way i am. i was discussing going to curves to my husband and my 6 year old daughter said, "why mommy?", i replied, "to lose weight". she was upset and started crying, i asked her why she was upset and she said, "i don't want you to change i love you just like that mommy". what could put things in perspective more than that. if we could all have the bliss of being young again without sterotypes and discrimination. i may be overweight, but i climb those stairs everyday and when i get to the top i am not the one out of breath. the quality of patient care i provide is determined by the feedback of my patients, not my weight. i have been a nurse for 5 years and still yet to have negative rapport with patients, colleagues, or physicians. it is all about personality, compassion for caring for others, and good ole morals and values. [color=#226699]'she's very pretty.' 'yes, but pretty is as pretty does. i haven't been terribly impressed by her manners.

actually, i have had people say that it is intimidating for them to have an extremely healthy individual take care of them, they feel like they are judging them. i work on ccu and most patients are themselves somewhat weight challenged.:roll :roll :roll :roll :roll :roll

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Thanks for the gentle reminder, Roy. I suppose we should now return to offending each other over the original topic. :)

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Thanks for the gentle reminder, Roy. I suppose we should now return to offending each other over the original topic. :)

:rotfl:

it really is unfortunate that many of us have misunderstood the op's intent of the question, which is the patient's perception of unhealthy nurses- not our perceptions.

yet by reading many of the responses, it is clear that whatever the pt may think, is still not necessarily an accurate perception.

it's encouraging to read that many nurses have very healthy self-esteems, despite being overweight, smoking or whatever flaw that is deemed imperfect.

so, yay for those who remain true to themselves. :balloons:

leslie

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Just food for thought - I know a personal athletic trainer who is one of the most highly-paid, in demand trainers in my area and very well respected. However, I'd say he's about 50 pounds overweight or so. Doesn't seem to stop his clients from going to him to lose THEIR weight. Bottom line is that he's great at what he does- motivating people to get into their best physical shape and he's very knowledgable about exercise techniques/nutrition. "Do as I say, not as I do," type of thing, I guess.

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:rotfl:

it really is unfortunate that many of us have misunderstood the op's intent of the question, which is the patient's perception of unhealthy nurses- not our perceptions.

yet by reading many of the responses, it is clear that whatever the pt may think, is still not necessarily an accurate perception.

it's encouraging to read that many nurses have very healthy self-esteems, despite being overweight, smoking or whatever flaw that is deemed imperfect.

so, yay for those who remain true to themselves. :balloons:

leslie

Actually, the OP asked about any flak, not perceptions, that nurses may have gotten from patients and/or "higher ups". Personally, I've enjoyed reading all the posts, even views that might be oppositional to mine. It's always good to hear a different point of view - keeps one from being close-minded and intolerant.

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to all the overweight nurses, try medifast,it works....

babalou58 :rolleyes:

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To the OP: I think it would depend on the area in which you work (but that's just my opinion). When I did clinicals for my STNA certification, a sweet lady in LTC said something along the lines of (about me) "she's such a nice lady, but she sure is fat" :rolleyes: Honestly, I couldn't imagine getting the same kind of remark if I were on a unit like M/B or L&D, but I could be wrong. I'm not a nurse, but just wanted to share my experience for you :)

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Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.
Leslie, I'm curious as to why some here do not capitalize the letter i when used in first person, as in I?

:jester:

I'll capitalize someone's name, i'll capitalize the I if it's the begining of a sentence. But i do not capitalize i when refering to myself, because it make "i" just another part of the post, instead of being the main part.

And for those out there that think that has any effect on my ability to write or chart, rest assured, i talk informal here, and if the way i write on here bothers someone that bad, well, all that has to be done is click on my user name, click 'view profile', then click 'ignore'. Simple.:)

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To the OP: I think it would depend on the area in which you work (but that's just my opinion). When I did clinicals for my STNA certification, a sweet lady in LTC said something along the lines of (about me) "she's such a nice lady, but she sure is fat" :rolleyes: Honestly, I couldn't imagine getting the same kind of remark if I were on a unit like M/B or L&D, but I could be wrong. I'm not a nurse, but just wanted to share my experience for you :)

oh my favorite time is when a sweet confused little old man or woman will rub my belly and ask when i am due - roflmao - i just cant help but giggle and thank god I'm fat and not pregnant hahaha. i do get teased by a few of my closest friends about that - "hey when ya due honey"? lol

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Hey hang on a minute. IM skinny......

I mean I get asked if Im anorexic..... I do smoke. I dont work out but I didnt choose to be so thin. I just have a high metabolism. I cant help it. I dont care if nurses or anyone for that matter is large. Big is beautiful. Oh and sometimes, especially in aged care it can work to your advantage if your moving people, hehe. But seriously. Dont mind what others say. Its none of thier business. Be yourself, large or small. If your good at what you do and you do it with an ethical, humanatarian attitude and go to work with a smile for others. I'd be glad to have you as my nurse. regards

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