Will this limit my nursing opportunities? (kind of long)

[Heloisea3]

I am starting a nursing program in August, and I have a few concerns. Before returning to school for nursing, I was a teacher. One day there was a huge fight between quite a few students, and it took seven of us to break up the fight. During the process, I was assaulted by a group of students for trying to help break up the fight. I was jumped on, kicked, and beat in the head by several students. As a result, I had several injuries to my head and back and ended up being on worker's comp for a year, going through physical therapy, etc. Prior to this, I had back pain that was manageable and didn't really influence my ability to do my job. For a year after this incident, however, my back pain was tremendous. After physical therapy and nursing all of my injuries, I now feel that I am able to get past this and carry on with school and work. However, we are required to have a physical for nursing school, and it specifically asks if we have had a history of back problems. I am really scared to put down that I have had back problems, but I want to be honest with them. I have already been accepted, so can this affect my being in the program? Also, I know that future employers will ask this same question and will also ask if you have ever filed for worker's comp. Will this prevent me from getting a nursing job? I would hate to get through school only to have doors closed in my face because I was forced to be on worker's comp for one year. It has been four years since this has happened. I did not return to teaching after that year because I did not want to teach any longer, so I have been a housewife since then. I have taken really good care of my back and my health during this time, and if I didn't feel like I was able to do this, I would do something else or stay at home, but I really do want to be a nurse and feel like I am capable of doing it. How will this influence school and future employment? Any advice?

[NikkiRN_BSN]

Some employers may have you do a functional assessment prior to starting to work for them. I went through one and they do a much better assessment of your back then a regular physical. Plus they have you lifting, carrying, stretching. It takes a couple of hours and it hurts to get out of bed the next day. If you don't pass it then the job offer is void. One local hospital makes all clinical staff go through this and a regular physical. Pretty much if you can lift 50 pounds and bend you'd be fine since I know a girl that had back issues and surgeries that passed it.

[Raeth]

I'm finishing first quarter of my clinical in long term care right now. I haven't lifted a single person without mechanical lift, and even w/ that all the facilities require that you use 2 people. You'll see some NACs in a hurry that feel the need to lift alone and too much (been there, done that) but I have yet to see a nurse do that.

Sorry to hear about your final experience as a teacher. I don't blame you for not going back! I hope this all works out for you.

[RN1121]

Well, here's my take on things: It DOES matter if you have a history of back problems because when you apply for a job in any clinical setting, they will ask you upon doing a physical if you have had any back problems or filed any workers comp claims.

This is not to say that you will have difficulty finding a position. Just keep in mind that you will be asked if you can perform the functions of the position with or without reasonable accomodations. You are more of a liability if you have or have had a hx of back issues. They may ask you for a report from your dr. stating you can perform the necessary duties of the position.