I Usually Don't Notice Things Like This But....

[Virgo10]

Virgo10, How long has it been since you worked in nursing? Did you work in a hospital?

My last day being gainfully employed was December 24th, 1997. I tried coming back to work with a ruptured disc (C7) and it was a disaster. Other nurses wanted to call 911 because I looked so bad from the pain I was in. Of course the nursing home I worked at insisted I only had a sprain and wouldn't pay for an MRI. Later when I filed for w/c I got the MRI done then.

To answer the queries as to why are those in the healthcare field are overweight and smoke? How about you are on your feet all day. Exhausted in not a state, it's your personality. You do not get regular lunch or break times. You grab and go, the quicker the better. You take crap all day from doctors, administration, family members who are demanding and/or complaining and patients, external services such as lab, radiology, nuclear medicine...all depts that function with people, who may or may not be swamped just like you and have attitudes. You smoke betcause it is a quick moment to yourself, an indulgent moment to relax you. You crave a salad for lunch, but you don't have the time for that craving, so you grab a piece of energy on the go (otherwise known as a candy bar). When you get home from work, you have a family who needs you and the idea of time to "work on your body image" just doesn't exist. When you finally get to drop, you do just that. You will wish you could be a normal person, eat right and exercise to take off that weight, but life is not normal because you decided on a career that isn't normal. Nursing is one of the hardest professions because quite honestly, no one that you work for or with, gives a flying fig how you feel, or if you are even good at what you do. You are a body, all they care about is that someone is filling your spot on the assignment sheet. You will not be promoted. You are working this job to support your family, and for those few moments of pure enjoyment with a patient when you realize you made a difference in someone's life. You will be talked down to by your peers and supervisors, and when a doctor needs a scapegoat, you will be it. The stress level of this job is enough that over time, you will not only have a weight problem, but you will have other health issues. Marriages fail, and affairs are common in this atmosphere. If you are fortunate, you will find alternative employment in a more relaxed atmosphere, but in the mean time, you will be scrutinized by others because you are not a perfect reflection of what a health care professional should look like Just my .02

I agree with absolutely everything you said. The job where I got hurt was like a bad joke. There were times I was the only nurse (yes, there was support staff) for 57 people. All had dementia of some sort or another. Some had IV's, some had feeding tubes, some were combative. When I look back now, I wonder how the heck I ever did that!

If I had it to do all over again, I never would have chosen nursing as a career. It cost me my health and there's not enough money in the world to compensate you for that. I miss a lot of the patients though. I loved working with dementia patients but the rest of it was pretty bad.

 

[FionaLovesShrek]

I changed careers, but I still have contacts with patient's. I enjoy it. I couldn't return to that profession though. My idealism flew out the window very fast once I began working in the field. I gave it 15 years though.

 

[Chilehead Too]

I have always noticed that lots of nurses smoke. I also remember quite vividly that our family doctor growing up always was smoking Marlnboros as he treated us he also was quite overweight.

 

[disykat]

I don't really expect nurses or doctors to have healthier habits than me because most people know how to eat right, etc. and don't do it - why should they be any different?

I did notice a lot of heavy employees during my recent hospital stay. (BTW, I was VERY impressed with the nursing care I received!) I was surprised because it was obvious that they spend their shifts on their feet - not a sedentary job by any means.

 

[golfgal]

As an off shoot of this post, when I was being treating at the Mayo clinic several years ago DH and I both noticed that most of the patients there were either overweight or underweight. We both thought that was interesting.

 

[Kitty 34]

My health teacher in Junior High was short and fat and always yelling at us teenage girls about eating and living healthy. Great role model!

Also, a few of my sons' coaches are overweight to obese and they all the time are yelling at the boys about their diets. Maybe they're yelling because they secretly are upset with themselves!

 

[BeckyEsq]

I think it is partly because they can wear scrubs to work. They are comfortable and hide a lot. There is a bigger incentive to keep the weight off when you have to go into the store and try on clothes to wear to work. I know when I had to wear suits everyday I had more incentive than I do now that we are business casual. More form fitting clothes kind of force you to keep the weight off or you will have to buy something new.

 

[MagicalMom]

I think it is partly because they can wear scrubs to work. They are comfortable and hide a lot. There is a bigger incentive to keep the weight off when you have to go into the store and try on clothes to wear to work. I know when I had to wear suits everyday I had more incentive than I do now that we are business casual. More form fitting clothes kind of force you to keep the weight off or you will have to buy something new.

Just wanted to add that we only wear scrubs while working. We wear jeans, dresses, bathing suits & shorts just like other normal people when we are not working.

 

[Laurajean1014]

Maybe it's all that delicious hospital food.

 

[FionaLovesShrek]

Where I work, you can choose to wear uniforms/scrubs or street clothes. Most of the staff are now wearing their own clothes, and many are pooh sized. Let's face it, we are a generation that sleeps less, eats sporadically and fast and under a great deal of stress from work related issues, finances and family situations. Not a good combo

 

[FionaLovesShrek]

Maybe it's all that delicious hospital food.

No you didn't

 

[julia & nicks mom]

The more I think about it - the more ridiculous it seems to say that they shouldn't smoke and be overweight b/c they should be more aware of the health risks

aren't we all aware of the health risks that go along with smoking and being overweight?

 

[BeckyEsq]

Just wanted to add that we only wear scrubs while working. We wear jeans, dresses, bathing suits & shorts just like other normal people when we are not working.

Yeah, but if you wanted to, you could wear yoga pants and sweatshirts all the time when not at work. You could avoid clothes with buttons entirely. :lol:

(I'm not criticizing -- I struggle with my weight myself and I just know that if I could get away with wearing scrubs all week, coming home and changing into my at-home lounge clothes, I think I would have less incentive to try to lose weight -- I am very often motivated to stick to my diet by the thought of having to put on a suit for work).

 

[princesspumpkin]

Stress-ahhh, good old cortisol makes for nice belly fat. Also, shift work can make you sleep less (which makes you gain weight). Eating on the run and the all popular "working all night, coming home at 8am, finally grabbing something to eat and then GoING TO BED! Yup, I can see why we're overweight.

 

[Disney1fan2002]

Remember the days when dentists didn't wear masks? Boy some dentists had SMELLY breath!

 

[Annie68]

Stress-ahhh, good old cortisol makes for nice belly fat. Also, shift work can make you sleep less (which makes you gain weight). Eating on the run and the all popular "working all night, coming home at 8am, finally grabbing something to eat and then GoING TO BED! Yup, I can see why we're overweight.

So true! We have a day shift nurse in ICU that always brings in donuts on the weekend, not the small ones... but the long cream filled/chocolate covered ! All of us have a hard time with willpower after a stressful 12 hour shift. This past weekend we were teasing one of the Cardiologists as he ate one, he said "it's been a rough week, let me enjoy this".

I admit when I started to read this thread I felt defensive, but now I see a lot of posts by RN's & realize it wasn't meant to be hateful. I am not overweight....just a little fluffy .....but we all come in different shapes & sizes. Every profession does. To say that hospital staff should know better, well that's true for anyone (as Julia&NicksMom said). I love Nursing, but holy smokes....it can be stressful. For some stress=overeating.

 

[Dznypal]

the drs office I went to there were 2 drs--

on one of my apps. asked me if I smoked I told him no

he said good dont ever start!!!

well when I was in labor the other dr was on call and he delived my DD with a
cigarette pack rolled up in his sleeve!!!

I also work in a hospital and I know what everyone is talking about--with healthcare workers and weight issues--

One thing I always got a kick out of--was patients being allowed to step outside for a quick smoke!!!!! some were even hooked up to IVs!!!

our whole hospital and grounds went smoke free last year!!!

its sort of funny to see people standing across the street puffing away!!

rain or shine freezing cold or whatever!!! there they are!!!

 

[babiesX2]

Some nurses like to wear tight scrubs pulled up in their "cracks."

Edited to add: It is not just nurses that do this, but lots of people who wear scrubs and both male and female are equal offenders!

 

[babiesX2]

I am not overweight....just a little fluffy .....but we all come in different shapes & sizes.

Ewes not fat. Ewes just fluffy!

 

[NCRedding]

After spending the last 11 months caring for my grandmother in a skilled care facility, my mother says the staff all smoke because they know they don't want to live to be like all their patients!