Volume 40, Issue 4 p. 349-354

Nurses' Body Size and Public Confidence in Ability to Provide Health Education

Mary Hicks

Mary Hicks

Mary Hicks , RN, MS, Zeta Iota , Teaching Assistant, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY; Laura L. McDermott , MS, RN, FNP, Zeta Iota , Clinical Instructor, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY; Nicole Rouhana , MS, CNM, FNP-C, Zeta Iota , Clinical Assistant Professor, Stony Brook University School of Nursing, Stony Brook, NY; Melissa Schmidt , RN, MS, Assistant Professor, Tompkins Cortland Community College, Dryden, NY; Megan Wood Seymour , RN, MS, Zeta Iota , Doctoral Student, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY; Tina Sullivan , RN, MS, FNP-C, Omicron Rho , Assistant Professor, Hartwick College, Oneonta, NY. This project was supported in part by Nursing 606: Advanced Research Practicum, Doctoral program in Rural Nursing, Decker School of Nursing, Binghamton University, NY. Correspondence to Ms. Seymour, 24 Vine St., Binghamton, NY 13903. E-mail: [email protected]

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Laura L. McDermott

Laura L. McDermott

Mary Hicks , RN, MS, Zeta Iota , Teaching Assistant, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY; Laura L. McDermott , MS, RN, FNP, Zeta Iota , Clinical Instructor, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY; Nicole Rouhana , MS, CNM, FNP-C, Zeta Iota , Clinical Assistant Professor, Stony Brook University School of Nursing, Stony Brook, NY; Melissa Schmidt , RN, MS, Assistant Professor, Tompkins Cortland Community College, Dryden, NY; Megan Wood Seymour , RN, MS, Zeta Iota , Doctoral Student, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY; Tina Sullivan , RN, MS, FNP-C, Omicron Rho , Assistant Professor, Hartwick College, Oneonta, NY. This project was supported in part by Nursing 606: Advanced Research Practicum, Doctoral program in Rural Nursing, Decker School of Nursing, Binghamton University, NY. Correspondence to Ms. Seymour, 24 Vine St., Binghamton, NY 13903. E-mail: [email protected]

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Nicole Rouhana

Nicole Rouhana

Mary Hicks , RN, MS, Zeta Iota , Teaching Assistant, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY; Laura L. McDermott , MS, RN, FNP, Zeta Iota , Clinical Instructor, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY; Nicole Rouhana , MS, CNM, FNP-C, Zeta Iota , Clinical Assistant Professor, Stony Brook University School of Nursing, Stony Brook, NY; Melissa Schmidt , RN, MS, Assistant Professor, Tompkins Cortland Community College, Dryden, NY; Megan Wood Seymour , RN, MS, Zeta Iota , Doctoral Student, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY; Tina Sullivan , RN, MS, FNP-C, Omicron Rho , Assistant Professor, Hartwick College, Oneonta, NY. This project was supported in part by Nursing 606: Advanced Research Practicum, Doctoral program in Rural Nursing, Decker School of Nursing, Binghamton University, NY. Correspondence to Ms. Seymour, 24 Vine St., Binghamton, NY 13903. E-mail: [email protected]

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Melissa Schmidt

Melissa Schmidt

Mary Hicks , RN, MS, Zeta Iota , Teaching Assistant, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY; Laura L. McDermott , MS, RN, FNP, Zeta Iota , Clinical Instructor, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY; Nicole Rouhana , MS, CNM, FNP-C, Zeta Iota , Clinical Assistant Professor, Stony Brook University School of Nursing, Stony Brook, NY; Melissa Schmidt , RN, MS, Assistant Professor, Tompkins Cortland Community College, Dryden, NY; Megan Wood Seymour , RN, MS, Zeta Iota , Doctoral Student, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY; Tina Sullivan , RN, MS, FNP-C, Omicron Rho , Assistant Professor, Hartwick College, Oneonta, NY. This project was supported in part by Nursing 606: Advanced Research Practicum, Doctoral program in Rural Nursing, Decker School of Nursing, Binghamton University, NY. Correspondence to Ms. Seymour, 24 Vine St., Binghamton, NY 13903. E-mail: [email protected]

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Megan Wood Seymour

Megan Wood Seymour

Mary Hicks , RN, MS, Zeta Iota , Teaching Assistant, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY; Laura L. McDermott , MS, RN, FNP, Zeta Iota , Clinical Instructor, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY; Nicole Rouhana , MS, CNM, FNP-C, Zeta Iota , Clinical Assistant Professor, Stony Brook University School of Nursing, Stony Brook, NY; Melissa Schmidt , RN, MS, Assistant Professor, Tompkins Cortland Community College, Dryden, NY; Megan Wood Seymour , RN, MS, Zeta Iota , Doctoral Student, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY; Tina Sullivan , RN, MS, FNP-C, Omicron Rho , Assistant Professor, Hartwick College, Oneonta, NY. This project was supported in part by Nursing 606: Advanced Research Practicum, Doctoral program in Rural Nursing, Decker School of Nursing, Binghamton University, NY. Correspondence to Ms. Seymour, 24 Vine St., Binghamton, NY 13903. E-mail: [email protected]

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Tina Sullivan

Tina Sullivan

Mary Hicks , RN, MS, Zeta Iota , Teaching Assistant, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY; Laura L. McDermott , MS, RN, FNP, Zeta Iota , Clinical Instructor, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY; Nicole Rouhana , MS, CNM, FNP-C, Zeta Iota , Clinical Assistant Professor, Stony Brook University School of Nursing, Stony Brook, NY; Melissa Schmidt , RN, MS, Assistant Professor, Tompkins Cortland Community College, Dryden, NY; Megan Wood Seymour , RN, MS, Zeta Iota , Doctoral Student, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY; Tina Sullivan , RN, MS, FNP-C, Omicron Rho , Assistant Professor, Hartwick College, Oneonta, NY. This project was supported in part by Nursing 606: Advanced Research Practicum, Doctoral program in Rural Nursing, Decker School of Nursing, Binghamton University, NY. Correspondence to Ms. Seymour, 24 Vine St., Binghamton, NY 13903. E-mail: [email protected]

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First published: 25 November 2008
Citations: 35

Abstract

Purpose: To replicate research about confidence level in receiving health teaching from either an overweight or a weight-appropriate RN.

Methods: A quasi-experimental post-test only design was used. Participants were randomly assigned to be shown images of a nurse, either overweight or weight-appropriate, then asked to rate their confidence in health teaching received from that nurse. Descriptive statistics, t test for independent samples, and covariate analyses were performed.

Results: A significant difference in confidence p=0.000 was noted between participants who viewed the image of a weight-appropriate nurse and participants who viewed the image of an overweight nurse.

Conclusions: Weight-appropriate nurses may inspire more confidence in their teaching. Further study is indicated to explore the implications of these findings for practice.

Clinical Relevance: Nurses need to be conscious of clients' perceptions of weight when planning teaching interventions.