Nurses with disabilities

[bestblondRN]

I am curious as to how many of the members of this bb are nurses or nursing students with disabilities. By disabilities, I am including congenital problems, injury-related problems, or work-related injuries that have resulted in that person's inability to perform regular nursing tasks without accomodation or the inability to perform bedside nursing at all.

I am a 25 year veteran of healthcare, 20 of which have been as a RN. I sustained an initial back injury at age 18 while working my first job as a nurses' aide and now have severe thoracic and lumbo-sacral stenosis, disc herniation and degenerative disc disease/arthritis. I have been through PT and surgery is not currently an option due to the rehabilitation time and the fact that I carry all of our health benefits and cannot afford COBRA for that period of time at present. I have worked staff as well as management positions, but chose to return to staff nursing about 1-1/2 years ago in an effort to refresh my skills. Unfortunately, my back isn't able to handle it--even in an ICU setting where there is a smaller patient load. Now it's a question of finding a position that I am able to do and that I am not "overqualified" for. Believe it or not, even in this nursing shortage, it's tough to find a physically lighter position! I am fearful of revealing anything about my physical limitations to a potential employer, although a pre-employment physical exam as well as how poorly I am able to move some days would definitely show how advanced this problem is. I have contemplated applying for SSI disability, but I don't think I meet the criteria as it relates to my ability to learn a new job or to find something less physical in my current area of expertise. I have been forced to resign from 2 positions within the past year due to my back and am now having a really tough time finding something. It's humiliating as well as depressing.....

Have any of you ever faced these challenges? How did you handle them? What did you finally end up doing in order to obtain gainful employment?

Thanks for any input or advice any of you may have. :)

Suzanne

[jean1038]

Just want to add get a disability lawyer and they can help you get your SSI started... dont apply by yourself... for sure a lawyer will get your benefits started... and they get paid when you get paid...

go at it this way and you will get what you need...

jean:welcome:

Since you called roll I can honestly answer

"PRESENT."

A nurse with an injury or disability is a persona non grata to the human resources department. They do everything they can to APPEAR TO HELP you but in truth you are sunk.

It took literally years for me to get SSI and it's going to be years more before I can feel like holding my head up. The drop in income is dramatic, the attitudes of the people who you thought you knew is even more dramatic. I still feel like the invivible man in a crowd.

Good luck, I couln't afford the COBRA either. Mine would have gone from $35 q 2 weeks to $215 q 2 weeks. Fortunately it was Blue Cross and my husbands BC allowed me to join with no waiting.

Whether or not YOU think you qualify for SSI, make the application anyway. They have a complex formula based on your age, your education, your physical abilities to do your CURRENT job. Make the application.

[CCL"Babe", BSN, RN]

Originally Posted by P_RN

A nurse with an injury or disability is a persona non grata to the human resources department. They do everything they can to APPEAR TO HELP you but in truth you are sunk.

How true. HR told me that I would probably lose my job in the Lobby of the hospital. There I was crying, the day before my back surgery. not a pretty sight. The next time we spoke I demanded to talk in privacy. I did lose my job- The first legal day they could cut my job they did. I had a lot of anger for many years.

I am considered 28% disabled, but it is more than enough at times.

[walk6miles]

For those of you (personal experience) with spinal stenosis and/or discs that have collapsed onto each other, may I suggest XSTOP (google it and go to the creator's website).... I was desparate for pain relief and discovered this procedure only to find it was not approved by the FDA when I needed it. I considered going to England and/or Scotland for the placement of this ingenious device...... it has now been approved and there are physicians all over the country (including my town) who can place it.....instant relief.

I believe the creator is still under the manufacturing company "St Francis Medical Device". Contact me if you need assistance. I would definitely have it placed!

[Simplepleasures]

I havent been on this BB for a while due to health reasons, I too am a nurse with many years in the long term care field, 27 to be exact. Had to stop working for a couple of reasons, one being health, DDD, DJD of spine,DJD bilat. knees, inflammatory and osteo arthritis bilat hands, starting cataracts bilat. epi-retinal membrane right eye, left eye blind -malignant myopia.Age 55. Couldnt afford Cobra, life savings depleted, going to free clinic, which is great but does not offer comprehensive healthcare due to cost constraints, I need to see a rhuematologist and orthopedic surgeon, but they wont pay for this. I need a cervical MRI and an updated thoracic lumbar MRI, but free clinic also cannot provide due to cost constraints. Ive applied for SSDI, was denied,got SS attorney, am now in process of long wait for ALJ hearing due to backlogs in SSA. Have depleted savings,am greatful for the financial support of my children or I would be on the street.

I try not to feel sorry for myself, but there are days that it just cannot be helped. People who say that it is too easy to get approved for SSDI are wrong, there are 750,000 nation wide who are waiting for their SSDI cases to be heard in court.The reason for this backlog is due to this Administration cutting the SSA funding and the baby boomers aging not so gracefully.People have actually DIED waiting to be approved for SSDI. SAD. This is a national disgrace.

[HM2VikingRN, RN]

Inge,

I am so sorry that you have been ill. I was wondering about you just the other day. Please know that aq lot of people caqre about you.

[sharona97, BSN, RN]

Hi BB,

In my situation HR fired 3 persons with dis in one day. 2 had cancer. I collapsed 2 years prior in respo distress. I was working in a clinic that has a union ( I swore I'd never do that before as a very young prof person). they became involved and I did receive compensation in money as they posted my job without telling me! can U beleive that as a human to a human, and working in a field of compassion?

Sharona97

[Simplepleasures]

Inge,

I am so sorry that you have been ill. I was wondering about you just the other day. Please know that aq lot of people caqre about you.

Thankyou Viking, that means so much to me, no health insurance, cant afford Cobra, chronic condition and very rudimentary health care at free clinic makes for a situation in which a condition that could be improved has become worse.Thanks for your concern, am feeling a bit better now and will keep making trouble here on these forums.

[sharona97, BSN, RN]

i too worked with a CMA who was actually working and getting chemo and getting alot of guff at work. She passed..... as a single mother.

Myprayers are endless.

Sharona97

[Simplepleasures]

Hi BB,

In my situation HR fired 3 persons with dis in one day. 2 had cancer. I collapsed 2 years prior in respo distress. I was working in a clinic that has a union ( I swore I'd never do that before as a very young prof person). they became involved and I did receive compensation in money as they posted my job without telling me! can U beleive that as a human to a human, and working in a field of compassion?

Sharona97

Thank goodness you were in a union.

[timpanzee]

I, too, am considered working with a disability. I suffer from chronic pain due to cervical stenosis, back back. fibromyalgia, OA of knees - I am only 46, have been a nurse for 15 years. REcently applied and was offered job in outpt clinic. After pre-employment PE, due to history, job was rescinded. Filed with EEOC - they feel that although I was discriminated against, wasn't blatant ( as if walking in with cane and then being refused - this is 'legal discrimination'). Anyway, now filing law suit to have my case heard before jury. I am so angry I have never considered myself disabled since I continue to work, never call ouot, I do what I have to do to take care of my family. I take pain medication, PT, chiropractor, massage, heat, etc. My new DON also has severe pain and back problems so my history is not a problem, nor is my pain medication. I am blessed at this point, however, what and where do I go next if I want to change jobs. It will be issue again. I have learned NEVER to be honest when it comes to your health - I guess I should lie like others that actually get job and then go out on disaiblity for life. (Sorry, I worked for state system before and this happens all the time), Anyway, just wanted to vent - thanks for listening. I will make myself heard for all of disabled nurses work continue to work or attempt to work and are turned down. I will keep you updated on outcome. Wlll be awhile before court date.

[sharona97, BSN, RN]

I'm keeping my licensure current. I've always enjoyed CEU's and reading ,learning,etc. I could not bring myself to let the license go. HOPE, HOPE, HOPE!

[sharona97, BSN, RN]

You Said it all. You did not consider yourself a disabled nurse. It sounds like we went down the same path, except for the work comp part. i always received great reviews but never an incident report or work comp claim. They moved me from floor work to a non existing job until I flared again 9respiratory). I was misdiagnosed for 4 months. I do collect SSDI and I live in MN. We are and always will be nurses! I'm just waiting for the next door to open I'm to walk through and WORK again. Sharona97