A Maximum BMI for nurses

[soapydopeybubbles]

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/10/21/how-public-thinks-nhs-should-change/

According to the Telegraph one of the most popular ideas for improving the NHS is to have a maximum BMI for nurses. This is from the website set up for suggestions but also continues in the comments for the article.

I'm a neonatal nurse and I am classed as obese. I wear L/XL scrubs and I'm a dress size 14-16.

Does the public honestly think that I'd be a better nurse if I was thinner? Or, as written in the comments, if I wore a cap and apron, had no tattoos and didn't dye my hair?

I'm a large woman but I'm pretty sure I wasn't magically better and making up complex medications, changing ridiculously tiny nappies and resuscitating sick newborns when I was rather thinner than I am now.

I can see why people might have the opinion that if we're giving out health advice we should lead by example but it's mainly the doctors giving the advice and the nurses doing the hands on caring.

I just don't understand why there seems to be such a focus on how a particular staff group looks, rather than the actual issues in the NHS.

AIBU?

No one works 12 hour shifts every night of the week. They must shop for food and make meals!
Several family members work
in the NHS in role from Surgeon to ICU Staff Nurse to Dietician ( not sure of full tile). They work shifts and on call weekends and take their own food.

This is so shocking. Can anyone honestly say that when you are ill or your loved ones are ill, that the first thing that comes to mind when they meet a nurse looking after them, is their size?? I mean come on! They are there to provide a caring and supportive service as well as excellent medical care. And I expect all that running around they are probably fitter than me.

Just imagine how much worse the shortage of nurses would get - no EU nurses thanks to Brexit, no slightly overweight nurses due to the Telegraph... 🤔

This is ridiculous and extremely irresponsible but don’t take a blind bit of notice. With love from an overweight (veterinary) nurse

The weight limit idea is rubbish, and to be fair even the Telegraph calls it 'Bizarre' in the sub headline. Most normal people would rather have a health professional who is blooming good at their job, than a skinny one who isn't.

fucks sake - there’s a direct link between obesity and poverty. There’s evidence that even some qualified staff are having to use food banks let alone our band 2,3 and 4 colleagues.
Pay us properly for our skills and responsibility - attack us about our weight later.
Pretty sure the former won’t happen so we don’t have to worry about the latter.

What a load of shite! BMI is such an antiquated measurement system. A person and their size rarely, if ever, reflects on their ability to show kindness and compassion. It would be different if they were physically unable to do their job but I highly doubt this is the case. People trying to police other people and their bodies yet again!

It said it was a suggestion and there’s a screen shot showing all of …. 3 comments…I don’t think it’s a true reflection of public opinion, more of a silly headline

Absolute codswallop! The only criteria should be how well anyone can do their job in every sphere.

I hated those bloody cardboard hats that served no purpose. One patient on a dementia ward I was training on used to delight in knocking them.off when you bent down near her😡 I agree Nurses should lead by example but if it came to saving my life, fat or thin I wouldn't care.

People are awful, that was one of the most ridiculous suggestions. And if they're suggesting that, then why not stopping doctors from smoking/drinking or worse to cope with the stress?

I think the public probably feel defensive about their poor lifestyle choices and want to turn it back on the professionals who might tell them to act differently. Gross behaviour! Not least when we have such a crisis in healthcare, especially in nursing.

I do think that shift work must make it particularly difficult to eat well and healthily. As a teacher I feel limited in the food I can bring to school and eat very quickly, usually one handed in between working. I used to keep cereal bars in my desk to be able to eat in the morning, though they're full of sugar. I think the government should be helping anyone in a demanding public sector job to be supported to be healthy eg providing access to healthy snacks, fruit, maybe a professional discount on a meal subscription service. I can't imagine trying to plan healthy meals around a 12h overnight shift.

It's the bird 🐦 from me to the Telegraph. Size 20 RMN

I'm willing to put money on the mental image for a lot of those people involves a lot more than just larger build nurses - after all, the NHS is one of the most ethnically diverse employers - and they're thinking back to a imagined past where nurses looked as though they were in Carry On, Matron (and in their head, would behave like it, too).

I don't give a flying fuck what you look like, as long as you're competent in your job you could dress in a blow up Tyranasaurus costume for all I care

Luv it😂😂

It’s because the majority of nurses are female and using weight as a public/political football is an easy way of making headlines. Same vein as cutting the school holidays without mentioning that this would involve changing the contracts of every single school employee (and paying them more by doing so). It’s a quick win headline that’s all!

I love my DHs oncologist. He got him into remission and gave us time.

quite frankly I wouldn’t care if he presented in a bikini 3 sizes too small, a bald tattooed head and a banana up each nostril so long as he continues to keep being the great Dr he is.

If this does happen could you post a pic?

There used to be an option for male/ female on the BMI calculator. That has now gone. Does it not matter any more?

I think medical professionals who are giving out advice on weight, diet, nutrition etc should be healthy.

Aside from that I can't see how or why it would make any difference.

This has really made my blood boil.
It reeks of misogyny. Whoever suggested this said it purely because a large majority of nurses are women.I doubt they would dare suggest it if nurses were largely men.

Nurses are overworked and underpaid in our crumbling healthcare system. Why do men hate them so much that they want them to diet on top of doing such a gruelling job?

The cheek of then complaining that nurses should be easier on the eyes as well as hardworking-which is what is really what is meant here-is beyond belief.

I've met and had family members cared for by nurses of all shapes and sizes. The size of their scrubs never had ANYTHING to do with their competency.

And it shows that whoever suggested this has no idea of the strength it takes to be a nurse. Nurses spend so much of their day lifting, supporting and hoisting patients on and off beds, toilets and in and out of wheelchairs and baths. Which is not that easy if you are physically very tiny.

If nurses are expected to lose weight, then everyone should be asked to stay skinny so nurses don't injure themselves on the job.

It became meaningless since people could self identify.

It used to explain why accurate sex was required, now they've just removed it altogether.

To be honest when having my babies I always hoped for a nice cuddly-looking midwife with a matronly bust because it made me feel somehow safe and as though everything was somehow homely and natural. I realise that might be a niche preference … 🤨.

Take no notice ! I’m a nurse, these people have no clue.

Our hospital used to have amazing canteen 15 years ago. Massive healthy salad bar, fresh fruit etc. Really nice healthy food at reasonable prices. Now its slop most of the time and only open during the day. Vending machines only have high calorie snacks. Make healthier food in hospitals would be a start