[tris]

Hi all,
My heart reaches out to those of you that are still so young and suffering. I was in an MVA at the age of 17 and have some compression fx's (L4*5). Thank God I do not have any more problems than I do. I have to be careful what I do especially with getting older, but I can still function and work, and I am so fortunate to do that from what I am hearing from yall.
My prayers are with all of you. I will be thinking of you, and wish you all the best.

[Hellllllo Nurse]

Originally posted by BernieO
Any nurse at my LTC is not required to lift, can find opporturnitie to sit or stretch. LTC is a much better avenue for nurses with disabilities.

As a LTC nurse, I was required to lift 100s of pounds every shift. I got several back injuries in various LTC settings because of which I am now in chronic pain.

I don't know where you work, BernieO, but your facility is a very rare exception to the LTC rule.

[Hellllllo Nurse]

I also have a visual disability. I have the degenerative corneal disease keratoconus. Corrective RGP lenses do not work for me. I have limited vision, but make up for it by really LOOKING at things. Many people tell me I notice things that others do not. Pretty good for having only 20/80 vision, corrected.

I have been descriminated against by instructors at nursing school, and by a couple of employers.

Where I work now, though, no one has said a thing.

[Disablednurse]

Where I live there are not any jobs available for nurses that cannot lift or do all jobs involved with nursing. I was MDS coordinator, but doing that I had to be able to work on the floor, double shifts if necessary. No jobs for someone who cannot lift more than 3 pounds, stand for longer than 3 minutes, sit longer than 20 minutes or walk further than 10 feet. It makes it impossible also since our nurse practice act states that a nurse cannot work while taking narcotics or mind altering drugs.

[imenid37]

this i an interesting thread. my daughter is 15 years old and expresses a strong desire to go into nursing. she has jra which is pretty much in remission at this time. between this illness, genetics, and the meds she took, she is only 4 feet 9 inches tall. the joint damage from the disease has been minimal thanks to the mega doses of meds including steroids. most of her function has been preserved and she now has very occasional stiffness. i try to encourage her to do something else w/ patients like ot or resp. therapy which wouldn't involve so much lifting. she wants to do nicu or another maternal-child area. anyone else who is very short. what obstacles do you face? i am only 5'1". my sister is 4'10" (she's an attorney and i'm a nurse in an ldrp setting).

[mattsmom81]

Originally posted by bestblondRN
And what happens to you if your back goes out again and you're unable to work? Be careful about what all you do--I haven't had surgery yet, but got worse after returning to work after 6 weeks of Core Stabilization in PT--it set me WAY back and now am finding myself in search of work again. Good luck to you mattsmom!

Well, thank you, but I look at it this way: back injury could happen to any nurse, not just me. For me its a calculated risk, working a few short shifts here and there... taking into consideration my experience, my tolerances and my needs.

I cannot in good faith recommend nursing to ANYONE with a preexisting bone or joint disease...this career is just too hard on bones and joints IMHO. But I'm nearing retirement and winding down...so I have to make the best choice all things considered. Got a kid in college who still needs Mom to work a bit....got a few credit card bills to pay off...don't want to work a 40 hr shift at Walmart...LOL...

Time will tell how I handle worklife and I appreciate the good wishes!

It is truly shocking to me how little compassion healthcare has for its injured and disabled nurses. We are discarded like a disposable supply item

Good thoughts going out to all here.

[bestblondRN]

Originally posted by mattsmom81

Time will tell how I handle worklife and I appreciate the good wishes!

It is truly shocking to me how little compassion healthcare has for its injured and disabled nurses. We are discarded like a disposable supply item

Good thoughts going out to all here.

You are welcome mattsmom! I agree wholeheartedly with you about being discarded, as I said in one of my last posts. As my husband pointed out to me, most industries are like this and I am just beginning to feel as many in other professions have when faced with a similar plight.

In his inimitable way, he's saying "get over it and get on with your life". So I am trying to do just that! Not an easy task when it's all you've done for 25 years, but I guess I am "re-trainable"

[bestblondRN]

Originally posted by imenid37
this i an interesting thread. my daughter is 15 years old and expresses a strong desire to go into nursing. she has jra which is pretty much in remission at this time. between this illness, genetics, and the meds she took, she is only 4 feet 9 inches tall. the joint damage from the disease has been minimal thanks to the mega doses of meds including steroids. most of her function has been preserved and she now has very occasional stiffness. i try to encourage her to do something else w/ patients like ot or resp. therapy which wouldn't involve so much lifting. she wants to do nicu or another maternal-child area. anyone else who is very short. what obstacles do you face? i am only 5'1". my sister is 4'10" (she's an attorney and i'm a nurse in an ldrp setting).

Wow....your daughter sounds like she's very determined. I wouldn't think that NICU would be as physically challenging as adult care, but I'm not entirely sure. I wish her luck as she moves toward making career decisions!

I understand completely how all of you feel as I live with pain also from a fusion in my lower back, nerve damage in my right leg and severe arthritis in both knees. I have to take medication around the clock in order to be able to function in a fairly normal manner. My doctor recently changed my pain regimen and thankfully it has brought me relief enough that I no longer wake up every day wishing that I hadn't. This business is not a kind one once you are injured. It's is like another poster stated, a real shame that we give so much to others and yet in return we get shown that in the big picture what we do is not really appreciated because once we are no longer in perfect working order, we are so easily disposed of. My husband and I have decided to work very hard in paying off our bills so we can both cut down on our work schedules. Being in my mid 40's makes me wonder what my 60's will be like and if they will be tolerable. I guess only God knows that. Good wishes to all of you, I hope you can find a way to feel better very soon.

[Disablednurse]

Duckie, I know what you are talking about. I to am in your shoes of taking pain med around the clock. I just hope that my pain management specialist will get my meds to the point that I can wake up and not be in pain every day.