What to do? Any Suggestions?

[GatorRN]

I have always been a critical care nurse and I now need a change. I fairly recently had to have a hip replacement due to Idiopathic Avascular Necrosis. My other hip will also need replaced sooner or later....hopefully later (knock on wood). Since all I've ever done is ICU work I have limited knowledge as to what other types of jobs an RN can do that involves limited patient care. I have restrictions now with an artificial hip that I've never had before as well as substantial pain in my other hip. Another problem I'm running into is that I need to work part-time at least for now. By part-time I mean only a few hrs a day as opposed to working an 8 or 12 hr shift. I guess what I'm trying to say is that I need a, "test the waters" kind of thing to find out what I can and can't do with my limitations, or to learn a new way of doing things that need done as far as patient care goes, with my restrictions and how long of a day I can stand at this point. I've been out of work almost 2 yrs now. I've had 2 surgeries to try to save the hip joints and ultimately a replacement of my rt hip. I'm not in a financial situation right now to be able to go several more months without a paycheck to go ahead and get the other hip done. I have no bf or husband to pay my bills for me. I've thought about checking into doing home care through an agency. But quite honestly that doesn't excite me very much, although I realize my choices are limited. I would love to go back to my unit but I know that just isn't possible right now. At least doing home care would give me a lil break between pts and I wouldn't be on my feet nonstop. It would also allow me the flexibility to work limited hrs during the day. I'm also not sure how to handle the fact that I have to take pain meds now with a prospective employer. I know they will show up in the drug screening tests. I take ER tabs and IR tabs to be able to function at all. I've been on them for so long now that I get no drowsy or confusion effects at all. Guess I'll cross that bridge when I get there. Just a quick heads up, if you're not signed up for the disability insurance offered through your workplace, pls sign up now!!! I didn't and wish I had. I never dreamed that at the age of 42 I would have this type of unexpected medical problems. If anyone has any ideas that would work out for me with my situation, I would be very interested in hearing them, and would greatly appreciate it. Sorry to have rambled on and on. Thank you for taking the time to read this post.

[weetziebat]

Sorry to hear about the medical problems. I agree that signing up for the disability insurance is an excellent idea. One never knows, as you found out!

In Home Health you have to lug around a dang heavy suitcase (at least I did). Its on wheels, but that doesn't count when you're trying to wheel it across a rocky field. It also requires a lot of bending and crouching. Don't know what restrictions you'll be on, but would a sitting job be better?

I've done a number of jobs that were easy physically - have you thought about working for an insurance company, or HMO? I did ETOH/drug rehab. which consisted of little more than talking with clients and giving meds - and of course, paperwork. I also worked with MR/DD clients in group homes - monitoring their health needs and training/delegating caregivers.

Would you be interested in Home Infusion? Here there is quite a need for these nurses. Or telephone triage? I was offered a job as 'breast care nurse' at a clinic. Consisted of initial visit for mammogram, then following woman through if F/U needed. I would think the problem may lie (and I could be totally wrong) in trying to find positions that would allow you to work only a few hours a day. Hope not!

Don't know if your in a large city or tiny-dot-on-the-map, so not sure how many positions come up, but there really are quite a few options for different types of nursing. Would think being on prescribed pain meds for a chronic condition would be understandable, as you already know if they cause side-effects that would affect your work.

Good Luck in your job search :)

Edited to say if I'd looked at your location it would have been a lot smarter on my part - DUH!

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

Sorry GatorRN for your pain. Here are my suggestions:

1. Case management - some jobs you can do from home.

2. Telephone triage.

3. Assisted living - these pts are independent.

4. School nursing - schools would be handicapped accessible and you could use a scooter to get around.

5. Hate to suggest this one but here goes...bite the bullet and go back to school. With an advanced degree, you could teach (part-time too), have more options.

I am so sorry for your pain. If you have been on the MS for a prolonged period of time (and I gather you have), then you are opiod-tolerant and there shouldn't be a problem working with it, once you have informed your employer.

[meownsmile, BSN, RN]

Also i might suggest looking into county health departments. They utilize Rn's to teach some of their adolescent and teen prevention programs as well as for assisting with office type procedures in house (vag exams, well baby checks) and it would give you some opportunity to be off your feet some times doing paperwork involved.

I also agree insurance companies hire Rns to do their in home screenings for life and medical policies

[gr8rnpjt, RN]

at least in the state in which I work, an employer cannot discriminate against you based on the meds you have a valid prescription for. If drug tested, be honest and up front about the meds and have a copy of your rx available (or the pharmacy receipt listing the drugs)

working for an insurance company is not a bad idea. You will work steady daylight and weekends off. you are off your feet most of the day, and the stress is not so intense. (even though there is stress, it is a different kind of stress). Some companies offer part time and/or job sharing.

[GatorRN]

Thank you all very much for all the great ideas. Your suggestions have definately opened my eyes to many different types of nursing that I had not thought of. I guess my focus for so many yrs has been on caring for critical care patients that it was hard to look beyond floor work involving vents, cardiac drips etc...

A few of you mentioned that you didn't think my being on prescribed meds should be a problem, thats good to hear too. I definately have developed a tolerance and can't work without them. I'm crossing my fingers that this doesn't become an issue.

Thanks again for taking the time to read my post and respond. I greatly appreciate your helpful suggestions. :)