Crutches during clinicals?

ChristineN, BSN, RN · Jan 3, 2013

I sprained my knee while skiing on New Years Day. I've had x-rays so I know I didn't break anything, but I haven't yet had an MRI so I'm not sure yet if I've torn anything.
Anyways, I am worried about clinicals! When I went to the ER (I was out of town), the doctor gave me a work excuse for 1-2 weeks, until I see my own doctor, which says "no prolonged standing, bending, lifting, or walking without crutches for 1-2 weeks." When I see my own regular doctor I might need more time.
Clinicals start on the 17th, so by then it will be a little over 2 weeks since my injury. I'm really worried about how I'm going to be able to complete clinicals in the shape I'm in.
Has anyone else had this experience??

I would see what your dr says when you follow up. Unfortunately your school can choose to not allow you to participate in clinicals while you are on crutches since right now you can not fulfill the physical requirements of a nurse.

CT Pixie, BSN, RN · Jan 3, 2013

Don't think my school or the hospital we are affiliated with would allow someone on crutches due to an injury to be on the floor. You can't really transfer a patient while you yourself are on crutches due to an injury nor perform the duties required during clinicals. I guess it's all dependant on your school and the facilities you will be at clinicals for.

Compassion_x · Jan 3, 2013

Great.... I really hope it isn't torn and heals quickly then... Thanks for your replies.

RN2BE93 · Jan 3, 2013

Hi compassion_x, I know exactly how you feel. Ive been having knee problems for 3 years now and recently got surgery to fix my problem. The surgery was very intense and the pain is even worse. I'm currently in a brace and on crutches and I go back to school next Thursday but I'll still be on crutches. But my pain is so bad that I don't even know if I'm gonna be able to go back to school because of the pain. I have to depend on my parents for everything. So I'm contemplating if I should take the semester off or just deal with the pain. And I'm even more upset because after this class I'll only have two more nursing pre reqs to go. You're not the only one! I understand totally:)

jenndavis · Jan 3, 2013

Totally understand where you aRe coming from. I recently had my acl and meniscus surgically repaired. I was scared that I was going to be on crutches for a lot longer than I was. Keep a positive out look because nothing else might be wrong. Talk with your doc too. My acl was torn for a year because of moving and stuff. Anyways, I was still working and moving around great. I was doing physical therapy and had a great acl brace for support, so that helped. My prayers are with you and that you haven't damaged too much.

princessim2003 · Jan 4, 2013

I sprained my knee while skiing on New Years Day. I've had x-rays so I know I didn't break anything, but I haven't yet had an MRI so I'm not sure yet if I've torn anything.
Anyways, I am worried about clinicals! When I went to the ER (I was out of town), the doctor gave me a work excuse for 1-2 weeks, until I see my own doctor, which says "no prolonged standing, bending, lifting, or walking without crutches for 1-2 weeks." When I see my own regular doctor I might need more time.
Clinicals start on the 17th, so by then it will be a little over 2 weeks since my injury. I'm really worried about how I'm going to be able to complete clinicals in the shape I'm in.
Has anyone else had this experience??

We had a girl in our program get kicked out, because of a broken leg. Granted school hadn't started yet, we were 6 weeks away. The DON said she had to be off the crutches before clinical's began, and she wasn't good news was she had a spot held for her for the following year.

Kimynurse · Jan 4, 2013

Good luck, hopefully it's just a sprain

Most hospitals and SNF/LTC, will only let a nurse come back to work with a note from a Dr. Stating they can return to full duty. There is no light duty or "desk" duty .

So I'm not sure what they would say about a student on crutches.

kandamom · Jan 4, 2013

We were told NO casts or crutches allowed in clinical. It wasn't the school, it was the hospital policy for clinical placements. It is a liability and they won't allow students with those injuries on the floor....which leaves the school no choice but to drop you because you cannot meet the requirements of the program.

I know at least one girl in my class who probably needed a cast for a foot issue and avoided wearing one!

Can you get a good knee brace? coupled with Aleve or something to get you through the day? I would try to avoid even going to class with crutches...I wouldn't want to imply that I had some sort of a problem. They might not even give you a chance to go to clinical. Now if you absolutely cannot get through the day without the crutches safely, then that's a problem

Good luck! Keep us posted!

I missed skiing this break :/ and will next winter as well....I am not good enough to confidently feel that I can ski without breaking something!

Stephalump · Jan 4, 2013

We cannot have crutches or anything like that in clinicals because it eliminates you from being able to meet minimum physical requirements. Ie, we must be able to lift at least 15lbs.

Compassion_x · Jan 4, 2013

Yeah, so far I can't put much weight on it at all and it pops when I stand up sometimes. Not looking too good so far, but then again I still have til the 17th, so I really hope it's better by then!!

Kimynurse · Jan 4, 2013

I'd see you own Dr. ASAP, get an MRI

So you know where you stand ( no pun intended)

Then you can make plans or panic