Can I work in ICU despite back problems?

Dinith88 · Jul 31, 2006

Hello, I am currently an RN student and will be graduating next year. I eventually want to become a nurse anesthetist, it has been my dream for a long time time. However, I know that I have to have at least a year of ICU experience before I get in and the problem is that I'm a very petite girl who recently got diagnosed w/ scoliosis of 15 degrees curvature. My chiropractor told me I should not lift anything heavy b/c I can easily injure my back. At first I didn't think this was a problem b/c I wanted to work in the NICU and would be acceptable for anesthesia school b/c its considered critical care. But lately I've done some research on the anesthesia programs, and even though most accept NICU, they prefer adult ICU, especially SICU and since my gpa isn't very high I think I would have a better chance of getting in if I worked in the adult ICU. My question is, do you think I will be able to work in the ICU if I cannot lift, I know patients are getting heavier and heavier these days but I just don't think I should have to give up my dream of becoming an anesthetist b/c of my back. Do you think I will have trouble getting a job when I tell the hospital about my back? I live in LA and really wanted to work at UCLA or Kaiser so if anyone works there, can you please provide me some info. Thanks.

Yes you can work there. But be prepared for resentful co-workers who're ruining their backs because you're effectively not there if patient needs moved/picked up/turned. HOpefully you wont encounter this...but,

maolin · Aug 1, 2006

Seek out a good facility that has a "no lift" policy, ones that use lots of lift equipment. My facility is wonderful about this - we have several tools at our disposal to eliminate sacrificing our backs for the job. Barton blankets & chairs, ceiling lifts. The greatest things ever invented! Between that and a very supportive team, no worries here!

Trauma Columnist · Aug 1, 2006

Many facilities have a "no lift" policy. However, if you tell a facility that you have a 15 pound lift restriction, you may not be hired. Most facilities require more than that even at no lift facilities.

BTW - no offense to chiropractors but in order to get a weight restriction you will most likely need to see an MD or mid-level provider.

Good luck.

suzanne4, RN · Aug 1, 2006

But the key point that needs to be advised, in the OR, as the anesthesia person, you are going to need to be lifting. You are going to be positioning, and pulling, etc. You are usually the one that is responsible for positioning of the arms, and tucking them. Also the bag that most anesthesia students carry with their supplies and notes will weign more than 15 pounds.

I would really suggest that you shadow a CRNA for a few different days and see what will be expected of you.

NICU work also involves transporting your infant for CT scan, etc., in the isolette. Many times it is just you and a respiratory therapist doing the pushing and the isoletter is more than 100 pounds.

Please be aware of this.

avlis · Aug 1, 2006

NICU work also involves transporting your infant for CT scan, etc., in the isolette. Many times it is just you and a respiratory therapist doing the pushing and the isoletter is more than 100 pounds.

Yes but the isolette has wheels on it, doesn't it? Plus I can do pushing, for god's sake, I'm not handicapped!

nurseingforlife · Jul 3, 2008

People are right on the point of no lifting policies. I work at a hospital that has one and I do hardly any lifting at all and it is great. The problem is finding these facilities who truely have enough equipment and a real policy. Someone should compile a list of these facilities on line somewhere. However I guess you could call the companies that provide them ask them to give you a customer list of people who do. When we looked at lifts and policies the companies that stood out to us as the top 3 where Arjo, Liko, and Romedic. So I would call them and ask what facilities they have done in your area that are no lift. We went with Romedic but the other two seemed good to me as well.

PiPhi2004 · Jul 4, 2008

I would definately look into no-lift policies as everyone has said. Our unit does require you to be able to lift so much or you wont be hired. Also, our pts are turned q2h and we have no CNAs at night and they are scarce throughout the day so getting help every 2 hours is really hard to do. Plus I dont see how you can really get out of lifting people from gurneys to beds on admission. Generally you get help with these things but you will have to do some heavy lifting. Personally, I dont like the lifters as you have a limited amount of time to do things and they seem awful cumbersome and take up too much space to be of any use on our unit. Maybe some hospitals have better ones but thats just what I've seen in our facility. Many pts cannot move AT ALL and they have to be repositioned, theres just no way around it. I dont know much about the laws honestly so I dont know that IF you hurt yourself on the job and you knowingly had this condition if you could get any compensation for it. It seems unfathomable to me that ICUs can have no lift policies and it actually work out that you dont have to do heavy lifting. Good for those of you that do! As others have mentioned, wheeling down a 200-300lb person to CT can also put a wrench in your back. I have hurt mine twice and have only been working for a year. I also have scoliosis but its very mild and I dont tell anyone, and so far it hasnt been a problem, but I definately hurt when I go home but ya gotta do what ya gotta do.

Also, take into account equipment, such as O2 tanks that have to be placed on the beds weigh every bit of 20-50lbs. You will also have to bend over to empty foleys, etc, so even with a no lift policy you will end up in some uncomfortable positions on the floor. Plus have you ever done compressions? He** on your back, for sure!! Just some other things to think about. I'd try to get a really good brace if possible and take lots of pain meds if this is truly what you want to do for a living.

Miss Poppy · Jul 4, 2008

I work in an ICU with a no lift policy. We use Liko slings for most lifts and transfers and auto turn beds. It makes life easier, however, it only takes away a portion of the back unfriendly duties. Washing and changing linen isn't easily done with a sling. Not to mention that we don't use lifts at all on patients with spinal injuries, EVD's or some with open abdos. If your pt has a BM, and all of them do, you're reaching over heavy edematous bodies and pulling them over. Twisting and turning to reach for epuipment is one of the biggest culprits of back sprains and strains on a straight spine, let alone one that is scoliosed. C spine turns is another awkward movement. I've done dressing changes on heavy edematous legs that I've had to hlod up with one hand for half an hour while wrapping with the other hand. Moving patients from stretcher to bed, from bed to CT scanner are all done on a regular basis.

If I could make a suggestion it would be to supplement your chiropracter with a visit to a spine surgeon. Find out exactly what the limitations are. No heavy lifting is pretty subjective. Find out what types of moves would make you most at risk for an injury. If your hospital has a MSIP program, talk to them to see if there's a way you can modify the way some of the higher risk ones.

allnurses Guide · Jul 6, 2008

Having some degree of curvature and "can easily hurt your back", added to "shouldn't lift anything heavy" is highly non-specific. I agree, go and see a medical practitioner and get a specific limit on what you can lift. I think you'll find there isn't one - I know any number of ICU nurses with some scoliosis who have no lift restrictions.