When is it okay to speak up???

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It takes a lot to really get me to be blunt with others! I would rather mind my own business and would appreciate it if people did the same for me. The one thing that really gets to me is why bigger people think it is okay to tell thinner people they need to gain weight, they are to skinny, they need to eat more, etc. Think you get the picture. But, in no way is it acceptable for someone to go up to a bigger person and tell them they should lose weight, they are to fat, over eating is not good for their health, etc. My experience has basically been with bigger nurses. The last time I experienced this I had a nurse that her stomach actually hung past her knees and she had a hard time walking and just breathing in general. I actually felt sorry for her until she said, "you know taking too many pills is bad for you." Yes...I know that. "You really need to put some weight on and you would feel better." Really!!! "Your blood pressure is too low which probably has a lot to do with your weight." It went on and on and my then 17 year old son could tell I was not happy. Should have seen his jaw drop when I finally had enough and said ,"I am sure you know over eating is bad for you. Maybe that is why your having a hard time breathing. I am , also, sure you are aware of the health risks with being so over weight, you just might want to diet and exercise and lose that weight." She stared at me until I was done then said, "are you done yet?" I responded, "are you"? She finished up with me and never said another remark about my weight. People just need to remember that whatever side of the scale they are on that everyone has feelings and they should think before they speak! Just my thoughts and opinion...
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Replies

  • felice03
    felice03 Posts: 2,732 Member
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    I find some of the wording in this confusing...I dont really think that a nurse discussing this type of thing while at what appears to be an appointment is out of bounds. Depending on what kind of pills she is discussing she has a very valid point and depending on your weight it can certainly have an effect on BP and overall health. Just as I am sure it is pointed out to her when she goes to her doctor those type of things should be discussed at an appointment.

    Now, if it was in a random situation yes, than by all means speak up. But it seems to me this lady was just doing her job, even if the wording may have been off on her part (assuming that this is how she said it and not what you heard)
  • Tuffjourney
    Tuffjourney Posts: 971
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    I work at a hospital and she sounds like she was just doing her job. On the other hand, you were just being plain rude and mean.
  • EmCarroll1990
    EmCarroll1990 Posts: 2,849 Member
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    Yeah, that was pretty rude. She's doing her job, and you reamed her out? No wonder your son's jaw dropped, he was embarrassed - by you.
  • Rach_Gem_n_Disguise
    Rach_Gem_n_Disguise Posts: 140 Member
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    I understand what you're trying to say completely. People need to read what you are saying and not take personal offense to it.

    There are many overweight people out there that want to jump on the bandwagon and point fingers telling thinner people they are sick and starving themselves and not healthy but yet how are they any different??

    I used to have this same discussion with my father. He would always be on my case about smoking saying I was harming my body when I smoked, I would then tell him that overeating harmed his body as well. One person's vice isn't any different than the next.

    Definitely your nurse needed lessons in manners with her patients. However, some nurses frankly don't care and are in it for the pay check. I think everyone has had good and bad experiences with them. Good for you for sticking up for yourself.

    To "Tuffjourney" - just doing your job doesn't mean treating patients like they don't have any feelings, at least not in my book. There is way to approach things ....why shouldn't she have responded to rudeness with rudeness??
  • iam_thatdude
    iam_thatdude Posts: 1,279 Member
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    Yeah, that was pretty rude. She's doing her job, and you reamed her out? No wonder your son's jaw dropped, he was embarrassed - by you.

    This
  • rossi02
    rossi02 Posts: 549 Member
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    To "Tuffjourney" - just doing your job doesn't mean treating patients like they don't have any feelings, at least not in my book. There is way to approach things ....why shouldn't she have responded to rudeness with rudeness??

    Because two wrongs, don't make it right.
  • MassiveDelta
    MassiveDelta Posts: 3,311 Member
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    Its good for you to stand up for yourself but be careful. I doubt this woman was trying to be hurtful I just think she was a poor nurse with zero social skills.

    You probably hurt her just as bad or worse. Skinny people have it much easier than fat people because its easy to hide being underweight. And society is much more likely to accept a skinny person than even a slightly over weight person.
  • Rach_Gem_n_Disguise
    Rach_Gem_n_Disguise Posts: 140 Member
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    To "Tuffjourney" - just doing your job doesn't mean treating patients like they don't have any feelings, at least not in my book. There is way to approach things ....why shouldn't she have responded to rudeness with rudeness??

    Because two wrongs, don't make it right.

    Didn't say they did....however one should always stand up for themselves.
  • doorki
    doorki Posts: 2,611 Member
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    To "Tuffjourney" - just doing your job doesn't mean treating patients like they don't have any feelings, at least not in my book. There is way to approach things ....why shouldn't she have responded to rudeness with rudeness??

    Because two wrongs, don't make it right.

    Didn't say they did....however one should always stand up for themselves.

    There is a difference between standing up for oneself and attacking the other person.
  • rossi02
    rossi02 Posts: 549 Member
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    To "Tuffjourney" - just doing your job doesn't mean treating patients like they don't have any feelings, at least not in my book. There is way to approach things ....why shouldn't she have responded to rudeness with rudeness??

    Because two wrongs, don't make it right.

    Didn't say they did....however one should always stand up for themselves.

    There is a difference between standing up for oneself and attacking the other person.

    Agreed!
  • Rach_Gem_n_Disguise
    Rach_Gem_n_Disguise Posts: 140 Member
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    To "Tuffjourney" - just doing your job doesn't mean treating patients like they don't have any feelings, at least not in my book. There is way to approach things ....why shouldn't she have responded to rudeness with rudeness??

    Because two wrongs, don't make it right.

    Didn't say they did....however one should always stand up for themselves.

    There is a difference between standing up for oneself and attacking the other person.

    Agreed!

    Attacking?? Ok, she said the nurse went "on and on" and that's what caused her to finally speak up. So who was attacking who? Come on guys. Everyone always wants to jump on every OP's comment on every forum it seems because they get a thrill out of it instead of having an open mind. There are always two sides to every story. Maybe the nurse was trying to do her job but could she have approached it in a more calm and understanding fashion? Yes. Would this then have resulted in no outburst? Possibly so.
  • EmCarroll1990
    EmCarroll1990 Posts: 2,849 Member
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    To "Tuffjourney" - just doing your job doesn't mean treating patients like they don't have any feelings, at least not in my book. There is way to approach things ....why shouldn't she have responded to rudeness with rudeness??

    Because two wrongs, don't make it right.

    Didn't say they did....however one should always stand up for themselves.

    There is a difference between standing up for oneself and attacking the other person.

    Agreed!

    Attacking?? Ok, she said the nurse went "on and on" and that's what caused her to finally speak up. So who was attacking who? Come on guys. Everyone always wants to jump on every OP's comment on every forum it seems because they get a thrill out of it instead of having an open mind. There are always two sides to every story. Maybe the nurse was trying to do her job but could she have approached it in a more calm and understanding fashion? Yes. Would this then have resulted in no outburst? Possibly so.

    Actually, there are three sides. Her's, the nurse's and the truth.
  • doorki
    doorki Posts: 2,611 Member
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    To "Tuffjourney" - just doing your job doesn't mean treating patients like they don't have any feelings, at least not in my book. There is way to approach things ....why shouldn't she have responded to rudeness with rudeness??

    Because two wrongs, don't make it right.

    Didn't say they did....however one should always stand up for themselves.

    There is a difference between standing up for oneself and attacking the other person.

    Agreed!

    Attacking?? Ok, she said the nurse went "on and on" and that's what caused her to finally speak up. So who was attacking who? Come on guys. Everyone always wants to jump on every OP's comment on every forum it seems because they get a thrill out of it instead of having an open mind. There are always two sides to every story. Maybe the nurse was trying to do her job but could she have approached it in a more calm and understanding fashion? Yes. Would this then have resulted in no outburst? Possibly so.

    so you don't feel that her responses to the nurse were attacking? Or that the attacking was warranted? There is a way to deal with rude people without stooping to their level. If this nurse was, in fact, rude.
  • SwannySez
    SwannySez Posts: 5,864 Member
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    Actually, there are three sides. Her's, the nurse's and the truth.

    And mine. In mine the nurse is a Vietnamese pot-bellied pig, the OP is a gekko, the son is a mongoose and they are actually in the casino at the Luxor in Vegas.
  • 13519485
    13519485 Posts: 264
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    I work at a hospital and she sounds like she was just doing her job. On the other hand, you were just being plain rude and mean.

    ^^^THIS^^^

    You attacked a nurse who was only trying to help you. Do you think she wasn't very aware of her own weight problem? She was. It was probably nagging at her in the back of her mind as she spoke to you, but she couldn't speak of herself in that moment, because that's not her job. Her job was you and caring for only you in that moment. And instead of taking her words, digesting them, and believing that she was only looking out for you instead you got defensive because you knew she was right and you didn't want to hear it. So you did something childish to make yourself feel better. You attacked her. Congratulations to you for being a negative influence in her life, and certainly a negative influence in your son's life--at least in that moment.
  • terrie_exercise_mom
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    To "Tuffjourney" - just doing your job doesn't mean treating patients like they don't have any feelings, at least not in my book. There is way to approach things ....why shouldn't she have responded to rudeness with rudeness??

    Because two wrongs, don't make it right.

    Didn't say they did....however one should always stand up for themselves.
  • doorki
    doorki Posts: 2,611 Member
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    To "Tuffjourney" - just doing your job doesn't mean treating patients like they don't have any feelings, at least not in my book. There is way to approach things ....why shouldn't she have responded to rudeness with rudeness??

    Because two wrongs, don't make it right.

    Didn't say they did....however one should always stand up for themselves.

    There is a difference between standing up for oneself and attacking the other person.
    I did not jump down anyone's throat. I finally took a stand for myself. My sons jaw dropped

    From what you wrote, you appeared to have jumped down her throat.
  • rossi02
    rossi02 Posts: 549 Member
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    To "Tuffjourney" - just doing your job doesn't mean treating patients like they don't have any feelings, at least not in my book. There is way to approach things ....why shouldn't she have responded to rudeness with rudeness??

    Because two wrongs, don't make it right.

    Didn't say they did....however one should always stand up for themselves.

    There is a difference between standing up for oneself and attacking the other person.

    Agreed!

    Attacking?? Ok, she said the nurse went "on and on" and that's what caused her to finally speak up. So who was attacking who? Come on guys. Everyone always wants to jump on every OP's comment on every forum it seems because they get a thrill out of it instead of having an open mind. There are always two sides to every story. Maybe the nurse was trying to do her job but could she have approached it in a more calm and understanding fashion? Yes. Would this then have resulted in no outburst? Possibly so.

    I feel standing up for yourself by flinging verbal insults at someone who (seems to have very bad people skills) is out of line, and makes you just as bad as the person you are complaining about. You can stop the conversation, without trying to turn the tables and belittle them in return.
  • Hernandeak11
    Hernandeak11 Posts: 351 Member
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    If it wasn't for my Doctor's tough love, I wouldn't have experienced the success I've had today. I can't wait to see her again next January at a very healthy weight.

    And it sounds like you kind of overreacted, but I wasn't there.
  • MrsLVF
    MrsLVF Posts: 787 Member
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    To "Tuffjourney" - just doing your job doesn't mean treating patients like they don't have any feelings, at least not in my book. There is way to approach things ....why shouldn't she have responded to rudeness with rudeness??

    Because two wrongs, don't make it right.

    Didn't say they did....however one should always stand up for themselves.

    There is a difference between standing up for oneself and attacking the other person.

    Agreed!

    Attacking?? Ok, she said the nurse went "on and on" and that's what caused her to finally speak up. So who was attacking who? Come on guys. Everyone always wants to jump on every OP's comment on every forum it seems because they get a thrill out of it instead of having an open mind. There are always two sides to every story. Maybe the nurse was trying to do her job but could she have approached it in a more calm and understanding fashion? Yes. Would this then have resulted in no outburst? Possibly so.
    Possibly. So many folks do jump to conclusions. It's possible the nurse had a horrible bedside manner, It's also possible the OP is under weight, and the nurse was truly concerned. But we don't know the whole story & never will.