[Disablednurse]

I got some good news today, I was given my disability back to the date that I was unable to work in December of 2001. I am so happy and can stop worrying so much. It sure does take a load off my mind.

[pickledpepperRN]

Disablednurse:
Finally! You at least need an income.

I'm very fortunate. I've not injured my back in 30 years of nursing. Had a shoulder injury from an accident. Hospital just glad it wasn't workmens comp. Off four months. Hurt the other side 3 years later. Kept working by paying an orthopod for the 1st visit instead of waiting for the HMO authorization.

Great nursing coworkers becaiuse I work in ICU with adultd. Sometimes we all have 200- 300 pound immobile ventilated patients. I can go to the 'pulling toward me' side OK thanks to PT and daily workouts. The 'toward you' side is impossible.

I work registry and have never been made a 'Do not Send' when the other staff member has to go to one side of the bed.

Osteoarthritis at old injury sites and neck has me taking naproxen on work days.
If I were young with a back injury I would learn NICU.
There should be 'lift teams' of strong young people to help our aging nurses. Used to have 'orderleys' and a 'night man'
I saw an ad with two young men who looked like bodybuilders in scrubs to recruit licensed nurses.

Kaiser has 'telephone advice nurses'. One has MS and uses a wheelchair.

For others I an VERY GLAD to work and pay taxes so nurses who need it can have a decent income and healthcare! I's better to support a malingerer than deny a deserving person. Just my opinion.
Jus read the stories here to be inspired.
Thank you all!

Bless you all. Nurses are a great bunch. We should hav

[zudy]

Originally posted by Disablednurse
I got some good news today, I was given my disability back to the date that I was unable to work in December of 2001. I am so happy and can stop worrying so much. It sure does take a load off my mind.

Disabled nurse, I am so happy for you! I hope this makes things easier on you and your husband. Hang in there!

[mattsmom81]

Congrats Disablednurse!! I'm very glad for you!!

[bestblondRN]

Originally posted by Disablednurse
I got some good news today, I was given my disability back to the date that I was unable to work in December of 2001. I am so happy and can stop worrying so much. It sure does take a load off my mind.

That's wonderful news Disablednurse! I know what you mean about financial worries. This must be the day when good karma was headed into allnurses land, because I also got good news today--I landed the outpatient neuro clinic position! I am JAZZED!!!!!!!!! I start the 23rd--WOO-HOO!!!!!!!!!!!

[TELEpathicRN]

I too need to join this club! I'm 28 years old and have Fibromyalgia, RLS, and probable MS....plus two buldging thoracic disks and one "leaking" sacral one and various bone spurs, arthritis, etc... (these were found by MRI'S trying to R/O MS). I work acute dialysis and it is becomming challenging to make it through each day!! Supposed to work 10 hr shifts, but sometimes they are 12+ and we have to take call!! I'm not sure how much longer I will be able to tolerate standing up virtually all day, the lifting required, and the long hours.
I am in constant pain, thinking about trying to change into a case mgmt job or MDS job, but they are few and far between where I live. Thought about going back to adult ICU, would only be 3 12 hr shifts per week, might be easier on my body. Any thoughts?

[healingtouchRN]

well I work in an adult ICU & last week several of my intubated pts were well over 400 lbs. & intubated. So if that means less work then go for it. It took all of my staff plus some from CVI downstairs everytime we needed to clean him up. about 5 of us to move him. careful about coming in with back complaints because after working with pts like him, everyone's back aches. & I work 3-12's (ususally in that dept) so by the 3rd 12 I am so tired I could cry. Did mention I have 3 jobs?

[mattsmom81]

Originally posted by bestblondRN
That's wonderful news Disablednurse! I know what you mean about financial worries. This must be the day when good karma was headed into allnurses land, because I also got good news today--I landed the outpatient neuro clinic position! I am JAZZED!!!!!!!!! I start the 23rd--WOO-HOO!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm so glad for you...hope it works and that you get to feeling better soon.

[mattsmom81]

I actually tolerate ICU patients MUCH better than floor patients. The ICU patients are mostly on bedrest and I can adapt to that...it's more controlled work to me, and I can raise the bed to a good height.

What kills me is the floor patients on BRP who are weak, who pull on me to get them OOB to the BR every 2 hrs, etc. Some of THEM are 400 #. OUCH.

So we're all different, and have to find out what works for US. If we can identify which movements and tasks aggravate our pain, we can move to an area with less of that.

Altho the lifting was nil, I know I could not do NICU cuz of arthritis in my neck...couldn't tolerate working over the isolettes the whole shift. Same with cath lab due to the lead aprons.

We all do the best we can, don't we?

[Disablednurse]

Thanks everybody and congrats BestblondeRN.