Hoping for a miracle

Amethya · May 2, 2018

As everyone says, you can find jobs where you don't have to do much lifting. I'm a Medical Aide at a school and my job requires minimal lifting. The issue is the classes, which is physically taxing.

I really hope you find a way to do this so you don't have to worry much. I was thinking, you can fill out for disability for the college. I was reading up on nursing programs for myself and I saw on one that if you have any type of disability, they can work around it for a 504. You might want to look into that as well, but make sure you have the paperwork that show the diagnosis.

KatieMI, BSN, MSN, RN · May 2, 2018

1).Nothing about miracles here. I had a classmate who could do no lifting for 2 years out of 3, myself who couldn't do home health and more than a couple of others.

So...

2). Get a physician's note, preferably a specialist, who will write there clearly what you can and cannot do.

3). Approach schools with that and see where it goes.

Generally, AFAIK, BSN programs are more tolerant and more creative in finding ways for students with limitations. ADNs are less, and LPNs are still less. But you still need to shop around and see which program would be willing to work with you.

If you want it and can afford it, you can go into direct MSN, NP or non-bedside option specialty. Since you are young, it can be combined with another degree like PH or IT (my aforementioned classmate now grabs $$$$$ as EMR developed in Cali with Nursing IT MSN and previous IT degree. He was not working a day bedside, ever).

Second option is no-bedside nursing. These jobs exist, you just need to start planning and networking early. Again, BSN would help a lot. Just be careful about these options. Case management can be not much about lifting but with lots of walking anyway and wound care can include crouching down for a good hour.

Third option would be "near nursing" with the same "potential to change lives" if it is what you want. Social work is one example.

Good luck to you on whatever way you choose!

TriciaJ, RN · May 2, 2018

There are many nursing jobs that are not physically strenuous, however, that does not solve the problem of getting through nursing school, as many others have mentioned. Another sticking point: all employers (unless there are exceptions I haven't heard of) require an up-to-date CPR card. I don't know if this is doable with the OP's situation but needs to be kept in mind.

Feinhawk · May 2, 2018

There are many nursing jobs that are not physically strenuous, however, that does not solve the problem of getting through nursing school, as many others have mentioned. Another sticking point: all employers (unless there are exceptions I haven't heard of) require an up-to-date CPR card. I don't know if this is doable with the OP's situation but needs to be kept in mind.

Cpr isn't an issue it's standing for long periods and lifting that's the issue. I am Cpr certified.

Neats, BSN · May 2, 2018

I will more than likely get some nursing backlash for this reply but here goes:

Nurses with back issues are a dime a dozen. I do not mean to mitigate the seriousness of back injuries but a lot of nurses have limitations in the work environment. I have been with nurses who tell me they can lift and the next thing I know I am the one doing the lifting...that gets annoying because now I maybe injured and I do not want to get injured, I also will think twice about asking you to help me again with patient care. Most nurses with back injuries find work in areas where there is no heavy lifting or in an environment in which they do not have to push/pull lift greater than say 25 pounds. I am just recalling all my managerial worker comp managed cases while a Licensed Nursing Home Administrator.

With that said for someone to tell you to not pursue something you have been working hard for, and now are about to step into that reality, really bites and is un-necessary.

Should you want to be a nurse...be one, work hard and get that degree. There are many avenues a nurse can take and inpatient hospital nursing is not the end all be all. We really need to change our way of thinking for new nurses or for that matter seasoned nurses. I have hired new nurses RN and LPN's in the Skilled Nurse Facility and prison system and they get training/shadowing for a variety of diseases and chronic care issues. When I teach a nurse in the prison infirmary they are caring for someone much like a med surg unit, same with sub acute.

I have experience on a med/surg unit and in the emergency room but most of my experience came from Skilled Nursing and Prison system where my assessment skills took me down paths in which the patient outcomes improved because I looked at lab values, looked at skin, looked at the wound, looked and heard the vital signs, and medications, and the monitoring machines i.e. ecg, ventilators, infusion pumps, oxygen monitoring, TPN, J Tubes, JP tubes, peritoneal dialysis, I can go on but you get my point. Most of these I learned in the prison or Skilled Nursing Facility.

The med/Surg unit I was on was routine with normal things I mentioned except I was under strict protocol/policy any deviation would have brought swift corrective action. In the prison/Skilled Nursing I had more autonomy where I had to know what to do right the first time, had to piece together the assessment, the medication, the disease, to stabilize the patient before the ambulance got there, before the patient decompensated. These are the same skills you use on a med/surg unit but there on the Med/Surg unit you have an environment in which you can tap into. In the Prison and Skilled Nurse facility you have to stabilize and wait...for transfer.

Sure there maybe things you will shy away from emergency room nursing, OR, ICU, Med/Surg because of the physical effort in these positions however you can get your nursing foundational experience elsewhere if you apply yourself and learn.

Education is a wonderful thing no one can take away from you. Education shows you can learn to perform, it is up to you to decide what to do but I can tell you, when people with well intentions telling me they think I cannot do something makes the back of the hairs on my neck stand up, and I will never allow anyone to dictate my future that way. I would thank them for the feed back and perhaps make my decision a little more carefully weighing options on which I set myself up for success.

Feinhawk · May 2, 2018

Thank you neats, I sincerely appreciate all you have said

sallyrnrrt, ADN, RN · May 2, 2018

On the other hand, get MDS in snf qualified, nursing home depend on those mds assessments to get paid....it is a desk/ computer job, day shift M-f

Best wishes

LibraNurse27, BSN, RN · May 3, 2018

Just my two cents but I was hired into a community health clinic as a new nurse and it was not a physically demanding job (phone triage, in person assessments, wound care, but no turning/lifting/etc). In my area community health clinics pay less than acute care so most of the nurses at this job were new nurses. The pay was still a living wage but much less than I make in acute care. It is definitely possible to get a non-physical job as a new RN though. I know many friend who had their first job in clinics or home care. Don't give up! You have come so far and sound like you are very passionate about becoming a nurse. Also, working in community health is great for RNs who hope to become outpatient NPs. =)

brandy1017, ASN, RN · May 3, 2018

Thank you I will be contacting my case manager and I contacted my counselor to try and figure out what my new career may be.

Look into ultrasound tech. From what I'm aware the pay is comparable to nursing and can be done with an Associates at a public community college. Much better working conditions and less stress. I wish I had known about this option back in the day! Check it out!

Kooky Korky, BSN, RN · May 3, 2018

I hope you have a lawyer for your Workers' Comp case. This injury might have taken a lot more away from you than you realize - like your future as an RN and NP. You need a large monetary settlement is what I'm telling you.

As an NP, though, BTW, you likely won't be lifting, turning people, and standing/walking like nurses do.

Also, there is some nursing that doesn't require as much physicality as others - school nursing, jail nursing, case management, MDS coordinator, teaching (work in skills lab, lecture), summer camp nurse, Psych. There are exceptions to these exceptions, of course.

chtzu, BSN, RN · May 3, 2018

I work in a MD office as a new grad. Wasn't psychically demanding but sure didn't pay a whole lot. It's possible though!

Kareegasee, RN · May 5, 2018

No, she got that position after just 2 years of regular floor nursing. If you can find a nursing position that doesn't require much physically, you may be able to move into a management position shortly after. Its a small amount of time compared to the benefits of a management position.