Back Injuries and Clinical

Nursing Students General Students

Published

  1. Should I lift 20+ pounds anyway?

    • 0
      Yes, you'll be fine
    • 14
      No, you'll hurt yourself!

14 members have participated

I have back injuries related to an MVA a few weeks ago. As a result, I have been put on a restriction of lifting no more than 20 pounds by my doctor. Problem is, my rotation is on the ICU with total care patients who need a lot of weight support. I can not lift those patients. My clinical instructor is furious with me for not being able to participate. But I can do everything else! She's pushing me to lift but I'm afraid to *bleep* up my back even more. I just really need some advice...I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place. I want to participate but I don't want to get worse!

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Specializes in NICU, RNC.

I had to have a complete physical before being allowed into nursing school. This physical involved my doctor certifying that I could safely lift 30 lbs. Without that approval, I wouldn't have been admitted to the program. Did you have to do anything like that?

I do NOT think you should risk injuring yourself, but if you can't do the lifting, your instructor has a valid concern. Good luck. Could you maybe recruit 2-3 other students every time you have to re position a patient, so that you are still contributing but not lifting too much? I know my classmates are always willing to help each other out when asked.

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

You may need to talk to your school's office for disabilities. You now have a disability (hopefully, temporary -- but a medically documented disability all the same). Find out what your rights are and what type of accommodations can be made for you. Go through the official channels at yours school for your protection.

If you don't protect your back now, it can become a chronic problem. A lot of nurses have had their career derailed because of back injuries. Don't become one of them. Protect yourself.

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I had a physical when I started 9 months ago. My CI last class (we just switched) was understanding and found me independent patients on the Med/Surg floor. Now this semester, my new CI won't let other students do my job. She basically said I was useless if I didn't lift...I'm seeing my neurosurgeon on Thursday so I'm hoping she'll clear me. If not, I'm dropped from the program. I also bought a back brace (I know it's not always the best option).

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My program straight up drops students with disabilities.

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Specializes in Trauma, Teaching.

What llg said; the American with Disabilities Act should cover you. Did your physical pass you for lifting? If so, you may be stuck.

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@JBudd I passed the physical at the beginning of the program 9 months ago. They don't do a physical every class. The car accident was just a few weeks ago. The disabilities act can't force the school to keep me in the program because they believe I am a liability to patients and basically, useless because...Well, literally, I can't pull my own weight like the read of the students. I'm hoping my doctor will give me the all clear soon..

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Specializes in Trauma, Teaching.

It is still worth looking into... I have had nursing students where we were required to accommodate their needs. Good luck {{hug}}

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Specializes in PICU, Sedation/Radiology, PACU.

You are a nursing student. You are never a liability to patients because you are never actually responsible for a patient's care. You don't have to lift in order to learn to be a nurse. Dropping students with disclosed disabilities is illegal. Go to your nursing school advisor or dean of the program, show them your doctor's restrictions, and they have to accommodate you. Otherwise you can sue them and you'll never have to worry about getting a nursing, or any other, degree.

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Double-Helix, JBudd, everyone...my neurosurgeon has refused to give me clearance. Unless I can convince my general physician to clear me by tomorrow I am either given a Clinical Incident every day I miss clinical when I am banned from clinical that day (I'm automatically expelled for more than 2 Clinical Incidents) or dropped until completely cleared which won't be for months í ½í¸” I have considered arguing the program's decision but I feel like that would just make them angry and refuse to let me come back...Thank you for all the support though í ½í¸•

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I realize you want to move forward with your nursing program and career. Please consider asking if you are eligible for a withdrawal for medical reasons if you are in good academic standing otherwise in your program. It is better for your health, well being, and career prospects to take care of yourself now. Nursing will still be there when you are better.

The reality is that practicing RNs would not be permitted to practice on units if they are injured and have a lift/activity restriction because it is UNSAFE for patients as well as themselves. Stu

It would be better to withdraw for medical reasons with a potential to return when healthy than to fail out for missing days when you can't participate.

Good luck!

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This sounds so different than what I've been experiencing in the hospital. Everyone recruits everyone else for help turning and transferring patients....students, nurses, PT, doctors. It's encouraged. Why would your instructor say you can't ask fellow students for help??

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