Doubting being an RN b/c physical problems

33762FL · Sep 10, 2011

I think you should talk to your school's adviser, your doctor, and your family about what sounds like the possibility that nursing isn't physically a match for you. Nursing school is expensive, so it's best you figure out ASAP if you aren't able to do this job, before you waste years in school and tens of thousands of dollars (possibly incurring student loan debt, which will ruin your credit and possibly your future), and make your health situation worse. Sorry to hear you're struggling, but it sounds like a physical situation that you can't change, due to your condition. There are many careers that aren't physically demanding, where you can sit at a desk. Best of luck to you in whatever career your choose.

BeenThereDoneThat74, MSN, RN · Sep 10, 2011

There are so many different things you can do in nursing. You don't have to be a hospital floor nurse! You could work in a Dr's office, or a school or at a college. You could even have a desk job as a nurse!
Don't listen to the one's saying nursing will eat you up and spit you out. That's not true, it's negativitiy. It's what you make it. If you really love it and can get through the clinicals, then you can work as a nurse.

sure there are many specialties that are not physically demanding. But very few are suitable for new grads. And nursing school dies not prepare you for the specialty of your choice. You can't get through school based on performing the physical tasks (or lack of) that you plan to do in your preferred job.

For the many who say they have physical ailments and work as a nurse, how many of you are in physically demanding jobs? And how many if you started out your careers healthy? To me, there's a big difference between starting out your career with physical restrictions, and developing it over time.

While it's a great thing that everyone loves to believe, the reality is things don't always just work out. I know people will argue this, but I do not believe in the "you can do anything you set your mind to" mantra. I can't be a singer or musician, but I just don't have the physical ability to.

on eagles wings, ASN, RN · Sep 10, 2011

the only thing I'd ask is do you think you could deal with at least a couple of years (maybe less, if you get lucky :)) of floor experience (somewhere- maybe some area that requires minimal 'muscle' and leg motion) in order to meet experience requirements for a desk job? If you can stick it out without causing damage that will make it so miserable your life is altered more, you may find something that really suits you. Good luck :)

this would be ideal. i always imagined myself doing something crazy like trauma but nevermind.

what areas would you recommend for someone in my situation? i wouldn't mind actually volunteering on such floors to see what the RN's deal with...

on eagles wings, ASN, RN · Sep 10, 2011

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My gut reaction to that is not a chance....nursing school is somewhat brutal. Can you work with your PT to find ways of adapting to the physical demands of nursing that you don't already have? PTs can be huge resources with nursing body mechanics :)

Thank you for the idea! I am sure he would be willing to teach me a bit.

on eagles wings, ASN, RN · Sep 10, 2011

sorry sherri, but this is pure bunk.
i think sue was thinking of the bedside nurse...
and she is correct: it IS physically demanding.
she was not being "negative" but honest.
not everything in life, is resolved with cliches.
only op knows if she could tolerate a physically demanding job.
wishful thinking and "what you make of it", isn't going to cut it.
that said, i believe there are new grads out there, who wish they weren't deceived into entering nsg school.
media and colleges, make it sound as if there will be plenty of jobs, and that nursing is in demand.
i'm sure some wonder how their life would have turned out if only media et al, had been honest about it.
sometimes it's much kinder to try and lead the person away from fantasy thinking and into a profession more suitable.
op, bedside nursing is very tiring...physically and mentally.
lifting, rolling, toileting, stooping, bending, assisting w/other nurses/aides...it takes its toll on you.
i truly wish you well.
leslie

I really appreciate your honesty. I guess once I actually had to do these things in skills did it hit me like a rock that maybe I wasn't cut for this, despite the fact that I love all nursing entails.

Thanks again.

Riseupandnurse · Sep 10, 2011

Yes, there are desk jobs for nurses...experienced nurses. And teaching nursing is demanding as well. An instructor in a clinical is still very active and on her feet the whole time. I have arthritis and managed to cope until I got into something less physically demanding, but I was in nursing almost 20 years before the arthritis started kicking my butt. I don't mean to discourage you, but hospitals often have lifting tests, etc., that you have to pass before being hired, even for OB, etc. I am afraid you are setting yourself up for serious physical injury and will regret trying this. You may wind up with ruined health and nothing to show for your effort and suffering. Hugs and best, best wishes.

linearthinker, DNP, RN · Sep 10, 2011

In your shoes I'd do something else, such as OT, speech, even ultrasound. There are plenty of ways to work with patients that don't involve heavy physical labor, but registered nursing is not one of them. I think you owe it to yourself to take care of you.

xtxrn, ASN, RN · Sep 10, 2011

this would be ideal. i always imagined myself doing something crazy like trauma but nevermind.
what areas would you recommend for someone in my situation? i wouldn't mind actually volunteering on such floors to see what the RN's deal with...

Even desk jobs have varying amounts of walking, getting charts, etc (but I've known some who take a wheeled cart w/them to work to deal with moving things between the nurses' stations and their offices)...

MDS in a nursing home (and you still deal with medical issues a LOT, and medications)

Employee health nurse (hospitals, manufacturing jobs, others)

Drug representative (involves a LOT of travel- amount and destinations vary from local to regional to cross country)

Medical devices (TENS units, etc)

Home health (may have some physical aspects- but not nearly as much as on the floor)

I'm sure there are a bazillion other things, but I'm having a:brnfrt:

:)

on eagles wings, ASN, RN · Sep 10, 2011

I don't mean to discourage you, but hospitals often have lifting tests, etc., that you have to pass before being hired, even for OB, etc..

I didn't even know about this... how on earth do petite nurses do all this?

on eagles wings, ASN, RN · Sep 10, 2011

Even desk jobs have varying amounts of walking, getting charts, etc (but I've known some who take a wheeled cart w/them to work to deal with moving things between the nurses' stations and their offices)...
MDS in a nursing home (and you still deal with medical issues a LOT, and medications)
Employee health nurse (hospitals, manufacturing jobs, others)
Drug representative (involves a LOT of travel- amount and destinations vary from local to regional to cross country)
Medical devices (TENS units, etc)
Home health (may have some physical aspects- but not nearly as much as on the floor)
I'm sure there are a bazillion other things, but I'm having a:brnfrt:
:)

I have a desk job now in my school's library. I get to walk and help students and shelve books. Hate shelving those PDRs on the highest shelf. Gets my shoulder all the time.

If I could be 1/2 deskjob, 1/2 active I'd be set...

I'll look into those nursing jobs you mentioned... what is MDS though?

Laboratorian · Sep 10, 2011

1/2 deskjob 1/2 active..............ever thought about the lab?

Bloodbank and micro has a lot of butt sitting.

xtxrn, ASN, RN · Sep 10, 2011

I have a desk job now in my school's library. I get to walk and help students and shelve books. Hate shelving those PDRs on the highest shelf. Gets my shoulder all the time.
If I could be 1/2 deskjob, 1/2 active I'd be set...
I'll look into those nursing jobs you mentioned... what is MDS though?

Minimum Data Set- the required assessment tool/form for nursing homes/Medicare reimbursement. Some people hate doing them. I liked them; also did the care plan conferences with the family, as the care plans are generated in part by these assessments. You'd need some floor experience (and LTC is rough, pushing a 200# med cart around with dud joints/muscles). But, if you find a place who is willing to train, it's not a bad job. You'd just have to make it clear that being on call with the admin nurses is a bad idea if you have to pull shifts when someone calls off and the shift can't be filled.

An MD office might fill the 1/2 and 1/2 idea- there is definitely moving around in an office, but the lifting/turning would be minimal (helping people in w/c's if they need to get to a modified exam table, etc).

Just know that if these don't work out, and you have to go in a different direction, you've killed a couple of years (or however many to get RN; didn't recall if you're in an ADN or BSN program) with a lot of classes that are very specific; the core stuff would carry over- but do you want to do that, and risk that it's not going to work.

Even nurses who went into nursing with no issues with their joints nearly always end up with some type of musculoskeletal problems or disc/back problems. It's brutal on bodies; there are more 'no-lift' devices for minimizing lifting- but sometimes it can't be avoided.

It's a good idea to talk to your doc about how this condition traditionally progresses, and see if that end is realistic, because nursing will make it worse. No matter what you do- there are always things that can go wrong (someone starts to fall and grabs you,etc). At least you're looking at this early. :)