Disabled RN looking for job

[LisaRNinarkansas]

I have been an RN since 1994....but a few yrs ago, I began receiving disability.

I absolutely hate being home all the time. I miss being a nurse. I miss my patients, etc.. I miss making real money, my own money...

Does anyone have any ideas of what I could possibly do?

I cant stand on my feet anymore, nor can I walk very far. I have numerous health problems, however, I can do paperwork, computer work, consulting, charting...things like this...

But I really have no ideas of where to start to look for something. I want to use my RN, since I worked so hard for it.

Im keeping up with my CEU's and my license...

any help would be greatly appreciated..

LisaRN in Arkansas

[VivaLasViejas, ASN, RN]

Since you have LTC experience, I'd suggest looking for a management position in assisted living. It's mostly desk work, but you also get to teach residents and family about their health conditions, do staff training and supervision, and you can basically pick and choose what, if any, nursing care you want to do (I call on home health, or delegate staff to do the tasks I don't have the time or the physical capacity for, such as daily ROM/ambulation and certain types of wound care).

I'm not disabled, per se, but I'm severely overweight, and I already have some osteoporosis, back and knee problems, and arthritis, so I'm somewhat limited as to what I can do physically.

BTW, I have 'only' an ADN, and I've done remarkably well with it.......I've been an ADON and an MDS coordinator in nursing homes, and now am the Health Services Director for a 42-bed ALF. I love it!

Best of luck to you!!:welcome:

[PANurseRN1]

Thank you all for your suggestions. I have alot to think about and some good starter points..

I am an ASN RN, which limits what I can do, bc some areas require BSN. I dont have the resources or mind-set to go back to college. But perhaps a tech school...medical coding sounds interesting. I think there are other things as well. I will be checking those out.

I spent my career in LTC...from Charge Nurse to DON...and everything in between. I loved my MDS job, but those are hard to come by. I wouldnt have given mine up, but I got pregnant and had a difficult pregnancy and delivery. They couldnt hold my job for as long as I needed it. Im always on the lookout for those particular jobs though.

thanks again....

more suggestions are always welcome :)

Do you have good computer skills? Can you type fast? You could do medical transcription. If you're fast and accurate, you can make a pretty good wage. Your medical background would be particularly helpful, since you'd be familiar with the meds, terminology.

Some tranascription jobs can be done from home (phys. office sets you up with the equipment), others are in the office. Depends on the docs' preference.