Need advice from experienced peers

[LaVorneRN]

I am a fairly new member here and value the advice of you wise folks here. I have a slight problem and would love some input.

As I have previously posted around here, I am a new grad(last May) with 15 years hosp. experience as a CNA, phlebot., unit secretary, and went to school full time while in school. I have worked on every unit as well as the ususal clinical experience. The problem is this:

I am recovering from a car wreck that happened 2 weeks after grad. and although both legs were broken, a knee, ankle, and arm I am recovering pretty well. I spent some months in rehab. hosp. and we(husband and I) are still in outpatient P.T. My LE strength isn't up to par. I am able to walk even shuffle quickly as opposed to running!;-D I just had surgery to re-rod a non-union humerus fracture. I passed my boards Feb.14th and got my license March 5th. I know work is out at least until July or August but my question is this:

Is there any aspect of nursing "you" think would be appropriate at that time since I am sure physically I will still be somewhat limited? I worked so hard for this and I don't want to throw it all away because some careless kid rear ended us on I-10. I also don't want to stay out of the game any longer than I have to if I have options. I am sure by the grace of God and by the end of this year I will be 100% again.I honestly respect the input here due to the variety of nursing specialties here. I am not new to the realm of nursing but it is from the perspective of a CNA. Thanks in advance for the 411.

[Kathy Gallimore]

Be patient you have your career but if you push yourself you may not heal properly and you won't have a body to be able to accomplish what you want to do in your career. Understandable though. I would do some research if I was you . You can learn and maybe for some places help with research. Kathy

[LaVorneRN]

Thank you Kathy. You're a Mom, aren't you? That just sounded so maternal. You are so right. I have to watch myself around the house too, wanting to get back to normal so bad and pushing myself. But it's like you said if I don't heal properly it won't matter. I have just wanted to do this so bad for so long. Now I have it and I sit like a bump on a log. I am working on some CEU's right now and I have contacted the Florida Nurse Assoc. regarding other CEU options. I can work on that too while I'm kinda incapacitated.

I think someone asked what part of FL I am in. I'm in NW-Fort Walton Beach (an hour from Pensacola).

Thanks again Kathy I appreciate your words of wisdom!

Peace and blessings

[whipping girl in 07, RN]

I wish you luck in finding a job that you can do in nursing with no experience that does not involve physical exertion. These jobs are hard to come by when one has experience; I imagine it's much hardeer when you have no experience.

A doctor's office may be the only thing you can get, and it probably won't pay as well as a hospital.

Hang in there.

Konni

[Grace Oz]

Originally posted by konni

I wish you luck in finding a job that you can do in nursing with no experience that does not involve physical exertion. These jobs are hard to come by when one has experience; I imagine it's much hardeer when you have no experience.

A doctor's office may be the only thing you can get, and it probably won't pay as well as a hospital.

Hang in there.

Konni

Geez, not very encouraging, Konni!

Let's think of the cup as half FULL instead of half EMPTY aye?

[passing thru]

I saw a job listing on the bulletin board at work. The hospital is hiring two "pre-certification nurses." The nurses do office type work all day. The patients come into the outpatient area and are interviewed and their insurance info is taken and the pre-certification nurse does all the paperwork to make sure their insurance will pay for whatever it is they are coming in for.

That would work for you. Just something else to consider til you are "fully mended."

[Kathy Gallimore]

You are welcome Lavorne. Yes I am a mother, but I was speaking also from experience. You got to take care of yourself in order to be able to take care of others. Good luck! Kathy

[LaVorneRN]

Originally posted by Grace Oz

Geez, not very encouraging, Konni!

Let's think of the cup as half FULL instead of half EMPTY aye?

Grace-you took the words right outta my mouth. My cup is always half full, by the way:D

[LaVorneRN]

Originally posted by konni

I wish you luck in finding a job that you can do in nursing with no experience that does not involve physical exertion. These jobs are hard to come by when one has experience; I imagine it's much hardeer when you have no experience.

A doctor's office may be the only thing you can get, and it probably won't pay as well as a hospital.

Hang in there.

Konni

By the looks of the responses I've already received there obviously are quite a few options available to me. But thanks for the good luck. I'm sure you meant well.:stone

[hoolahan, ASN, RN]

How about a dialysis unit? It is being on your feet, but not as much walking as it is usually limited to one large room, and your pt's are closer together?

You will use a lot of skillls, giving IV and po meds, giveing blood, teaching diabetic pt's, treating hypotension and electrolyte disorders... and no Sundays or night shifts. There is always a Saturday commitment, and likely some rotation to eves, unless you find a unit lucky enough to have a fully staffed eve shift.

Case management usually requires some clinical expereince, but some places are desperate, so try HMO's.

Home Healt? As a HH nurse, I would be concerned for you. There is some physical strain in this job. Just yesterday I had to kneel down on a pt's disgusting floor to do foot dressings. Some pt's do not have hospital beds, so you have to bend over at awkward angles to change foley's, or do dressings. Lots of the od folks homes are hazardess, steps in poor repair, sidewalks not shoveled when it snows. I would be really worried for you that you may re-injure yourself. You need to be in an ergonimically correct situation, and people's home do not meet this criteria.

#1 is to take care of you.

Oh yeah, lots of ads around me for telephone triage nurses in peds offices. They usually have an algorithm or script to follow, so even if you don't have expereince, you can follow the instructions or always ask the doc.

[LaVorneRN]

Actually hoolahan, I forgot about dialysis. It is another area I am interested in as well as phoresis. My goal is to be able to do a "potporri" of skills in nursing. I'll look into it as well as triage. And by the way, you are sweet for all the worrying you have done about me. :) Smooches and thanks!

[LaVorneRN]

By the way you lovely healers, my husband has been quite impressed with the usfulness of this thread. He is impressed with the information I have been getting as well as the sincerity from you all. You have justified my time spent addicted to these boards!