I have to have heart surgery...now what???

Nurses General Nursing

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So...I am a new nurse, a second career and in my early 50's, and have just gotten the troubling news that I was hoping to not to hear for a long while longer or never. I am going to have to have heart surgery to repair my mitral valve. I graduated a bit more than a year ago am finally getting settled into a med-surge position. I've only been out of my 12 week orientation for about 6 weeks, and I had my echo and got the news today. I was hoping someone might have some experience or thoughts they could share with me. It's a bit of a psychological blow to say the least, as I am very physically active outdoors, biking, backpacking, gym etc and I'm sure they'll be some restrictions on those things. But, what I am also very concerned about is will I be able to keep my job; I will have to be out of work for at least 6-8 weeks if all goes well. Will I be able to perform it, will the hospital consider it/me a liability, since I am new will they want to cut ties and run??? Also, will this be held against me in the future when I look for a new position? The future feels very bleak at the moment. Any thoughts would be much appreciated.

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It's a bit of a psychological blow to say the least, as I am very physically active outdoors, biking, backpacking, gym etc

So, you can do all that stuff with a sick mitral valve, and you won't be able to do all that stuff when it's fixed... got it.

What am I missing?

Oh yeah, and when people take at least that much time to have a baby, they always lose their jobs...oh no, wait...they don't.

I'm missing something again, yeah?

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Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.
when people take at least that much time to have a baby, they always lose their jobs...oh no, wait...they don't.

They can if they don't qualify for FMLA. If OP is a new hire who is only 6 weeks out of orientation (didn't work in the facility prior to taking an RN position), then she doesn't meet the 1 year minimum to qualify for FMLA. Thus, the facility isn't required to hold a position for her and she may find herself unemployed and job hunting.

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

I'm sorry this is happening to you but appreciate that you aren't in denial and are attempting to face the what ifs head on. Having a plan B and plan C is crucial especially as we age. Hopefully your job will value the time and money they have spent on your orientation, appreciate your dedication to their facility and it will simply be a blip as you recover and are able to return. Best wishes to you for a full and speedy recovery.

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Thus, the facility isn't required to hold a position for her and she may find herself unemployed and job hunting.

Then I'd say the OP is better off with a new mitral valve than working for a place that would wouldn't hold his/her spot for that. You'd agree, yeah?

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Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.
Then I'd say the OP is better off with a new mitral valve than working for a place that would wouldn't hold his/her spot for that. You'd agree, yeah?

But how long will she be out for? It's not a simple surgery & recovery will take awhile. Most places are short staffed to begin with. Then you add on people taking vacations or not going to work for X/Y/Z reasons. It makes staffing even more unbearable. It sounds bad but I could completely understand why they would let someone go if they aren't covered by FMLA.

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You are likely to return with more endurance. I would hold a spot for a new hire that successfully completed orientation.

Best wishes for a successful surgery and smooth recovery.

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I'd like to think that you'll have a successful recovery and be welcomed back with open arms ...but from what I've seen, even well-liked, long-term employees are quickly discarded when they experience serious medical issues.

As a previous poster suggested, a "plan b" and "plan c" should definitely be in place.

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Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.

I'm sorry this is happening to you! It is a psychological blow when your body starts to fail you. I don't have any experience with your exact problem, but I was in my late 50s when I got the breast cancer diagnosis. Big, scary diagnosis, big scary surgery and months off of work for treatment. My manager was just great, and my coworkers welcomed me back with open arms.

Be sure to communicate with your manager early and often. You'll want her to know before you start sharing your news at work. You may not have been there long enough for FMLA, but if you make sure to keep your manager in the loop, most managers will work with you.

Good luck!

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Unless I was significantly symptomatic, I would hold out until I was eligible for FMLA.

Best wishes.

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Unless I was significantly symptomatic, I would hold out until I was eligible for FMLA.

Best wishes.

Once symptoms appear, damage has been done and recovery is more difficult. The idea is to fix the patient before they get sick if at all possible.

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Specializes in critical care, ER,ICU, CVSURG, CCU.

Also at some facilities mitral valve repair can be minimal invasive as in endoscopic, with not more invasive than cardiac catherization....check out the possibility ty

best wishes

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