Back Injured—Need Advice!

[NurseOrwell]

Hello Awesome Nurses,

I sure wish I had asked here a long time ago. I became a nurse in 2015 and injured my spine eight months later! Surgery, therapy, injections, and meds did not restore me anywhere near my baseline. I settled with work comp and am not able to work a hospital floor again.

After a couple years of learning to accept my situation, I am seeking advice on what to do next. My license (RN) is active. I will not be able to renew next time because of no hours.

All I ever wanted was to be a nurse. I contacted the BN in my state (AZ) and got zero help. I am hoping someone here can offer advice on what I can/should do with my license. Should I make it inactive? Retire? What do these mean! Or is there a job I can do from home?

Thank you so much!

[crazin01]

There are a ton of non-floor nursing jobs. Insurance, telephonic nursing, doctors office (while on your feet, the lifting is definitely nowhere near as bad), outpatient urgent care centers (medexpress, etc), education, quality assurance, infection control, employee health, substance abuse, administration, etc etc.

I wouldn't let your license go inactive or retire. There are so many other options. As far as the board not really helping you, I'm not sure why they would, as it's their job to monitor nurses and protect the public, not protect nurses.

And when you say you are unable to renew because of no hours, you mean CE hours? You can go online, use magazines and easily fulfill your renewal requirements.

I also injured my back 10 months after completing RN school and tried conservative steps, while on lite duty. While it is far from what a back my age should be, I'm able to work, but with significant pain. The body does adapt & things that should knock you down become the new norm.

Don't let your nursing career go because of this. There are so many other options.