New nurse with severe osteoarthritis and a bad knee

[lovinmymac]

Hi everyone! I have been reading everyone's posts and it sounds like a lot of the things that I have. At least I am not alone. I just got my RN license last week. I am desperate for a job. I have 2 disabled children and my hubby is retired. I am the only one left who can work. My other son is working now and has been helping me since I quit my last job so that I can get through school. Well, school is over. I am nervous now cause I am having difficulty finding a job. I want to work for our hospital but I am afraid no one will hire me. I am walking better than I was. I have a curvature of the spine with degenerative joint disease of spine, with osteoarthritis in bilateral knees, hips, and spine. I need a job so bad. I don't know what to do. I don't want to go back to long term care and I am in my early 40's. I want to do something different. I started out as a LPN in a hospital, moved and then I worked in long term care until I had to quit to finish school and because I was literally almost in a wheelchair. I don't have that much swelling now, but my knee wants to lock up every now and then. And most of the jobs I have seen available are psych or you have to have a bachelor's degree. I don't have that yet and I am not enrolled in college right now because I have to pay for my RN schooling first. Our area is getting a new hospital which is opening soon, and I am thinking of applying for general surgery. What do you think I should do? I have to work, I can't quit now. I am walking and I passed my physical and I can lift up to 50 lbs but not over that. I haven't been to my regular doctor in over a year or so because I had no money and no job and no insurance. What do I do? What can I apply for?

[DSkelton711]

I loved the Staff Development part of my LTC jobs. Teaching is a lot of fun in many ways---it's so gratifying when you can see the connections being made in a learner's brain and they GET IT!

Come to think of it........maybe that's what MY next job should be.....I'm looking too.

Viva---are you going to resign from your position? I had to resign at the direction of my doctor and due to the fact I couldn't physically manage anymore with my DDD, fibro and BP. I hope you have success in whatever you do--you are a very special person. You would be great at some type of teaching or consulting!!

[countrygonecity]

Well so far no job yet. I don't know if it is caused by me listing my previous LPN experience or last employer or if it is because of my physical limitations. I'm about to lose hope it's benn almost a month. Should I leave my previous employer info off the resume?

[lovinmymac]

Well, I have a question, should I lie and not tell anyone that I have osteoarthritis, degenerative joint disease, scoliosis of the lower spine, and venous insufficiency with heavy leg syndrome? I've been filling out multiple job applications, applied online, and so far no job due to problems with walking. I am much better now and I got through my clinicals and schooling, but was hard. I finished school and I've noticed that I am able to be on my feet for a few hours at a time and can do just fine with a few breaks like for less than fifteen minutes or so. I was told that the reason I am not getting hired is because I am telling the employer about my leg problems. Well, I don't want to lie, but that is what I was told that I have to do if I want a job. I do want a job, not a full time one just yet, but I feel as I am getting better with mobility and things that I think I may be able to get on full time in the future. I told one in an interview the other day that I don't think it would affect me if I were to work part time or PRN. The facility I applied for is very small and not many patients, so I don't think it would be difficult at all. We are very close to the dining room and other nurses help you with anything you need. I would be really happy if I get this job. It pays well and the tasks are not as many as I had before, but it is a long term care facility. I wanted something different when I first got my RN in March of this year, but right now I will be happy with anything and happy to just be able to put food in our mouths and pay bills. But what do I do, just lie or not say anything at all. See I left on bad terms at other job cause I had shots put in my knee and I couldn't walk, so I had to finish school and I couldn't do the job and school too, so I had to pick and choose. I chose my RN over the LPN job. I knew that if I dropped out of school that I wouldn't be able to get back in. So I wanted to give 2 week notice but I didn't get to do that. I almost got fired for calling in cause of my leg, so I just quit and didn't go back. I called them and explained to them what I had done and what was happenig, they told me to get a statement from my doctor so that I could leave on good terms. Well, my doctor would not send over the letter because I had not seen her since May or June of that year, and I quit in November. She wouldn't even refill my thyroid meds or my heart meds, or nothing. So I've been without a job, without insurance, without a doctor, the whole thing. I fought for my strength to continue in nursing school to get my RN. I wanted my RN and that was my goal. It was hard, but I did it. So now I don't have a job but I have the RN. Now what??? I applied for case management they want a certified person for that. I've applied for health department, clinics, hospitals, private practices, you name it. Too many to count. So I am hoping that the interview I had the other day is enough to pull me through to get a job. But if I don't get the job, what should I do?