Advice for vein/foot problems, RN job options

MPHkatie · Apr 5, 2003

At my hospital, many of the oncology patients come in once weekly for radiation or for chemo. The nurses who work in those areas start the IV's, give the chemo, or get the pt ready for rads. and they have a great deal of patient interaction. One of the qualifications, however, is that you be a decent IV stick, and as a new grad, you probably don't have a lot of experience sticking. However, with the shortage, there's any number of opportunities such as that....

KaroSnowQueen, RN · Apr 5, 2003

My hubby has terrible varicose veins to the point they would burst open and literally shoot blood across the room. He does better in jobs where he is on his feet, as the leg motion keeps up the circulation, etc. He wears very supportive shoes and 30-40 mmHg hose, have to be specially ordered by the drugstore.

He had a job where he sat and or stood motionless most of the day and his legs went to heck.

Not much help on jobs, I know, but thought I'd pass on the experience, that less motion is bad. He goes to a vein specialist, and that is the advice he was given.:)

PennyLane, RN · Apr 5, 2003

Well, this is not proven, but I have found that for me, taking 400 IUs of Vitamin E really helps take away that aching feeling I get in my legs. I used to wait tables, and I could always tell if I had forgotten to take it. My mom has really bad varicose veins, so I know I'm probably at risk. I never found anything to help my aching feet, though.

Also Horse Chestnut is supposed to be good for circulation.

P_RN, ADN, RN · Apr 5, 2003

I found that our floor being carpeted in the halls was much less fatiguing on my legs than when I'd float to the other unit that was tiled. It made a world of difference.

I wear TEDS, have good support shoes etc. take Ca and Vit E along with MV.

There is some herbal literature that endorses grapeseed for leg pain. I don't know why it works but Venistat helped. I am not prescribing or anything just for info only.