In a lot of pain!

perfectbluebuildings, BSN, RN · Jul 16, 2005

Is there any way you could get a shorter shift? I don't know if that would help. I think school nursing has more sitting than some other nursing jobs (at least from my observation and experience but don't take my word for it!) I hope you are able to find a solution. Have you talked with your doctor or primary care provider for advice about it? Best of luck... let us know how it goes. It's hard enough being a new grad nurse dealing with general new things than having to deal with that kind of pain too!

LouisianaNurse2006 · Jul 16, 2005

Maybe if you have enough background/experience you could try to get a telemetry job or case management, or even in ICU there is not as much walking because you usually have only one or two patients. At the hospital where I volunteer there is a desk & chair outside of each ICU patients glass doors to watch the patient from. If you like nursing just switch from med-surg, which probably where you are on your feet the most, to some other area. Good Luck.

MIA-RN1, RN · Jul 16, 2005

I'm a new grad RN who has been working on Med/Surg for 3 months now. I'm torn between trying to stick it out on the floor or get out of nursing entirely. I desperately need the health insurance for my husband b/c of his health problems, but I so much want to quit! I guess I'm feeling a little down right now. I have scoliosis and one leg that is shorter than the other that causes me pain when I'm working 12-hour shifts. I didn't think nursing would bother me physically as much as it has. I go home crying every night and have trouble getting to sleep b/c of the pain. Is there any job in nursing that I could go into that wouldn't be as demanding physically? I've been thinking about the state psychiatric hospital, but I don't want to go from one bad situation to another. I would appreciate any advise you could give me. BTW, my prior career before nursing was sales and marketing. I've been thinking about returning to that. I just hate the thought of throwing away two years of school for nothing, though.

HOw about combining your experiences and working in pharmaceutical sales, or something along that line? I know an NP who moved into sales/marketing/advertising in a clinical magazine. Maybe you can take your RN knowledge combined with your sales experience and create a position for yourself or find an existing one in a healthcare field out of the hospital.

What about checking out your local Red Cross?

Good luck to you.

SherBearRN · Jul 17, 2005

Thank you all for your suggestions. At the hospital where I'm at now, I can't transfer to a different department for 6 months. I have thought a lot about ICU. It's funny how some of you mentioned sales. I would eventually consider that once I have a bachelor's degree. Right now I'm an ADN nurse. I appreciate your comments. I'll keep you posted. Today wasn't so bad on the floor. I had about an hour of down time where I was able to actually sit down and do charting before my shift ended. I didn't hurt as bad. God, I wish all days could be like this one!

prmenrs, RN · Jul 17, 2005

I think you need to talk w/your ortho doc (if you have one re: the scoliosis you mentioned), or your Primary Care Provider. You might benefit from PT or the services of a podiatrist as well. Aiming for a different work situation is your goal for long term, but you need something to help your symptoms now.

After 37 years (this month!) my back and feet are not always happy campers. I use an electronic nerve stimulator, heating pads, NSAIDS, tylenol--whatever it takes! No, not all @ the same time! I've also had PT when things get real bad. The PTs have an ultrasound thing that has saved me on more than one occassion.

I'd start w/therapeutic dose of ibuprofen, not the OTC dose, a trip to the Doc, heating pad (or ice if it feels better). Pre-med in the AM before work--w/food of course, so you start w/ some pain med on board.

Needless to say, the above is what I would do, not medical advice. So, make that appt ASAP!!

I hope you feel better soon!

RNAnna · Jul 22, 2005

Believe me I understand how you feel both physically and emotionally right about now - or at least I have a bit of understanding. I'm 41 yrs. Three days after I was hired for my current position, I fell down some stairs (not at work) and broke my ankle in three places. Trimalliolar fracture. I live in a rural area and the ER doc looked at the x-rays and asked if I wanted to be transfered south to the University of Iowa hospitals or north to the Mayo Clinic. So, I spent the next week in bed in the mayo clinic and had surgery on the ankle. Three months at home, most of it in bed (you know they love you when they empty your commode), and I was finally released for work.

I'm on a med/surg floor but being a rural 18 bed facility, it is all med/surg. We run our tails off. I still limp from the surgery, but I have found that gradiated compression knee hi's are the way to go. I alway take some sort of NSAID before I go to work because I know that it will work to keep the swelling down while the compression socks do their thing. As nurses we all abuse our bodies to a certain extent. Those of us with some physical challenges need to work with our doctors and come up with some creative ways to keep us upright. I also have orthotics in my nursing shoes (Rockers R-clogs lites). My feet and ankles still hurt to the point of keeping me up at night sometimes. My doctor and I are trying various things to keep that at a minimum. As a first year nurse neither my doctor or I know exactly how my body will react, so we are taking it as it comes. I also have some narcotics left from the surgery that I take very sparringly when I absolutely have to (with the doc's blessing).

Med/surg is very demanding. I'm learning how to run my tail off. luckily we only work hour shifts and I work pms. Sometimes it is "quiet", if that is possible, and sometimes it is like the evening this week when we had 4 admits within an hour. I figure I will do this for a year or two, and then see what my options are.

I'm sorry for the very long post. I hope you find your way in the world of nursing. Remember in nursing, there are no limitations - except your nurse practice act. You can go anywhere and do anything in nursing. But right now, just figure out how to get through tomorrow.

Anna