back injured RN with limited experience

[nursetim]

I'm an RN with one year ED and one perdiem experience. I was just about to give up nursing altogether and applied to the cticu. I got the job and loved it, I think i found my niche. The NM is first rate, my coworkers are the kind of nurses I aspire to be, the work is challenging. Then on 07/03-04 the shift started fine and by the end of the shift I could barely walk. I've been out since flat on my back. Nothing unusal happened that night that I can remember. I had a previous back injury when in NS WC paid. This may be an aggrivation of that injury, MRI on 08/03. then DR. appt on 05 for results. Here are my delemas. NM was cool for the first two weeks thenwhen she thought this might be protracted she told me i no longer had a job because I was still on probation (6 MONTHS at this hospital). I left with a good rep though. so if my back is cured soon I could probably get my job back. If my back is fubar, what can I do as a nurse? I have a BA in criminal justice (don't ask) And too many jobs to list. What now?

[mattsmom81]

I can empathize Tim as I went through something similar. It isn't fun is it. Nobody wants to pay for your healthcare.. insurers argue about liability and refuse to pay, my private insurer even refused to help me, leaving me personally bankrupt. I lost my house and everything. I had to put my healthcare on 4 credit cards and go after the insurers later with the help of an attorney.

But like others here I did survive, persevered, and have gotten back to work. I do private duty home care now...ONE patient that I can take my time with, and she is bedfast. Many private duty home cases are available for peds which is even better (lighter load) for back injured nurses.

It hurts I know to be treated like the plague by employers..a back injury immediately makes them think liability. I was fortunate to have enough good contacts in my area to overcome that. I also looked for areas I could contribute without lifting...and found a charge nurse position on a busy stepdown. The position was hard to fill, so I made a friend of my manager by filling it. :)

Right now you have to focus on getting better first and foremost...so utilize your charge cards if needed to get the help you need, see a lawyer when you feel up to it.

I eventually needed surgery on L5-S1...but it was 15 yrs ago and there are lots of options today I would consider before surgery. Years later I had a reinjury, then a MVA that hurt my neck and reaggravated my low back. You can imagine the insurance fiasco!!

Glad the ESI helped and I hope you continue to feel better. Once (if) you have a full medical release, you will have less problems finding work...but you may have to go through PT, work hardening and a FCE (functional capacity eval) to qualify for full release. That is if your docs will release you.

I wish you, and all suffering from back pain, well...I know it is not easy. I take Tramadol for pain currently and am staying away from narcs as long as I can. I'm fortunate I don't have to work fulltime anymore...but its nice to be able to work a little and contribute to the family funds. :)

Good luck all here! :)

[geekgolightly, BSN, RN]

forensics might be a quicker option for you. don't know if you're interested in working for the coroner's office, but you already have the background.

[Hellllllo Nurse, BSN, RN]

There are not many jobs in forensics. Too many people are interested in it. Legal Nurse Consulting could work for you.

I have a friend who is an LNC. She never took a course, just applied at several lawyers offices. She has health problems and found it difficult to work the floor. She now makes double what she did as a floor nurse. She worked out a sweet deal where she gets a percentage of every case that settles or that wins in court.

[Blackcat99]

I have worked in many different areas of nursing. I work in hospice now and I love it. However, I have back problems and will not be able to stay at hospice much longer. I see a chiropractor and a massage therapist. They both help to get rid of the pain in my back. I bet you would do great as a "correctional nurse." I have worked in corrections and I NEVER had to lift any patients period. I miss working in corrections-it's a very exciting job too!! Good luck.:)