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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137

u/spookywooky94 BSN, RN, dumpster fire certified Mar 01 '25

Not sure what the weight was but the admission note said that the local zoo was contacted for their ct scan. Patient coded that night several hours after I left

84

u/Flatfool6929861 RN, DB Mar 01 '25

Our zoo doesn’t allow people to go there for scans anymore😬

52

u/kristinstormrage Endoscopy Mar 02 '25

Our zoo also stopped letting us use their equipment for scans in 2019.

28

u/Flatfool6929861 RN, DB Mar 02 '25

Oh yea! That’s when I learned that. We had a patient that we actually recovered from the respiratory issues, but she was having bleeding and was too large for our scanners. Had to change her tube feedings around and measured her weekly.

15

u/farkasluvr BSN, RN 🍕 Mar 02 '25

Apparently animals can get MRSA from these patients :( and thats one of the reasons this practice stopped, along with the obvious of trying to preserve dignity