Disabled LPN looking for new field using medical knowledge

[jandog]

I have been off work for over a year now due to a chronic illness. I worked mostly in behavioral health. I have worked in a drug rehab, psychiatric hospital, and nursing home. I really enjoyed nursing, however, I do not believe that I will ever be able to return to it. It is too physically demanding for me. I am currently on disability. I was on a medical leave in summer of 2004. I returned to work part-time and after 3 months, I had to resign. I was hoping that someday I would be able to return, and perhaps I was just having a flare-up and would improve after time. However, after several hospitalizations, I came to the realizaton that I will probably never be able to return to nursing. My doctor has agreed with me. I am 48 and would like to find something that I could possibly do from home. I am on SS and on disability that I obtained from work. My insurance company is offering vocational rehab. I can return to school for some training. I believe that it would have to be a job that I could do from home. I would like to do something in the medical field, if possible. Any suggestions?

[LadyMadonna]

There is a big to do about legal nurse consultants right now, and though I have heard you must be a registered nurse I heard this is not set in stone (though I imagine attorneys who might use your services would give you more credibility if they see RN behind your name). If this was something you want to pursue it might be worth your time to get additional training to become an RN.

The opportunities to do contract work from home are supposed to be good in the world of nurse consulting, but I have also heard the field is saturated right now.

I have also heard there are home opportunities for nurses to do care plans and such from home. Again, this would require an RN license, as I don't believe we LPN's can legally write care plans.

I'm not disabled but personally I am burned out on patient care and being the type who is reclusive and works better alone I would love to find ANYTHING I could do from home that could provide a liveable wage. Even if it didn't have to do with nursing. I just wish I was inventive enough to come up with some kind of home business...I hope someone has some ideas.