RN Wrist Injury Inhibits Lifting, Need to Transition out of Patient Care

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I am a RN who sustained a wrist injury at work, over a year ago. I am unable to lift, push, pull, or carry over 15 pounds with both hands. This restricts any patient care jobs or anything requiring me to do effective CPR. I am restricted with an ADN and 4 years experience working primarily in the ED.

I am thinking about Nurse Case Management. I have noticed most of these jobs require experience in case management and/ or a BSN. I have also looked into the RN to BSN programs. This may be an option if I cannot find a job without it. I have been researching and feel like I am going in circles here. I am trying to stay positive throughout this.:yes: I know there must be something out there!

Anyone with any ideas, advice, or experience with this please help!!! Thank you!!!

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First thought is that if you're moving away from bedside, you MUST get a BSN, no more questioning involved. Get it. There are jobs in utilization management (quality management/control). Patient safety advocacy and infection control, occupational health..... requiring more experience OR a higher education than ASN. I found this to be the case when I was looking to transition away from bedside as well. With more experience and background behind me I had a better time of it, BUT I knew that without a BSN, I was much more limited. In the end of found something I really love that was "BSN preferred" but my own resume made ME preferred. And yes, I've now got 'get BSN' on my short-list agenda :)

At this point, you really don't have enough experience to draw on to be one of those people who transition easily/quickly into desk-nursing positions, but with a BSN, you can!

Stay positive, but get a higher degree!

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Specializes in NICU.

Try NICU. No lifting, pulling or pushing. :-)

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I started my first job in a call center representing pharmaceutical companies ( No BSN req). You can try searching for telecommunications, insurance RN positions, data entry/quality control and case management positions. Continue to search, yes many prefer BSN, but some will still hire you without it.. Just know that you may have to pursue your BSN in order to gain better opportunities and management roles.

Good luck!

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What are you doing now?

Since it was an on the job injury, are they required to keep you employed in some capacity?

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Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

NICU, seriously. The least physically demanding job in nursing. It might get you through until you CAN get the BSN.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

If the wrist injury would cause problems with typing/using a keyboard, this would be a huge challenge in many types of non-clinical jobs. Just a thought.

Hopefully, you have also investigated disability benefits, including job re-training since you are now unable to pursue your former career.

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Thank you everyone for your posts, and the thought of NICU. HouTx thank you for your input. I just started job retraining and I am in the planning stage. MULAN I am not employed from the company, since I can not do the duties required for the position. They do not have any obligation to keep a position open for someone over the time allotted from FMLA law, from my experience. Union laws may be different, but this does not apply to my situation.

Thank you for the information about the BSN. I really was hoping for a transition without having to have one. Thank you everyone!!! Let me know if you think of anything else.

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