Major career and life crossroads

Nurses General Nursing

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Loved ER nursing and EMS, spent most of my life with them. In January a "perfect storm" happened to my back and disabled me. Through the aging process, some genetic influences, illness, and old trauma from some recreational stuff (piloting, parachuting, motorcycling, just the usual stuff), and my employer couldn't get me out the door fast enough. Protect your backs!

My doc says find a job I can do by phone at home. No standing, walking, lifting. CPR? forgedaboutit! I applied for SS Disability and what scares me the most is that they gave it without a fight. I'm working through the stages with a big emphasis on denial, but I'll concede to undulent depression.

Late 50's, single, no extended family, most of my material possesions went for survival this year and a previous knee replacement (no home), so all I've got is SS Disability. I need and want more, and with huge experience under my belt I feel I must be able to work somewhere. My soldier/daughter has taken me in for now or I'd be forwarding my mail to my car.

The sedentary jobs posted online all want lots of experience in case management or whatever the field they're offering. It's pretty much a given I'd have to leave the Southern NM/West TX area, and moving again isn't high on my list of favorites anymore.

So there's my mess, and my wide open wound. I've done some wonderful things in life, now I need to figure how to let life help me, unaccoustamed as I am. Constructive criticism is fine. Sympathy is soothing, suggestions are great. Inside tips on lottery numbers would be great. I've run out of ideas, so hit me with your best shot (figuratively, puhlease).

How about Staff Development Coordinator or MDS Coordinator in a LTC Facility?

I'm an MDS Coordinator (Absolutely NO hands on care & I Love it).

Take Care!! :)

In that case, you are VERY lucky. I've held both of those positions and watched other nurses in the same positions in other facilities, and believe me when I tell you that I and they were pulled to floor duty, wound care, night and weekend on-call (when we were inevitably called to cover a nurse call-in--something so inevitable we even knew in advance who would call-in and what the silly excuse would be) and to even cover for CNA absences so much we had trouble finding the time to do the jobs we had been hired for.

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My doc says find a job I can do by phone at home. No standing, walking, lifting. CPR? forgedaboutit! I applied for SS Disability and what scares me the most is that they gave it without a fight. I'm working through the stages with a big emphasis on denial, but I'll concede to undulent depression.

I'm just asking to satisfy my curiosity: how long did it take for them to approve your SSD after you submitted your application?

I am so sorry that things have gone so badly for you.

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Try contacting your states Department of Vocational Rehabilitation about re-training assistance.

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Specializes in floor to ICU.

Someone mentioned public health. I used to do public health and it wasn't a physically demanding job. It was interesting. I did disease investigations, educated private/public practices on immunizations and communicable diseases, dispensed federally funded vaccines and kept up with a slew of monthly reports.

Good luck. Sorry to hear about your situation. Keep us posted, k?

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Yes, I'm asking again. I have a good reason to want to know: how long did it take for them to approve your SSD after you submitted your application?

I am so sorry that things have gone so badly for you.

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Specializes in ER, Trauma.
I'm just asking to satisfy my curiosity: how long did it take for them to approve your SSD after you submitted your application?

I am so sorry that things have gone so badly for you.

Thank you. I never realised how much kind words mean until now. It took 6 months to get approved. Each state makes the determination of disability for it's residents, so this could vary a lot. I got approved without having to make any appeals, which would have dragged things out much longer.

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Thank you. I never realised how much kind words mean until now. It took 6 months to get approved. Each state makes the determination of disability for it's residents, so this could vary a lot. I got approved without having to make any appeals, which would have dragged things out much longer.

Thanks for the response. I have an ex coworker who has finally had to pack it in due to the effects of severe COPD. She soldiered on for as long as she could, but it finally became too difficult just to get ready to go to work every day, much less trudge the hallways and deal with all of the other physical aspects of nursing. She's worried about the rumored two-year waiting period for a decision (approval or denial) and wondering how she is going to survive without income. At least now I have something a little more positive to tell her. Thank you.

Next, with heart disease, severe arthritis and my own lung disease, it'll be me filling out that paperwork and hanging fire.

Did we ever think this would happen to us?!

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Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.
QUOTE=TakeOne;4516990]Thanks for the response. I have an ex coworker who has finally had to pack it in due to the effects of severe COPD. She soldiered on for as long as she could, but it finally became too difficult just to get ready to go to work every day, much less trudge the hallways and deal with all of the other physical aspects of nursing. She's worried about the rumored two-year waiting period for a decision (approval or denial) and wondering how she is going to survive without income. At least now I have something a little more positive to tell her. Thank you.

Next, with heart disease, severe arthritis and my own lung disease, it'll be me filling out that paperwork and hanging fire.

Did we ever think this would happen to us?!

No, and dthfytr's story and many others I am aware of make me sad. I'm about as far away from Michael Moore as you can be politically, and yes a company can legally shuffle a long-time employee to the door instead of accomodating his physical limitations in house, but that just aint right. There's no employee-employer compact anymore.

SSDI/SSI typically is very hard to get approved these days based on the anecdotal evidence I'm aware of (meaning personal knowledge of qualified people being denied). There are a lot of hoops to jump through, paperwork and appeals multiple times in many cases. Six months is like- a record!!! :up:

Best to you dthfytr!! Hoping for a positive outcome after all you've been through!

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Specializes in NICU/Subacute/MDS.

I am so sorry to hear your story. It must have been truly awful for you this past year. You have a wonderful and loving daughter!

I think telephone triage is truly a wonderful idea for you. Your knowledge and years of experience are needed.

You may also consider remote online teaching. There are many online nursing classes offered by online and brick and mortar schools. Just look for online nursing programs and apply to the various schools. You wouldn't have to leave your home!

Please keep us updated!

Best of luck, God bless you!

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