Reply to Insensitive Drs at Childrens (overweight child)

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[quote=Anonymous]OP - I'm an emergency room RN so let me try to give my professional opinion on this, before I give my personal.

The nutritionist could be part of the hospital's protocol.  I worked very briefly at a childrens' hospital and it was their protocol that any child who was admitted and was over a certain BMI had an automatic consult with a nutritionist.  It was just their standard protocol and was always out of my hands, but was their way of trying to deal with childhood obesity and risks for diabetes.  I would have gotten in trouble if I did not alert the nutritionist.  **PERSONAL OPINION** [i]I understand the point of it in theory.  But honestly, it created more issues than helped.  Now, if I had a patient with abnormal lab results that indicated their weight was causing a problem, I understand.  But for something like a broken arm, it seemed a bit ridiculous.  The kid and family already have enough going on. 
[/i]

"soft obese belly".  As part of my physical assessment, I have to note if a stomach is hard, soft, distended, etc.  Soft doesn't necessarily mean fat, it just means it isn't hard to the touch.  I've had skin and bones patients who I document as having a soft belly.  Having said that, I have NO idea why they would document obese.  Some doctors and nurses document patients as obese in their write ups, I usually just include height, weight, and BMI.  I can't recall ever seeing a documentation of "soft, obese, belly".  Sorry about that OP, some doctors/nurses are a little more callous with their labeling.

As for the measurements, I have to agree with 21:06.  They likely had different machines and wanted to make sure they right one was used for your daughter's measurements.  It would have been nice if they explained this to you, especially since it was 4am and no one enjoys being woken up for something they think is unnecessary.

OP, it sounds like you might have gotten a group of very clinical nurses and doctors.  Some of this stuff may have been necessary (the nutritionist consult, documentation of soft belly, and measurements).  That said, I really do think that the nurse or someone should have explained WHY this stuff was being done and the fact that they didn't makes your frustrations totally valid.  Sorry you had that experience OP.  I was about your daughter's size as a teen and can remember being treated like crap by one doctor at my ped's office.  He actually left me in tears.  Some doctor's have really shitty bedside manner!!

But thank you for your post OP.  It reminds me that even though I know why I do everything, I have to always remember to explain to my patients what I'm doing and why.  [/quote]

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