What do you think? Honestly

jtruland · Feb 1, 2013

First off, congratulations on passing your NCLEX! I am also a bigger nurse, at 5'9 and 350. I started out last year in an LTACH (basically vent rehab/tele outside of hospital). I stayed there for about four months and then got into an er position. Best move I've ever made. Even on busy days, I never feel as drained as I did working the LTACH. If your passion is ER, go for it. Good luck in the search!

jtruland · Feb 1, 2013

Oh, and as far as co-worker or patient respect... I've never had an issue with either aside froma comment or two from elderly dementia patients.

Altra, BSN, RN · Feb 1, 2013

Don't let this stop you. If you've functioned as an EMT ... pre-hospital is much more physically demanding than working in the ER. The ERs where I have worked have been full of folks of all shapes and sizes.

Congrats on joining the gym - it's something I recently did too. Behavioral change is a real kick in the pants, but usually worth it in the end.

Good luck to you! :)

(p.s. ... the super-fit guys/gals are usually tapped out after 12 hours in the ER, too)

hiddencatRN, BSN, RN · Feb 1, 2013

I work with all body types and have never noticed any correlation between weight and nursing ability. I think you should go for it!

sandyfeet · Feb 1, 2013

My honest opinion is that I would welcome you in my ER. People will notice your size, and the good thing is that it will intimidate some of the patients (drunk, high, etc) into better behavior. From your writing you come across as conscientious and intelligent--these things matter much more than your weight with your fellow nurses. I say go for it too!

SweetCorn · Feb 1, 2013

Our larger nurses can really crush it too. I wouldn't let that stop you.

Kudos for trying to get into better shape, but you don't really need a gym to do that. Just start getting active (when you have time off, do something besides watch TV or anything else passive) and cook all your own food if you aren't already. Start with walking, then walking some more, eating better, then maybe some light jogging or other cardio exercise. Finding a group to do this with, kind of like Biggest Loser type situation is a really good idea. Other people are great motivators for losing weight.

There are some other sections of this forum about weight loss that probably has a lot of really good info.

edited to add link: https://allnurses-breakroom.com/weight-loss-diets/

Really if you can start to get more active and eat well, you are off to a really good start.

Good luck to you!

KittyinNj · Feb 1, 2013

big guys are always welcome, i worked on a busy neuro ortho floors and always loved the help of the male nurses helping me reposition that 150-200 lb pt ( im 5'8 120 skinny minnie nurse lol ) plus all those pts will be scared of you if they are misbehaving :)

livingthedream77 · Feb 2, 2013

I can't imagine that anyone would give you a hard time if you can do your job....but do be prepared if you have to counsel a pt to lose weight to help their condition. We have a couple large docs and they get no respect when talking to a newly dx DMII pt to lose weight. "You're a doctor and you're fatter than me!!! How dare you!!" etc. It's the same that if you come into a room reeking of smoke and tell someone to quit smoking. But, it is politically incorrect to comment on weight and not so on smoking. As I'm sure you know, hospitals get medieval on smoking, not so much weight. My thought is, you're a nurse, you know what can happen from smoking and being overweight....it's your business to do it or not.

I have a nurse friend who is about 5'5" and maybe 350 lbs....I flat asked her how she handled it when she had to tell a pt to lose weight, especially if they are smaller than she....she begins with, "I know I am not a good example of this now, but I am working on it. I know how hard it is to eat right..." The same can work for smoking. If they smell it, tell them, "yes, I know, I smoke too, and it is very hard to stop, but I am working on it...."

justluke · Feb 2, 2013

OK pretty big dude, I kinna got you a little here. Let me say, I am a bit bigger than you. 6'5" and add an unspecified amount of weight but more. I like you, am not afraid to get my butt down the hall and get it done. I work as hard as anyone else. Yes I am tapped, but as mentioned above, if you are smaller and pull 12 hours hard like we should, 100%, then you should be tired. If you are feeling the desire to lose weight, and feel like it after work, a short slow 20 minute walk is good for ya, and will help you mentally unwind. Best of luck to ya, there is one thing. Do not look at your time on the med surg floor as anything less. We ER nurses are good at what we do, but so are they. And there are times, when I look at them and say, there is no way I would want to do that. Good luck little man.

ergoddess · Feb 2, 2013

Don't let your size keep you from your dreams! In my ER, sometimes we RELY on our big guys...as a source of intimidation, if nothing else! Also, running the halls of the ER will drop the pounds. I started the ER in August at 5'11" 326 lbs. I'm down nearly 50 lbs

BSNbeauty, BSN, RN · Feb 2, 2013

My honest answer: Nursing is not a one size fits all. We have people of all shapes and sizes who work in the ED. As long as you are physically able to do the job than it shoudn't matter.