can i be a nurse with a replacement heart valve?

BelleKat, BSN, RN · Aug 4, 2008

Hi Hearing Impaired,do you have a cardiologist who has diagnosed this disorder? They will require you to get a physical to get into nursing school(at least they used to). You need to get this checked out before you go in otherwise if you have a problem and miss too many days you will fail out of the program.

I've been diagnosed with mitral valve prolapse as have many people on and off. I don't know if that's what you're taking about or not. That's pretty much harmless.

Anyway,get yourself checked out because you need to be in good shape to go to nursing school.

Good luck!:heartbeat

HearingImpaired · Aug 4, 2008

i was healthy a month ago, when i turned in my medical form for nursing school, saying i was healthy enough for it. but then i started exercising, to get in shape for nursing school, and that's when all the trouble started -- the shortness of breath, the heart flutters, the tightness in my chest, etc. i am scheduled to see a cardiologist in a few days. i expect i might need treatment for clogged arteries, and possibly heart valve surgery. so i know i am going to have to postpone nursing school for at least 6 months.

but my question is this .... can someone who has been treated for heart disease recover enough to handle the physical demands and stress of nursing? i don't want to bother with years of nursing school if the job will kill me, basically.

thanks.

Silverdragon102, BSN · Aug 4, 2008

I think that will depend on the actual diagnosis and recovery. I have worked with someone in the UK with a valve replacement and they had no problems, she kept herself fit and obviously looked after herself but I would say a lot would depend on recovery. Could be a good question to ask your cardiologist

butterfly21 · Aug 9, 2008

You may have to watch what type of nursing you do. I have a pacemaker because of SVT and tachy brady syndrome (cardizem dropped me to the 30's) and then had brain surgery for chiari malformation (so I can't lift). I can no longer do floor nursing but I work in an outpatient clinic. Trust me I still work my butt off I work in a hospital based clinic with 40 drs and not counting residents and we see 200+ patients on an average day. You need to see what your dr says.

HearingImpaired · Aug 10, 2008

i am the OP.

i saw the cardiologist last week. she is not sure what i have -- she thinks it's either a clogged artery (in the heart muscle itself) or an arrythmia. she said the arrythmia was no big deal and it could be controlled with medication. she scheduled an echocardiogram and a stress test for me in two weeks. i am very worried about the stress test (i am afraid i might have a heart attack if i push myself super hard). i guess they have a doctor there to revive people, right?

i will not see the cardiologist again until a week before school starts. that does not give her much time to treat me, or give me much time to make a decision. if it's a blocked artery, there is no way i can go to school this fall (i assume i will need an angioplasty/stent). if it is an arrythmia, can the meds control it in just one week? if the meds don't work, then i need a pace maker, right?

it stinks to have this happen to me six weeks before nursing school starts. i took 8 prerequisites to get into nursing school. i competed against incredible odds (only 1 in 6 who applied got into my school). i got A's in every class just so i would get in. i am very sad about this. i am afraid that if i reapply, the school will not let me in, now that they know of my medical condition.

thanks for any advice.