Sedentary Nursing Jobs

Nurses General Nursing

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After working 12 hour shifts in ER's and Level 1 Trauma Centers for over 20 years, my back is shot. With all my experience and certifications I've gone from being assured a job anywhere to wanted nowhere. Major life and career changes! I'm having trouble finding work and am not even sure what kind of jobs are there for nurses with bad backs.

I'm hoping to get suggestions from all of you for kinds of work to look for, or where to look. I'm in Southern New Mexico and my Spanish is functional but hardly fluent as home health agencies require. Any thoughts from your collective experience would be greatly appreciated.

I work in "patient placement." I handle all aspects of assigning patients a room when admitted through emergency, as well as lateral transfers from one floor to another and transfers to/from ICU. I also handle direct admissions and take initial orders from docs, plus transfers from outlying hospitals. It's a lot of phone and computer work and all takes place from a chair and office. Not all hospitals have this exact position, but I imagine most of the larger ones have something like it.

Specializes in ER, Trauma.

So many replies so fast! Makes me even prouder to be a nurse. Thank you all for giving me hope that there are positions out there for me.

nursing ed and the health dept were very very easy physically for me.

Specializes in Geriatrics, WCC.

Kooky Korky... what world do you live in? I am a DON, and there is nothing sedentary AT ALL about it. As for my ADON and Staff Education Director, they would defintely say the same thing.

Specializes in home health- pediatrics.

How about a rehab/skilled nursing facility? Or a school nurse? You would have to get your teacher's certification in some states, but it is rewarding if you like children! You would have yearly pay for only 8 or 9 months of work!

Specializes in ICU, PICU, School Nursing, Case Mgt.

Did the school nurse thing...here in Fl you do not need a teaching certificate. You do need to be a RN. It was not like hospital nursing, but there were many times I had to RUN to the playground or classroom to take care of an emergency.

THe way the pay works in school nursing here is you are only paid the months that you work...do not collect a paycheck in end of June, July or beginning of August.

I did it for 3 years...not as sedentary as Case Management.

I also agree regarding the DON or ADON...I was the DON for a 120 bed facility...I never sat down...got there 2 days a week at 5a to do wound checks with the wound nurse and there were times I would stay for the night shift b/c of call offs. If it is done right, it is NOT a 40 hour a week job...more like 60!

ADON just as busy if not busier.

Good Luck

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Did you ever find a solution? I've now had 3 back surgeries and I'm only 35. I started out doing med/surg for a couple of years and then ICU for the past 8 years. My job let me go after this most recent back surgery. But like you, sitting is torture for me, too!! I think it's worse than being on my feet for 12 hours. I don't know what to do!

Specializes in Acute Mental Health.
How about becoming the DON or ADON, Staff Development, Educator, go into Psych maybe, or insurance company, telephone triage, or NICU/Newborn Nursery? If you have to cross train, though, it would not be good.

I work psych and can tell you I run all night not to mention the physical altercations! Beware of this field if you can't maneuver quickly or help your coworkers physically restrain a pt. I got hurt assisting with a take down, not from the pt, but from attempting to keep an older coworker safe. Please do not consider psych unless you can literally jump in :)

Specializes in Hospital Education Coordinator.

I am now in education for the same reason. I get help with moving tables and chairs around for presentations.

I have recently had a couple of mini strokes. As a 21 year nurse I was appalled when afterward I realized the deficit in my cognition. I have been trying to work but my superiors are noticing a difference. This week I see the neurologist who will put me on disability. I dont know how to do anything else. Is there anything I can do as a nurse on disability or are my nursing days suddenly cut short?

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