Can you do nursing school with severe fatigue and without a car?

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

Published

I really want to be a nurse practitioner. Unfortunately, the first year or two of any nursing program requires CLINICALS.

For starters, I have a genetic disorder (and some hormone problems) that make it impossible for me to be on my feet all day every day. The most I can handle is 2-3 days of clinicals per week, with a rest day in between. I have a BA in Psychology (or will in a few months, at least). What's my best bet for low-paced clinicals? ADN, second BSN, Direct Entry MSN?

For another thing, I'm not allowed to drive right now because of very small seizures! So even if I could somehow get family to drive me to a nursing school a couple of times a week, is there any hope of me getting to clinicals?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

If you cannot make it through clinicals, I am honestly not sure how you would make it working as a NP. All the NP's I know work way beyond any of the hours an average RN does (Which is usually a min of 3 12 hour shifts a week).

At some point you have to look at your physical and mental capabilities when deciding what profession to pursue. Which also means that your dream job, may not be your ideal job.

EX. My son was born with Spina Bifida, although he walks/runs unassisted him being a firefighter is highly unlikely with his physical capabilities.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I'm certain there are jobs available that I can do. I want to go into psych/mental health eventually, so I can do counseling as a backup. I honestly don't understand why there's any reason for me not to go into nursing! I'm not blind or a quadriplegic, I just have trouble walking on hard floors all day.

What kind of work are the NPs you know doing? I intend to work in an office, so 12 hours shifts would be hard to come by, lol. I expect I'll try to get a schedule with Wednesdays off or something, so I can rest. There are so many other career options to go into, from home health coordination to psychiatric counseling to whatever else comes up.

I was planning on going into medicine, and nursing is a slightly more doable backup for me. I can do anything I set my mind to, I just need some time to rest if I have to be on my feet a lot. I don't see why that would preclude me from being a nurse practitioner, just getting through clinicals. If I can just get through the standing-on-my-feet bit of the first two years or so, I don't see why it should be a huge deal for me to get some online RN-to-MSN training.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

One works in a Take Care clinic, ran by Walgreens. She often works 12 hour shifts several times a week. The others work in hospitals. All are on their feet most of their day walking too and from with very little opportunity to rest.

My point was merely, if you cannot make it through clinicals due to your disease/illness limitations, then it is highly likely that you would find it difficult to work full time in that type of job as well. Therefore it may be wise to seek another profession.

If working in the mental health field is what interest you most, being a counselor or therapist may be an ideal situation with your physical limitations.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Utilization Management.

I'm in an ADN program and our clinicals are ONE day per week with lecture two days per week. An ADN program may be a doable option for you b/c once you graduate with an ADN, anything beyond that can essentially be completed online (BSN, MSN).

As far as becoming a NP...it all depends on what specialty you want to go in to. Busier specialties such as Family Practice and OB/Gyn are obviously going to entail more hours, while something like Pain Management may not require as many hours worked. It all depends on the practice.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pediatrics, OB/GYN, ER, Geriatrics.

Sounds like your first priority would be to get your health under control. I do not see how you will get health clearence from your doctor with all your issues. Even if you choose an ADN program, you are on your feet for at least 8 hours during the day in clinical.

I agree with everyone else that this might not be the best option for you.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I think for now I'm going to work a high-paying office job while I finish my pre-reqs for medical school. If they're both going to be intense and demanding and take ~5 years, I might as well come out with making more money, lol.

I have some friends who are now doctors and have similar (sometimes worse) health problems, and they did alright. It sounds more doable, I think.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in School Nursing.

I don't mean to be offensive so please don't take this as such but do you realize how much MD's have to work while they are in med school, internships and residencies? If you can't be on your feet all day, every day, you will not (and can not) complete the requirements to become an MD. They don't graduate and automatically get great hours and Wednesdays off to play golf. That comes after years and years of putting in blood, sweat and tears in a hospital setting.

Nursing clinicals, while challenging in their own right, won't hold a candle to working as a medical intern and resident.

Good luck with that high paying office job... you usually have to work hard for those too.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I love the ablism in this thread. No, of course there has never been a doctor using an electric wheelchair for work or their internships! How silly of me! It's not like I have friends with severe diseases who made it through!

And I like how no one even answered my question about not having a car-- maybe it's a given that people carpool or something.

Anyways, despite the ignorant and closed-minded attitude here (seriously, has no one here even heard of exceptional nurse or the disabled physicians organization???), I'm looking forward to medical school.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Utilization Management.
I love the ablism in this thread. No, of course there has never been a doctor using an electric wheelchair for work or their internships! How silly of me! It's not like I have friends with severe diseases who made it through!

And I like how no one even answered my question about not having a car-- maybe it's a given that people carpool or something.

Anyways, despite the ignorant and closed-minded attitude here (seriously, has no one here even heard of exceptional nurse or the disabled physicians organization???), I'm looking forward to medical school.

I'm pretty sure my previous response stated that an ADN program, at the very least, should be doable for you, in terms of clinicals. And, yes, people carpool if needed.

I think others responded the way they did because they've been there. Most of us have actually experienced how taxing nursing school, not to mention working on a unit after finishing school, is on the body. It's constant stress and physical work. I don't think it's fair to call us "ignorant and close-minded" when all we're doing is speaking from experience. Good luck in med school :up:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

We wish you the best but perhaps and I think our posters are trying to be realistic.

I wouldn't think you would want sugar-coating.

In the last few years, residents/med students are now limited to 80 hours/week. Believe me, thats a very hectic schedule. I actually know of several physicians that use wheelchairs and one who has a transplant. However, they are the exception not the rule and neither became ill until after they were an attending.

As to nursing school - its physically rigorous and if standing all day is difficult or impossible to do, it might not be the best choice. However, once you become a nurse, I'm sure you could find a job that would work for you.

And...finally, the car issue. I live in a rural area without mass transit so in my area, its not possible to go anywhere without driving and rarely are there carpools. However, if you live in the city it might be easier to do.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Your reply was probably the most helpful, Boog's Girl; I was just frustrated by the attitude that just because I get tired easily there's NO way to do what I want. This is the same crappy attitude I've gotten from EVERYONE in my life. I'm sorry, but they told me I would never make it through college, the stress would kill me, I should just go home and be on disability-- and I'm graduating with a 3.2 from one of the top 9 universities in the U.S. in a matter of months. So no, I'm not going to take kindly to people replying to my request for info on which is the most doable program with "oh, you should just choose a different job." I didn't ASK for opinions on whether or not I should go into nursing with my limitations. I ASKED which option would be the most feasible. :( So yes, people trying to tell me my business and discourage me from something I KNOW I am indeed capable of (even if I go the ADN method, which you kindly suggested), is going to rub any sick/disabled person the wrong way!

I've done extensive research into medical school, and by the time I'm ready to go there and do my residency, I'm sure I will have something worked out. :) By then I may be on a new medicine, or I may be in an electric wheelchair, or I may work something out with the school I'm working with so that I get Wednesdays off or something. I'm 100% capable of doing whatever I want to do in life, if other people will stop standing in my way telling me that I can't! :p

Don't they teach the social model of disability in nursing school anymore? Would you guys discourage someone with kids from trying to become a nurse practitioner? I would think someone with kids is far more limited than someone who can't *stand* on hard floors for excessive periods of time!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment