Male Nurse asks - Is there a job for me after Disability?

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Specializes in school nursing.

I am a Male Nurse - second career - Graduated near the top of my class in 2007 - I have exhausted all the local health care facilities, schools and doctors offices in the Sarasota Florida area within driving distance of our home. Now I have been calling around nationally to Nursing agency for travel nurse positions looking for a job placement that does not require heavy lifting. It seems that in this current market - My 2 years experience working with the children and young adults of the Binghamton City School district in NY until my on the job injury - does not amount to the exact type of experience the present health care market requires. Even other school districts are requiring at least 3 years experience to get a foot in the door for an RN position. Nursing was a second career for me - and unfortunate as it is - truth be told I got hurt before I was doing it long enough. As i went straight to my Community Nursing job from graduation - I did not get the years of experience in a hospital setting that so many of the current job listing demand - and the hospitals do not hire nurses that are not able to lift a patient - at least not at my current level of experience. I am flat out stuck unless the job market changes - or an employer picks me over the thousands of more qualified people in the field who have all these special experiences on their resumes that I lack. Does anyone have a suggestion as to where I should go from here - or is my RN Nursoing career over?

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I searched 'RN' in Sarasota on CL, and found several jobs on the first page- however, like a previous post, I have to question whether those online jobs exist, or is just nonsense?

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Specializes in school nursing.

I keep trying - although I supect as do many others - that most of the job postings are not connected to real jobs - they are there for screening purpose - to see what the available help looks like - so they can feel comfortable firing employees they already have.

Many times I see an add - apply - and a few weeks later - read in the local news paper that the same place is doing layoffs or pushing senior employees to retire.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

Have you tried midnight shift in a nursing home? I'm referring to 11-7am or 10-6am. The CNAs will be doing most, if not all, of the heavy lifting and physical labor. You, as the nurse, will be engaged in light duties such as charting, medication pass, blood sugars, tube feedings, and reporting of changes in condition.

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Specializes in school nursing.

I have put in for many nursing home positions here in the sarasota area - and not a single interview. I think it is because I do not meet there requirements - Most are demanding a min of 1 year in a nursing home or med surge - and I went straight to the community health area of nursing.

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I worked in Pinellas County- there are over 100 nursing homes there. (Maybe one for every Wal-Mart?). I worked at a lot of them. Most of them are shockingly substandard, even gruesome. Anybody that walked in the door was hired, at most of them. I'm suprised to hear that you can't get into one in Sarasota- but they may have higher standards down there, however (it is a wealthier place, in fact- and almost like a different STATE). Are you telling them that you have a disability? You didn't specify what your disability is, in any case- but is it relevant to a nursing home job, etc?

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Specializes in school nursing.

My disability is following spinal surgery on my neck to decompress my flattened spinal cord in 2010 - I am unable to safely lift more than 10 pounds. I can't stay in any one position for more than 15 min - got to keep moving around to find comfortable positions. Have weened myself off the narcotic drugs - and function at a constant pain level (5-6) which I keep busy to distract me from focus on. I want to be useful as that is my training. I am not the type of person who can sit and do nothing for a check. I am still very able to do things of use and help people. My mind is active and my training is up to date. There must be something I can do to remain in Nursing as an RN ?

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Specializes in Psych, Med/Surg, LTC.

Sadly, you live in area with no jobs. There were more jobs in the Binghamton area, which I know was pretty poor when it comes to jobs as well. (I used to live very close to there until last year.) Have you applied to psychiatric hospitals or floors? An adolescent or children's unit would have very minimal lifting involved, if any, though you may have to be involved in applying restraints/take downs. Have you applied for home health? How about the red cross? Walk in clinics or urgent care centers? Even volunteer at a free clinic if you need experience. It is a tough place out there for newer nurses, especially those who are disabled. :-(

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

Wow - you're really in a tough spot. Even though it may seem counter-intuitive, I have often advised nurses with lifting limitations to look at LTC -- because most (at least in my part of the country) have very strict 'no lift' policies in place. They require use of mechanical lifts in all instances. But you are right, they really only want experienced folks for those RN positions.

Are there no community health positions that would be appropriate settings for you? What about clinics? MHMR centers?

I wish I had some brilliant ideas for you. Whatever you do, please prioritize your own health & safety.

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Specializes in Clinical Research, Outpt Women's Health.

Try searching for telephonics jobs you can do from home? Just an idea. I do not know what is out there.....

I wish you the best.

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Specializes in Oncology, Med-Surg.

Have you tried home health agencies? Very minimal physical work.

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Specializes in school nursing.

Telephonic Nurse positions are requiring 3 years med surge experience these days. I do not have that. The home health Agencys here in florida all require you to be able to lift a min of 100 pounds and ambulate patients around their home to prevent complications. They also require 1 year of FLORIDA home health care experience in this area. They are being very selective in the experience demands. My experience is 2 years in Community Health as a District Wide School RN Nurse. The schools are now demanding 3 years min experience. I am strongly considering letting my licence go dormant to aviod throwing good $ after bad - as it is very expensive to maintain a NY and a Florida RN at the same time. My unemployment is running out in a few weeks and I have seen no reason to be hopeful.

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