Concerns about knee and nursing career

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Hi everyone,

I'm new to this forum but could really use some help. I was a premed major as an undergrad and worked part time as a cna. I decided against med school right before graduation but I am still interested in a medical career. For the past year I have been working as a monitor tech/unit secretary in a small hospital. I would like to go into nursing but I am concerned about its physical demands. I am a pretty healthy person with the big exception of having a horrible right knee. I have had 4 right knee related surgeries - 2 acl reconstructions and 3 meniscectomies. I would like some opinions as to how this might affect my career or even if I would have a career? My alternative to nursing is engineering by way of competing a post bac. At this point I am concerned that I should play it safe and go into engineering even though I would prefer nursing.

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Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

Hello, and WELCOME to Allnurses!!!:yeah:

There is no reason you can't become a nurse with a bad knee. I'd suggest you have knee-replacement surgery and be done with it before you get started because the physical demands of nursing do have to be reckoned with, especially while you are in school. But to miss out on what could be a most fulfilling career because you have a "challenge" would be the mistake of a lifetime.

On this site you'll "meet" nurses who have bad hips, aching backs, hitches in their getalongs and stress fractures in their ankles. You'll get to know nurses with diabetes, arthritis, multiple sclerosis, strokes, cancer, heart problems, partial deafness/blindness, asthma, fibromyalgia, and mental illness. You'll even run across a few with prosthetic legs/arms and some in wheelchairs. In other words.......you've got nothing to worry about. :D

So come on in, there's plenty of opportunity in nursing for those of us who are less than perfect.....and Enjoy!!

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so familiar.. I am working beyond toward NP though,, as something I can do,,,,

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

Blew my ACL 20 years ago and never got it fixed. I am doing just fine. You probably will too.

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Specializes in Pediatrics.

I have horrendous knees and I am starting nursing school in September. I am having surgery in June on my left knee and I am hoping to be all fixed up by the time school rolls around. The only feedback that I have gotten is that it probably is best not to work in a brace or boot.

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Specializes in nursing education.
Blew my ACL 20 years ago and never got it fixed. I am doing just fine. You probably will too.

Got mine fixed and the new one "broke" too. My knee MRI report is nearly two pages long. I have a more desk-ish job now, but yes, agree with all the above posters.

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

Yeah, that is kind of why I never got it fixed. I honestly have never heard of anyone who went through it having it last long-term. :/

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Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

Yeah, I'm waiting to do the TKR until I'm over 60 if I can hold out that long. I've taken care of a lot of post-op patients and know that this is one of the most painful orthopedic surgeries, so I'm going to have to be a LOT worse before I take the plunge. I don't want to have to go through it twice!

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have y'all looked into the autologous chondrocyte implants? approved by the fda about ten years ago having been used in europe for ten years before that. very cool stuff for people with trashed cartilage. i saw a bunch of them when i did work comp case mgmt. when mine gets bad enough, that's what i'm planning on.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.

I hate to be a Debby Downer, but I'd really think it through before going through nursing school with one strike already against your physical abilities.I blew a meniscus last year. Had a menisectomy and severe OA was discovered. I'm 8 months post-op and have undergone PT, Synvisc injection, and have faithfully rehabbed & strengthened on my own. Even 8 months out, I could never work a floor position.Fortunately, I am able to work a desk job due to my years of experience, but desk jobs are not readily available to new grads. Clinicals will be the first test of your ability to keep up with a standard floor nursing job.Nursing is physically demanding in most positions. Pay attention to your instincts.

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Specializes in cardiac-telemetry, hospice, ICU.

You could also work in home health where you are off your feet a lot while you drive around. Should be a lot less wear and tear on bad knees vs floor work.

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Specializes in LTC.

Pft, you'll be fine, just get some really, really nice shoes with some really, really nice inserts. It'll make all the difference in the world- although you might have to go see someone to get some advice about what to wear. There's some company around here that runs you through some diagnostics, videos you running around in your bare feet (a little odd), and then recommends a good shoe.

I fell off of a rappelling tower and broke all sorts of lovely bits, but I do fine during 16 hour shifts with some Advil. On really rough days, it might take a Percocet when I get home, but it's nothing I can't handle.

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