I am a pediatric home health nurse and I have a busy and active life outside of work with graduate school and family responsibilities. My company says I am one of the best nurses they have. The parents I work with often complement me on how I work with their children and how I am a good nurse. I understand that parents are stressed with a sick child and are struggling to manage their stress. On a few different occasions with different families, the moms have made a point to imply or out-right comment on my weight. I am 5'9" and I could probably use to lose about 40 lbs. I am active with weight-lifting and swimming on my own time and my weight is "well-distributed" as my best friend told me. Despite needing to lose weight I still have a 4-pack (just can't get the last 2) and I have good muscle tone under the layer of fat from weightlifting. I am in a weight loss program and I am trying to make an effort because I want to be healthy and feel comfortable in my body and be a good example for my family.
I mention all this so you can have an idea of where I am coming from. As a teenager I had an eating disorder and having these moms comment on my weight out of no where makes it hard for me to not turn to old, bad habits of emotional/stress-eating or anorexia. I think it is worse because I don't know how to respond to these insults.
My weight has no bearing on my effectiveness as a nurse and even the moms who make these comments tell my supervisor that I am a really good nurse to their children. I have had these comments come from moms who are really skinny and plump. (I also feel weird when I get compliments as well
I want to be professional but I am uncertain how to respond. What suggestions do you guys have? I don't feel like this is something that I need to tell my supervisor, but I am making notes in a personal record of when things like this are said so I show to my supervisor why I might need to leave working with a particular family.
How do you guys handle room comments in a professional manner? What do you do to avoid feel shame and to stay resilient?
Specializes in Pediatric HH 3yrs experience, 2yrs acute mental he.
Daisy4RN
I'm in a weight loss program and have lost 15lbs using healthy methods! Thanks for your support! (Now the mom keeps mentioning how I'm skinnier than her LOL)
that is probably the most disgusting thing I have ever heard! I might be just a lowly HHA right now. But I have worked with a LOT of patients that have weight problems. and I would NEVER do something like that. I would never dream of saying anything at work. Or outside of work cruelly about them. Yes I realize I being only 5'4 weighing in at about 138 that I am by most standards a small person, and typically in nursing you see bigger girls then me. And I for one actually envy them, cause they can actually do more then I can as far as their strength goes when it comes to transfers and things like that. Now is it healthy for truly ANYONE to be overweight as someone that works in healthcare and going to school for it, I feel I should say NO its not! but that does not give any friggin right too shame anyone EVER!! I am truly sorry you had to go through body shaming! Especially of all places are your Job! no less.
HopefulRN4ever, RN
8 Posts
Daisy4RN
I'm in a weight loss program and have lost 15lbs using healthy methods! Thanks for your support! (Now the mom keeps mentioning how I'm skinnier than her LOL)