Doubting being an RN b/c physical problems

Nurses General Nursing

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Specializes in SDU, Tele.

Hi Nurses :redbeathe

A little about me. I'm 21 years old and just started my ADN nursing program last month.

I was born with knee dysplasia in both knees. I was constantly in the ER growing up. Got surgery in 2008 and 2009 to correct it. I have nasty chondromalacia in both knees and pretty much have trouble doing lots of stuff. Kneeling, crouching, powerwalking etc. I've been going to PT on and off since I was 14.

I worked as an HHA for a toddler recuperating from leukemia. Mind you, not a big baby, just average weight. Just a few days of taking care of the child, my left arm dislocated and had to start PT and leave my job.

About a year ago I was accepted into the same program. I deferred my acceptance because I was insecure about my ability to deal with 12 hr shifts, positioning pts, all the bending and crouching etc. Well I decided I should suck it up and give it a shot!

Sooo now I am in skills lab and am more discouraged than ever. We just did occupied beds and I feel so stupid--I can hardly move the mannequins. I need help to do everything. I have no physical strength whatsoever. I hurt my arms and shoulders for anything.

I love nursing, but I don't know if I can handle it. I would love to be a nurse educator but I know I have to get through clinicals before ANYTHING :crying2:

Any nurses out there who have arthritis or something and have any tips or encouragement for me? Is there no way through this? Should I just look into another career? :-/ Pls help.

love, me

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Specializes in Medical/Telemetry. Now ICU.

Heyyy....I have been a nurse for 3 years. I have a couple bulging discs, pinched nerves, and degenerative disc disease---after a car accident back in 2002....I do bedside nursing; did medical/tele and now in the ICU. I def feel a lot more achy, and in pain after I work...but I still do it. Hope it works out for you!

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Specializes in SDU, Tele.
Heyyy....I have been a nurse for 3 years. I have a couple bulging discs, pinched nerves, and degenerative disc disease---after a car accident back in 2002....I do bedside nursing; did medical/tele and now in the ICU. I def feel a lot more achy, and in pain after I work...but I still do it. Hope it works out for you!

Hey thanks for replying.

I guess I should have gone more in depth in my original post.

I keep having problems with my knees. I hurt my ligaments consistently over the stupidest things. Such is the case with my arm. In just one day it dislocated. I went to therapy for months and still am having issues. I may need surgery for this. My left knee is giving me more trouble again; I need to keep a brace on or else it will dislocate.

I am seeing my orthopedic surgeon next week.

I feel discouraged I feel like I am just going to injure something else before I get better. I don't know if I am making myself clear... =/

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I hear you. Frankly, nursing will eat you up and spit you out, physically.

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I too, am going through something similar. After landing a hospital position while in nursing school, I'm. Finding the physical aspect of the job to be demanding. I suffered a dislocated ankle in a car accident in 2008 and I leave work daily in pain. However, there are so many options with nursing. I dnt know where your faith lies, but I believe God has a position designed just for me!

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Specializes in SDU, Tele.
I hear you. Frankly, nursing will eat you up and spit you out, physically.

OUCH. :'( Yeah, that hit the spot alright.

Sigh I guess I have been trying to suck it up, man up, whatever. I am just very tired. I am scared to hear my surgeon's opinion; it might be similar to what you have said. I guess I have been running from the truth....

You think I should continue this semester at least? Maybe to see how I can handle it? Thank you all for your input... I appreciate it immensely. :heartbeat

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Specializes in SDU, Tele.
I too, am going through something similar. After landing a hospital position while in nursing school, I'm. Finding the physical aspect of the job to be demanding. I suffered a dislocated ankle in a car accident in 2008 and I leave work daily in pain. However, there are so many options with nursing. I dnt know where your faith lies, but I believe God has a position designed just for me!

Thank you :) I feel like you; I feel like God placed me here in this program and everything. I am just very insecure. I don't want to quit and then regret it. Really I am just so confused. I wish you the best.

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There are so many different things you can do in nursing. You don't have to be a hospital floor nurse! You could work in a Dr's office, or a school or at a college. You could even have a desk job as a nurse!

Don't listen to the one's saying nursing will eat you up and spit you out. That's not true, it's negativitiy. It's what you make it. If you really love it and can get through the clinicals, then you can work as a nurse.

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Specializes in SDU, Tele.

Thank you Sherry for your motivation. I see where you are coming from.

I made an appointment with my nursing adviser. I will talk with her about all that I have mentioned as well as what my surgeon says.

I am a very emotional person so needless to say this has been very draining for me. I don't want to be a quitter. But I also don't want to be unrealistic. I wonder if my school can somehow take it easy on me during these kinds of demanding skills.

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Obviously, you've been through a lot of pain and procedures with your situation. There are a lot of options in nursing- the only thing I'd ask is do you think you could deal with at least a couple of years (maybe less, if you get lucky :)) of floor experience (somewhere- maybe some area that requires minimal 'muscle' and leg motion) in order to meet experience requirements for a desk job? :twocents: If you can stick it out without causing damage that will make it so miserable your life is altered more, you may find something that really suits you. Good luck :)

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Thank you Sherry for your motivation. I see where you are coming from.

I made an appointment with my nursing adviser. I will talk with her about all that I have mentioned as well as what my surgeon says.

I am a very emotional person so needless to say this has been very draining for me. I don't want to be a quitter. But I also don't want to be unrealistic. I wonder if my school can somehow take it easy on me during these kinds of demanding skills.

My gut reaction to that is not a chance....nursing school is somewhat brutal. Can you work with your PT to find ways of adapting to the physical demands of nursing that you don't already have? PTs can be huge resources with nursing body mechanics :)

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Don't listen to the one's saying nursing will eat you up and spit you out. That's not true, it's negativitiy. It's what you make it. If you really love it and can get through the clinicals, then you can work as a nurse.

sorry sherri, but this is pure bunk.

i think sue was thinking of the bedside nurse...

and she is correct: it IS physically demanding.

she was not being "negative" but honest.

not everything in life, is resolved with cliches.

only op knows if she could tolerate a physically demanding job.

wishful thinking and "what you make of it", isn't going to cut it.

that said, i believe there are new grads out there, who wish they weren't deceived into entering nsg school.

media and colleges, make it sound as if there will be plenty of jobs, and that nursing is in demand.

i'm sure some wonder how their life would have turned out if only media et al, had been honest about it.

sometimes it's much kinder to try and lead the person away from fantasy thinking and into a profession more suitable.

op, bedside nursing is very tiring...physically and mentally.

lifting, rolling, toileting, stooping, bending, assisting w/other nurses/aides...it takes its toll on you.

i truly wish you well.

leslie

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