Can a nurse work with AIN syndrome?

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I believe I just developed AIN palsy, which means I cannot bend my thumb and index finger of my right hand. writing is painful, I have to hold the pen between my third and fourth finger, kinda like a kid holding a crayon, so my handwriting is almost unreadable. And guess what, on my busy unit it is all paper charting :( IV starts are almost impossible.

But, I have been muddling through while I wait for my insurance to kick in. I really need to work but it's not getting any better.

Should I continue to document slowly and sloppily and lean on my coworkers for iv starts? According to my research, most ain palsies resolve with rest within 2months to a year. How can I rest and work?

Any ideas? I work at a small hospital with few openings, and fewer that don't require using my right hand.

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Specializes in Med surg, LTC, Administration.

Have you been diagnosed? Are you under a doctors care? What do they say? You need to take whatever is going on with you seriously and get professional help. Peace!

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

You need to get treated if you aren't already being treated. Whether or not you can work is between your MD and you and your facility and you. They can't discriminate against you for having a disability. Be seen by PT OT and get recommadations and request reasonable accomodations.....I pray for your recovery....

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the problem is I don't trust the people I work for. I haven,t seen an md officially yet as they screwed up my insurance enrollment date, but I have straightened it ot as of today. (the insurance, no the fingers.) my 90 day probation period is over in 4 days and I am in a right to work state) and I'm not sure of my options

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excuse my typing but I am using my left hand

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Specializes in Med surg, LTC, Administration.
the problem is I don't trust the people I work for. I haven,t seen an md officially yet as they screwed up my insurance enrollment date, but I have straightened it ot as of today. (the insurance, no the fingers.) my 90 day probation period is over in 4 days and I am in a right to work state) and I'm not sure of my options[/

Now I understand. Sad to say it, but I get it and probably would do the same. Good luck! Peace!

Oh, your typing is fine!:D

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
the problem is I don't trust the people I work for. I haven,t seen an md officially yet as they screwed up my insurance enrollment date, but I have straightened it ot as of today. (the insurance, no the fingers.) my 90 day probation period is over in 4 days and I am in a right to work state) and I'm not sure of my options

talk to a lawyer.....

http://www.nrtw.org/rtws.htm Right to work states, check the law

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Right-to-work_law

http://www.aflcio.org/issues/legislativealert/stateissues/work/

:)

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Ok, I finally got enrolled in my insurance and have an appointment with the MD on Tuesday.

What I am really Worried about is whether I should continue to work until I see the doc. ( I'm scheduled Sunday and Monday Nights) I have been working with my problem over the last two weeks and it has been getting worse. I now can't start IVs or do venipunctures, I can barely write; it's illegible and probably incomplete and it hurts like h**l. Is this considered a legitimate reason to call out or would I look like a slacker? I mean I HAVE worked with it but it slows me down a lot and my poor documentation scares me.

God I feel like an immature child but I hate calling in sick.

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Specializes in Gerontology, nursing education.

Moving this to the Nurses with Disabilities forum. Inshallamiami, I think you'll find valuable support and resources here. Please take care!

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Oh dear, this is sounding serious!

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