employment after back surgery

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I am asking anyone out there if they have suggestions concerning how they would procede if they were me. I have been out of work on workers comp for 1.5 years after 2 spinal fusions 6 months apart. I am 58 and RN BSN with over 30 years in nursing. Obviously I can't go back to floor duty and thats all I've ever done. SSI already considers me 100% disabled but that was before the 2nd surgery and I feel I could go back to work in some capacity, but what? I can't run up and own the halls anymore and of course lifting and pulling are out of the question. In addition do you think being on workers comp for so long would be held against me?

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You've got a wealth of experience, have you considered teaching? Being a clinical instructor maybe?

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Specializes in ICU/CCU, Rehab, insurance, case manager.

HI,

you can do work as a nurse for insurance companies or you can get into case management thru the hosptials are well. My laminectomy left me unable to do bedside as well. I love working with the insurance industry, you get to do more of the fun side of nursing. you get to watch thru there charts about what is happening with the pt but you don't have to touch them or deal with them unless you are calling in a denial

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In this area a masters is required to teach and at my age it's neither cost effective nor time effective. Teaching would have been my first choice otherwise.

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NICU? I don't see heavy lifting being a problem.

Triage in the ER?- desk job!

Legal nurse consultant?

There are so many areas still open to you. Good luck in finding the right fit!

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Any associate's level programs around you? For clinical only instructors (even at the BSN level sometimes) they'll take BSN nurses with a lot of experience.

I've always said when my back goes a bit more, I'm going to NICU.:) Right now it's only bad enough that I've had to move to peds, where we only get the occasional heavy patients.

Just be careful of any total desk jobs. Sitting can be much worse on a back than most anything else!

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Specializes in ER; HBOT- lots others.

if this is something you want, you can DEFINITLY do it! you can do anything if you put your mind to it. you may have to do some modifications and minor changes compared to what you would have maybe wanted to realy do- but you can SOOO get back into nursing! if there is a particular hospital or other organization- call them, get a meeting and head in with what they need to know from your end. you have to be completely honest, i know that may be tough, but if you put it all out there,they may be much more willing to work. tell them how much your heart is into nursing and i am sure you will find a job that will suit your wants and needs!

GL!

-H- Hope this helps!

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho.

Sometimes local developmental facilities (private or state) have to have people to train employees to assist individuals in medication administration. Look into places in your area that assist developmentally disabled in group home settings. Maybe something there.

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Perhaps an educator position at a hospital. Often the position is hired from within, but with your experience, it would definitely be worth looking into.

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Specializes in LTC , SDC and MDS certified (3.0).

3 back surgeries later...

I've done staff development..Quality assurance and amnow doing MDS,

GOOD LUCK!!:heartbeat

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