I need help returning after long term sickness

Nurses General Nursing

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Hi, thanks for reading this

I qualified in sept 2008 and worked on a stroke ward until dec 2009 when i injured my wrist. In these 15 months i was doing really well, really finding me feet, enjoying learning new skills and hard working. I had been on my staff nurse development course and just needed to hand in my finished work. Then i injured my wrist. I thought id be back in a month or to so the course leader said i could complete when i returned. Since then ive had to have 7 operations and subsequently lost my job as they could not keep my position open to me any longer.

My wrist is still not 100% but i need to start thinking about what i am going to do when i am fit to return, and i have no idea. I keep having panic attacks over this. I feel that noone will employ me as i basically have no experience. I have wasted a year doing my staff nurse development and cant even complete the course. I basically have to go back 3 years and start again. Im so scared. I dont know where to start.

I did my elective placement in Malta and loved it so would like to go back there to work eventually but feel i dont have the skills, i cant even remember how to be a nurse! And this scared me. I looked into a return to practice course but they are expensive and i dont have the time, i need to be earning money, i am already in so much debt being off work for nearly 2 years.

I just dont know what to do with myself, any help would be great, thanks

Beki x

Specializes in OR.

:smokin::smokin:Sounds to me that your disability has taken it's toll on you in more ways than one.

You will just need to build your confidence a little, and that will come by jumping back on the bicycle.

Is your wrist fused? Does it restrict you in any way from doing the kind of nursing you are used to doing? If not, get right back at it...you are no longer in a disabled role.. you are better! If you can't do the same kind of physical nursing, contemplate applying for something less physical, eg. Psychiatry etc.. this is a very rewarding field of nursing. Nursing is still in the picture for you.

I had a few years off @ one time in my career, and although you may think you have lost your skills, they may be a little 'rusty" but you will soon be back on track, and... feel like you have never been away from it.

I think the best thing for you to do is to get back to nursing ASAP, forget your wrist.. and carry on living..

The best of luck to you!:smokin:

Hi, no my wrist is not fixed, i would not be able to manual handling for another 3-6 months, im having physio twice a week but i still havent got a lot of movement.

I was thinking of applying to an agency maybe to get me back into nursing but then i dont feel id get the support i need?

Thank you for your encouragement.

I feel i have been concentrating so much on my wrist i havent really thought about nursing. Ive got some old 'nursing times' out today and been reading through them, it feels like another world to me!

x

Are you in the US ? Your return would be tied to your disability settlement.

Sounds like you are in the UK, do they make allowances for your inability to fully function ? Do they had nursing reentry program?

Hi, im in the UK

They said they would of let me work doing light duties and an altered role about 6 months back but i was awaiting another operation and couldnt drive so couldnt take it up to go off sick again. So they terminated my contract. I appealed and my consultant wrote a letter to say i could return to light duties from sept and they refused still.

They do a return to nursing but you have to have not nursed in 3 or 5 years, cant remember which and your NMC registration should have lapsed but ive still been paying mine.

x

Specializes in Hospice / Psych / RNAC.

Why couldn't you drive? Are both wrists compromised? I'm not understanding how you couldn't drive.

Is this a serious question??? lol

You need both hands to drive. How am i meant to steer the car?

Plus my insurance would be void if i was driving like that.

Beki

Specializes in Hospice / Psych / RNAC.

Sorry ... didn't mean to hit a nerve. Yes it's a serious question. I was in an accident and broke my left leg (OUCH). I was in my car ASAP with the cast on. There are ways to drive without using both legs or both hands. With my cast I had to hold a sling I made with my left hand and drove to work like that so you see I guess I was stupid to want to drive so badly. My job put me behind a desk and I did paperwork for 6 months until I could fully walk again.

I'm an older experienced driver so perhaps that's the difference. I also have kids to support so there was another reason to get behind the wheel. We also have a very good bus service but I drove quite well. Anyway I didn't mean offense. Some people adjust to situations differently.

not hit a nerve just it wouldnt be possible. i wouldnt be able to hold the wheel and change gear without crashing.

and also as i said my insurance would be void

i have a small child to look after also and have been working in an office in order to support us both

Beki

Hi, no my wrist is not fixed, i would not be able to manual handling for another 3-6 months, im having physio twice a week but i still havent got a lot of movement.

I was thinking of applying to an agency maybe to get me back into nursing but then i dont feel id get the support i need?

Thank you for your encouragement.

I feel i have been concentrating so much on my wrist i havent really thought about nursing. Ive got some old 'nursing times' out today and been reading through them, it feels like another world to me!

x

Agencies typically want someone they can send anywhere.... Maybe hospice? I know there's some physical aspect to it, but they also have hospice aides for more of the ADL care. Best of luck :)

Is this a serious question??? lol

You need both hands to drive. How am i meant to steer the car?

Plus my insurance would be void if i was driving like that.

Beki

Here in the usa we mostly use one hand ! I never drove with two unless i was turning :lol2::lol2:

Here in the usa we mostly use one hand ! I never drove with two unless i was turning :lol2::lol2:

Sounded like a stick shift is involved ???? :)

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