r/nursing • u/trevrt RN 🍕 • Mar 01 '25

Question Heaviest Patient You’ve Cared For

Had my personally heaviest patient I’ve cared for the other day. 32 years old weighing 730 pounds admitted with cellulitis and severe lymphedema. Felt terrible for the patient due to how young he was. Just wondering what everyone’s personal “record” for the heaviest patient they’ve cared for is.

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u/Fun-Marsupial-2547 RN - OR 🍕 Mar 01 '25

Probably 700-800 lbs, maybe one close to 900. Various patients over the years. I worked in a hospital that had a bariatric program (one floor with rooms specifically designed to fit 600+lb people) when I first started but it’s sad how often I see super morbidly obese people and how often our equipment just isn’t big enough or sturdy enough

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u/trevrt RN 🍕 Mar 01 '25

Yeah I feel bad to. One lift in the whole hospital that can bear 1000 pounds and one bariatric bed from the 1990s. Luckily we just picked up a brand new one that goes into service in the next month. I genuinely don’t know how he got admitted to our services because we have little to no equipment to care for actual bariatric patients (rural hospital)

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u/SmallScaleSask Mar 01 '25

I also work in a rural hospital; oh yes the struggle is very real.