Disabled or Retired Nurses

Nurses Retired

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I'd like this area to focus on back in time when we worked as nurses. Of interest are unusual nursing situations.

hi Code 50,

back injuries are tough, and it can be a long and difficult journey ( so speaks the voice of sad experience)

You must get some treatement and support for your depression, and it must be multi focal.... by that I mean set yourself some forward looking challenges as well as the pharmacological and psychological support you need.

Perhaps you could think about what you would have done if you hadn't chosen nursing and give it a go....a new challenge will occupy your mind, a new skill is no load to carry in life, and if the worst happens and you are unable to resume your career you are off in a new direction.

It doesn't have to be a major goal just a new and different focus, at the risk of being simplistic it sometimes helps to see oneself as a good say flower arranger... rather than a broken down nurse.

I hope you don't think I'm patronizing you but I have been on a journey like yours and I came out the other end sane ... I think!!!;)

Sorry to other readers for hijacking the purpose of this thread but felt I had to answer.

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I spent a lot of my career working in rural or industrial sites as a sole practitioner.

I have been watching the thread about the use of titles and thought I would share one of my favorite stories.

I was working as the OH&S Nurse for a big paper company in a rural centre with minimal support systems.Because of the factory processes the workforce participated in a regular screening program for heavy metals. Until I came on board the practise was random urine tests but on the advice of a toxicologist I wanted to introduce pre daily exposure blood tests. Because of the local logistics it was resolved that I do the venopucture on site and then take the samples to town ....(60mins away) each morning for a couple of weeks, it took that long to accomodate the shift roster.

It all had to be approved by the local union reps so off I went to a shop floor meeting to put the case for inhouse speciman collecting rather than everyone having to go to town.

Once we ironed out the confidentiality issues and the access of results by individuals own medical practitioners there was only one problem....One big burly union rep was very nervous, he wanted to be sure his blood was taken by a "proper person". I need to add I was called by my Christian name by the workforce and generally wore grey culottes and a colored blouse with flat courts to work....never let anyone tell you appearances dont count.

My anxious friend was to be my first client the next morning so overnight I came up with a solution to the "proper person" stuff.

When he arrived in my office he was greeted by a white uniform. veil, and the full issue of ironmongery to denote my qualifications.

My beloved red woolen cape hung on the back of my chair.

He walked in, looked about, sat down meekly, rolled up his sleeve and said.. "is that far enough Sister or should I take my jumper off"

It really made me think about how we present ourselves and I wonder if life was perhaps easier when we all dressed in a way which fitted the public's expectation.

I might add I only had a veil because it was with the memorabilia from my graduation, I only ever worked for one employer who insisted on them and that was a meat works! How I was supposed to add "tone" to an abattoir I still haven't worked out but the white starched veil was apparently the key.

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princenina.....thank you for your response. i have begun to get the "pharamogological" help that i finally relented to. i knew that i needed intervention, but i tried to help myself rather than seek out "a little pill" to aid in my therapy. i am now giving into the fact that i also need the help of a therapist, which i am in the process of finding. i realize that i may have to go down another avenue when it comes to employment......but, do i want to? right now....no! do i think i could ever work the floors again.....no! there has to be a happy medium.....i just have not yet found it. thanks again for your mental boost......code 50 :trout:

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hello, looking at legal nursing and also taking a coding course...40+ years RN..disabled .. 2 years..need employment..advice.....I am open to suggestions...thank-you

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Specializes in IM/Critical Care/Cardiology.
I, also am a disabled nurse who can no longer work, but have found my niche as a volunteer Hospice caretaker in a small hospice house. They have four hour shifts and two residents. This is a God sent place for me, for I missed my full time nursing work so much. I was Charge nurse 3-11Pm on a Dementia and Alzheimer unit and loved every one of my patients.

I have also been working sporatically on a short story of events and humorous happenings when I was at work.

In order to keep from being depressed this is the way to go, I think.

Of course, someone will have to monitor my spelling 24-7.

There is so much knowledge to share that it would be great if we did so with the new grads, for it can be so easy to "slip" today, for we are stretched to the limit some days.

macspuds

Hi Macspuds,

I'm 48y/o and disabled (resp). I too am thinking about rtw in hospice arena. I'm currently in scholl for the LPN to RN program and it does sound so different as to when I went to school 1982-1986. Kinda scary, can you tell me more about your experience with hospice?

Thanks

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Specializes in IM/Critical Care/Cardiology.

What I miss about nursing is the patients and yes the rat race. Beats pain, being lessmobile etc. OK, a funny story. Worked in an office and did Occ hralth drug screens. A foreigner came one day and I helped him with the paperwork and then we proceeded to go into the stringent restroom just for ua drug screens. I waited and I waited and you know. So I yell out everything ok in there. He responds yes. I still wait. Room is very quite. He finally comes out with the container and he had masterbated into the sterile cup. Oh My God, Iexplained the best I could we need him to drink water so he can urinate. He finally did, but was it hard not to laugh at him. Poor thing.

Ok I', doing emergency medicine. In comes a guy and as it turns out a vibrator had been inserted into his orifice. Still vibrating when the Dr. pulled it out. The xray was in a discreet part of the area and all could see why he came in. He was so embarrassed. That's all I got.:uhoh3:

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i am a nurse with 25yrs experience. became disabled in 2002. My main problems now are equilibrium and fatique. I have numerous other symptoms that would not affect my performance. I truly miss direct patient care, but at this point that is not an option. I have helped family and friends by aiding in care of terminally ill people @home. That usually raises my spirits because it makes me feel useful and like a nurse. I am considering checking with state health for job, or pch. any other suggestions would be appreciated.

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Now that I have been out of nursing for two years, I cant say that I ever want to go back.Until a time comes when nurses gather the strength to form strong powerful unions, nursing as a career is not one I would recommend.There were no "good old days" in my career of 27 years.I'd rather forget.

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My disability is a little different - it's a severe case of essential tremor. I even had a deep brain implant done, but it didn't help. I fought applying for disability for almost 2 years, but finally took my doctors advice and stopped trying to work.

It took me only 3 months to be approved for disability, which totally blew me away.

I really thought I would miss nursing - but I don't. There are many aspects of it that I miss - the patients, many of the docs that I liked, but I had grown totally fed up with the B.S. that healthcare has become.

I'd like to do something - but I'm not sure what yet.

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Specializes in IM/Critical Care/Cardiology.

BanditRn,

I wish you the best in your future endeavors.:balloons:

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I have recently been offered a don job @ a personal care home. anyone know what kind of pay i could expect?

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Specializes in neonatal intensive care unit.

Glad to read that you are coping with the change of no longer able to work as a nurse by "finding (your) nich as volunteer in Hospice care". Five years ago I developed health changes and was no longer able to work as a nurse.Even though I had already worked as a registered nurse for 35 years, I was planning on working a few more years before I retired--huge blow! As you seem to have done, I worked my way through the blues of loss of nursing career by trying different kinds of other meaningful jobs. My adventures so far include working at a shelter for battered women, working as phone solicitor for blood donors at Red Cross, and currently working as child care provider in the nursery at a day care center. Best wishes to you!

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