Tummy Tuck and BA- going back to work

Nurses General Nursing

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Hi all,

It's been a while since I have been on this site; I actually had to make a new profile. I work on a busy med/surg/onc unit and took 3 weeks off to get a tummy tuck and breast aug. My surgeon cleared me for work with the exception that I lift nothing heavier than 20 pounds for 6weeks po. I was going to call my nm to see what she thinks, but my biggest concern is pulling pts up in bed or max assist ambulation. Other than this, I feel that I will be able to perform my duties. I guess my concern is putting others out to help me with additional lift assist, etc. It would only be 3 weeks, but I hate the idea being less than I was before I left. What do you all think?

Thx

Specializes in geriatrics.

Everyone recovers differently, but 3 weeks is not really sufficient when you factor in all the lifting and pulling. I had a breast augmentation in 2001, before I was a nurse, and I remember the lengthy recovery. There is no WAY I would have wanted to lift for hours a day after only 3 weeks. I'd say 6 weeks roughly, considering you've had 2 surgeries. Your co-workers are taxed as it is, so unless they can give you modified duty, I'd stay home longer.

So does anyone have any experience with leave of absences? I have been employed with this hospital for 10 months; I had moved from VA last year, but I have excellent rapport with my managers and coworkers and no history of call outs or penalties. Do I have a good chance of being awarded loa if I am under a year? Kinda worried that I might be stuck...wasn't expecting to be out this long.

Making an appt with my nm tomorrow...wish me luck...

Specializes in geriatrics.

You need to talk to your NM, but taking LOA under one year is pushing it. Could you not have waited for these surgeries a little longer? Too late now...but bad timing, IMO.

Specializes in Emergency & Trauma/Adult ICU.

FMLA regs require the employee to have been employed at least one year.

Did your pre-op teaching with your surgical provider not include some discussion about recovery time? As nurses we are also in a position to use our own clinical knowledge of wound healing and typical post-op progression.

Specializes in Emergency & Trauma/Adult ICU.

This thread has got me thinking about the number of ER patients I have had present with "pain" after elective plastics procedures. These patients just seem to be unprepared for post-op pain, management of drains, etc. Any nurses out there from surgical practices who can contribute here and let us know what is included in typical pre-op teaching?

Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.

One of my facilities does not offer "light duty." You either work, take a LOA, or find yourself out of a job. The other facility, IF they can use you, may put you on "light duty" by removing you from the bedside entirely and placing you in an administrative role. Key word: if.

IMO, I agree with Joanna73. Unless these surgeries can't wait, I'd postpone them until you've been there a year and/or have a better shot at getting LOA. If you are really insistent about having the surgeries ASAP, another option is to see they will offer you an unpaid LOA--that may let you keep your job in the long run, though you'd take a financial hit.

Also, I'd follow your healthcare provider's recommendations regarding return to work and the limitations you have while you are recovering. While they are cosmetic procedures, they are still surgical procedures that require recovery--the fact that it's plastic surgery doesn't mean you'll be ready to spring back to a full workload in a week or two.

Best of luck whatever you decide!

ETA: I see you already had the surgeries, so scratch the advice about waiting. The rest still applies. Hope your recovery is speedy and safe!

So, yes, I don't feel that her preop teaching was sufficient.....but as a nurse, I have to take some blame in the sense that I should have looked up weight limitations for this procedure. She did an excellent job with my surgery; couldn't be any happier with the outcome, but part of me suspects that she may have "overseen" weight limitations to get me to surgery as I told her I was a nurse in a heavy workload environment.

Spoke with NM. I do qualify for FMLA with 60% pay (what?!)...I just didn't want to lose my job. I have to stay out till MD clears me for 50+ lbs, which is for the best, although I am going to go crazy in the next few weeks. As for job security, my position on the unit cannot be guaranteed, but it is secure in the hospital. My NM said she has to put out an opening for my position, but she won't be actively looking for another 3 weeks. I got lucky, for sure. I just hope she clears me by 6 weeks!

Specializes in Emergency & Trauma/Adult ICU.
Spoke with NM. I do qualify for FMLA with 60% pay (what?!)...I just didn't want to lose my job. I have to stay out till MD clears me for 50+ lbs, which is for the best, although I am going to go crazy in the next few weeks. As for job security, my position on the unit cannot be guaranteed, but it is secure in the hospital. My NM said she has to put out an opening for my position, but she won't be actively looking for another 3 weeks. I got lucky, for sure. I just hope she clears me by 6 weeks!

This is not FMLA. FMLA is unpaid leave. It's probably a short-term disability benefit, and you'll want to find out ASAP how long it takes to kick in. Really, you should have all this information available to you in your employee handbook, either paper form or on the facility's intranet.

Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

Check your own organization's policy to make sure but . .

In my organization, We have to use PTO for the first week of medical leave, then Short Term Disability kicks in at 60% of salary. You can opt to just use PTO if you have enough & want to continue 100% pay. You can't return to work without physician clearance - signature on the form that lists all the 'normal' physical and functional requirements for your job. Managers cannot clear an employee to return to work - only the physician.

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