Recently I had to take my mom to the emergency room. As I sat outside her room near the nurses station I observed the staff. There were four nurses on duty. I watched them scoot back and forth across the floor in their chairs from one spot to another. I just shook my head. Two of them were eating chips and a third had a candy bar.
My point is, three of the four nurses were extremely overweight. They had me beat…and believe me…I still have to lose a lot of weight to be in the healthy range.)
I thought to myself, what kind of example are they setting for patients? Most people look up to the medical profession. To me, they should know all the potential health problems obesity causes. I would think they’d address the weight loss issue way before they got that big. Perhaps they reinforce each others bad habits while at work. Even the girl at the intake desk had an open bag of doritos sitting on her desk when we filled out mom’s paperwork.(She was overweight but not as extreme as the nurses)
As I sat there I thought, if they don’t care anymore about themselves than that, how can they give good care to the patients? I watched two of them walk up to the intake area…they waddled. It was obvious, it was a real effort for them to walk.
I left there with a smile…my mom was ok and they made me fell thin for a short time.
it is disgusting that you are judging them and their ability to do their jobs on based on their weight, its helps no one and adds to the discrimination and demonisation of overweight people, this saddens me, if this is how you feel about fat/overweight people a symptom of this you are participating in self hatred, I hope that you reach your goal’s truly I do, but if things go the other way will this affect your ability to do your job and will other people always be thinking how can she do her job properly when she’s fat! – I hope not.
I find it strange you only commented on one line I directed as a question. I feel snacking at their workstation was inappropriate. In my 34 years of employment, as a postmaster, I never once addressed a customer with a candy bar or bag of chips in my hand. I was ALWAYS professional. Just as I felt they should have been.
I agree with Chris. I believe eating during your job hours affect your ability to do your job currently. That is why we have “lunch hours” and 15 minute breaks. Chris today is my first time reading your blog. Just want to say, Good work and continue doing what you do so well. Take care and may your light continue to shine bright.
I recently read an article about obesity being socially contagious, which basically said the people who you surround yourself with influence what you eat and how much you eat. I don’t know if nurses and doctors and people in the medical profession must set an example though. It is their life and they can do whatever they want to with it and setting an example is not something in their job description. However, if I went to a dentist with bad teeth or a nutritionist with poor health, or a lawyer who didn’t lie, then I don’t think I would be too comfortable.
As a health care worker and someone who has a couple of pounds to shed, I really hate to think that you would really truly think that the weight of person would affect their ability to CARE for a paitent, because truly that is their job, to CARE. And I am glade that your mother was fine but for you to sit there a judge these women who put their heart into caring for others and yes, letting their own weight get a little out of control, is awfull. I hope that you rethink the way you look at others. Here is my question, If these nurses were thin and beautiful and running around but making big mistakes and taking risks with human lives, what would you be saying then? PLEASE think again before you judge someone.
aninoymous…
In this article, I addressed their eating habits at the nurses station. Where is the professionalism? Chips and candy bars???…and scooting around on the floor in their chairs…how ridiculous. I made no mention of their skills…only the image they were portraying to me. You call it judging…I say…I’m sharing my observation.
Sometimes that station is the only place or they can eat and they often have weird long hours.
I feel it would be harder for nurses than other profesions.
Wow, that makes me angry. What a terrible example they are setting. The first step is knowing what to and not to eat. The second step is actually going through with it. As nurses, I’m sure they know better. And they should act on it. Glad your mom’s ok!
You said, “As I sat there I thought, if they don’t care anymore about themselves than that, how they can give good care to the patients?” Now, who is to say they don’t care anymore? Did you ask, or did you make a prejudgment? Maybe they do care. Maybe one of those nurses HAS lost weight, or one is on that struggling weight loss path. Those nurses are just like everybody else, human. They deal with the same struggles and issues like you and me. I know respiratory therapists who are chain smokers. I know doctors who teach patients about weight loss and health, but don’t live a bit healthy. I know people who were taught the right thing (professional or not) and still do the wrong thing. It’s human nature.
People again and again amaze me with their preconceived notions of what nurses should do or should be.
You’re absolutely right. They shouldn’t be eating anything out on the floor. In our area, hospitals have anti-bacterial gel right at the entrance. Would good is that if the staff are sticking their hands in their mouths while on duty?
Other than that, being an overweight healthcare provider shouldn’t be an issue unless they’re trying to lecture patients on losing weight.
Who takes weight loss advice seriously from an overweight doctor?
I find it amazing how indivduals take parts of what I’ve said to make an issue. I find it hard to believe any of them had lost weight or were in the process of weight loss since they were eating junk food at the station. I should have shared with them my perception of their actions. No one has bothered to comment on the fact they were scooting around the floors in their chairs…hmmm…is that part of nurses training? I call it laziness.
hmm, this seems to have caused some controversy. I see can your point chris. when my friend was hospitalized due to his diabetes, the doctor was telling him he need to shed 50 lbs and start eating healthy.
but, the doctor must have been about 300 lbs and sloppy looking. afterwards as i was leaving the hospital, i saw him picking up an order of chinese food that was delivered to him
I don’t know why most nurses are overweight..maybe to control those trouble making patients. Anyway, that was a pretty good observation!
I just happen to be looking on the internet and came about this website. It’s interesting how people judge a book by it’s cover and actually don’t read the book. I too am a nurse and agree anonymous in many ways! A person’s weight does not reflect their professionalism nor their ability to care for the sick. So what if we are sitting at the desk munching on a bag of chip…we too are allowed to have “down time” A nursing station is out in the open, we really don’t have any privacy…we are nurses…so what if you see us eating a bag of chips. In no worst than you chewing gum while you deliver mail. Oh and one more thing…nurses are on their feet 12 hrs a day catering and caring for patients, running back and forth, making sure patients getting better, so when you see nurses rolling around in chairs, i beleive we are entitled to it. Your observation is demeaning and personally, i’d like to see you do a nurses job and tell me if you would like a bag a chip and a rolly chair.
After I retired, I became a volunteer at our local hospital working approximately 30 hours a week. I had first hand knowledge of those “long” hours and the “down” time. Comparing nurses to mail carriers is a bit bizarre. You don’t see many obese mail carriers. Their ability to chew gum and walk at the same time, doesn’t effect another person’s health. Please don’t try and say they run back and forth for the entire 12 hours….that is totally ridiculous. If that were remotely true….there is no way they would be that big. In this particular instance, those 3 nurses were on “down time” the entire 2 hours I was in the emergency room. I know that “down time” didn’t just start when I got there…and when I left, they were still on “down time.” No thanks on the chair or the chips… I’d be as profesional as a nurse as I was as a postmaster. Why is it the negative comments are all from “anonymous” readers. Perhaps this observation hit home in some way.
I’m an EMT, a chunky one actually, and I can see the point she makes perfectly. In our area hospitals, I hear nurses complaining about how their diets aren’t working while they are eating candy bars and snacking on other junk food. I dont’ so much have an issue with looks, but when a nurse waddles down a hall, or is wheezing as they carry a shot to be given to a patient….it is setting a bad example. As for me, when I am not on duty, I eat rather healthy, preferring salads, grilled chicken, and veggies. But when I am at work, well, a 24 hour shift with very random moments to eat…or even worse, having to eat while driving on a long transfer…it’s incredibly hard to eat decently when every meal is interrupted by an emergency. So I do all I can on my off days, (going to the gym, playing tennis, walking, yardwork) to combat those shifts. I may never be skinny scale wise, but as long as I am in good shape, and in the condition to not break my back at work I’ll be happy. And if I can do it, any nurse can snack healthier on their down time, try to maintain a decent healthy condition on their off time, and set a better example.
I’d just like to say that I agree with Chris about the lack of professionalism in eating while working. When eating junk food particularly, like chips, one’s hands are definitely not clean, but greasy and salty. I broke my arm a few years ago and in the emergency room a female doctor was eating freshly microwaved popcorn. It made me gag! Some people, myself included, cannot stand the hideous smell of that stuff, and to subject severely sick and injured people to that is just not common sense. I wouldn’t have minded or noticed if she had slipped a bit of raw veggies brought from home in a container, or quietly munched an apple. Long hours etc is an excuse for not eating properly. It’s not hard to throw some healthy snacks together these days, and to carry handiwipes if you must eat on a long shift. I have not been a nurse, but I have worked long hours on my feet, and I just did it, instead of finding a lazy unprofessional way to do my job. As for judging people, I think it’s fair to judge someone by their appearance in some cases, including this one, and it’s not hard to see that constantly eating junk food and sitting down is going to result in a sloppy appearance and unhealthy body. I know this will hit a nerve with some people, but it is just because there is truth here. It’s not that I want to deliberately judge and hurt someone’s feelings, but I feel strongly about this, just like Chris. I have been overweight and did something about it because I did not want to be unhealthy and unable to do things well, including my job. It’s harder to breathe and move when you are overweight and those that deny it are just not being truthful. Thanks for the chance to express my views.
You are a harsh judgemental person who obviouslly needs validation from others. As a nurse myself, I take deep offense to the fact that people like you exist and are so STUPID to think most healthcare workers even have down time. AND, if it appears to you that we do have time for a proper break, then you are WRONG. You see, your assumption of unprofessionalism is unknowledgeable and you pass judgement on people who, if they could, would probably rather eat anywhere but a nurse’s station.
People like you discourage me and others like me from my job, which is to HELP YOU. You need help,or a foraml education. Please seek it.
Most importantly, these “overweight nurses” cared for your mom. You should appreciate and not judge. I do agree that some of our nurses are overweight and that is why I have launched a Weight loss campaign for nurses who want to become healthier. This program is from one nurse to another. So if you are a nurse who would like HELP, I am here for you with a system that works for losing weight and cleansing. “Yes”, we are busy caring for others and sometimes neglect ourselves.
Wow, you are harsh. As an RN, I can just about guarantee that the reason they are overweight is because they spend all their time and energy taking care of everyone else and unfortunately, not themselves. Stress does horrific things to you, including cause weight issues. You should just be thankful that, in your judgmental ignorance, you apparently don’t have to deal with the stress and the type of job and service they do. Sometimes, the most stressful part of our job is dealing with people like you.
I am a RN with 35 years of critical care experience. My job requires me to work 4 12 hr shifts with 5 days off. Most of those days aff are used up by mandatory OT of one or two shifts. Most days and night shifts lunch break comes along at 4 o’clock in the afternoon. Snacking at times is the only break you get… trying telling a coding patient in ICU or the ER that you are on your break now!!!!! sorry!! People need o comment on only what hey truly know walk a mile in their shoes.
Denny, It sounds as if you are looking for an “atta boy”. Your statement regarding telling a coding patient you are on break is ridiculous. It doesn’t say much for your hospital management if you are required to work manadatory OT on your days off. You sound rather stressed. Perhaps retirement or a job change might make you feel better.
There are many settings within the various sized hospitals. I agree with you in regards to 0 comment….as you were not part of the setting I observed that night.
My mom was there about and hour and half and two of the nurses never got out of their chairs the whole time we were there. A break is a break…but that’s ridiculous…no one in a workplace gets that long of break….and no….please don’t try and say they were doing charting…they weren’t.
Melissa (RN), I’m not sure how dealing with people like me would make your job stressful. I didn’t SAY anything to the nurses in regards to their unprofessionalism.
Sounds to me like my article most of hit home with you as far as your eating habits goes as well.
Sometimes the truth hurts.
I read this article with a first degree in dietetics I know a lot about nutrition. I also know that nurses, including myself work, 12 hour shifts. These generally consist of arriving at the hospital at 645 am and leaving at 730-745 pm. In that time period we are supposed to get two 15 min breaks and a 30 minute break. I would say on average we get 10-20 minutes total for lunch. I think some nurses are overweight because they don’t eat all day which slows the metabolism and then eat large amounts at home because they are starving. I am 120 pounds and 5′8, but I still take offense to your comment about nurses. You have no right to make assumptions about ALL nurses just because of a few that you saw. If I was going to judge you based on what I know about other postmasters, i would call you lazy and dumb. However, I don’t judge people based on profession. I think you are unhappy with yourself and are trying to make yourself feel better by being rude about others. You need to get a life.
Nicole,
I can see you like to talk about yourself and your own work surroundings. You didn’t mention how many over weight nurses you work with. My post is about my observation of that hospital setting at that particular visit. I made no mention of ALL nurses as you have stated in your reply. I find your statement about lazy and dumb postmasters quite funny. I talked about the professionalism that was portrayed by these nurses to the public. It’s amazing how people can not only have selective listening but reading as well.
You seem to be unhappy with your job. Maybe you should look for one that suits you better…or perhaps you consider yourself a martyr.
I hope you read and understand people’s charts better than you did my post.