Injured nursing needs advice

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Dec 22, 2015

There are nursing jobs that are not physical...but here is the kicker: these roles tend to require several years of bedside nursing experience. And, as we all know, bedside nursing can be rather physical.

The decision to pursue nursing is one that only you can make. Good luck to you.

KatieMI, BSN, MSN, RN · Dec 22, 2015

Yes, you can, but probably not in "classical" bedside nursing.

You need to duscuss your medical issues ASAP with director of your program and ask directly if they can accomodate you. If they cannot, you might have to shop around and arrange transfer to a more welcoming place. You did not mention which program you are into, but from what I know, BSN are the most and LPN/LVN are the least accomodating. My BSN class had several students, including myself, who needed "special considerations", and we all graduated and found our niches.

Another good thing about BSN is that it offers direct bridge to Master's in many specialties where nurses with physical limitations can be employed. This way takes longer and costs more but it is much more feasible. There are Master's and Doctor's degree programs in almost every advanced nursing specialty (except CRNA, Women's health/CNM and Neonatal NP) which admit academically strong and motivated students directly from undergrad or incorporate BSN as direct-entry program, plus Management/leadership, nursing IT, Public health and some others.

My point is that office-based, physical efforts free nursing jobs exist but they either require long and hard experience, or long and hard studying. Or, sometimes, both.

ixchel · Dec 22, 2015

Hey, Angela!

I graduated May, 2014 as a BSN. Presently, I work on an ICU stepdown. In my fall, 2012 semester, I learned that I have an injury that will require a fusion at some point (could be tomorrow, could be ten years from now). Since then, I've managed to progress this thing quickly enough that I know the time is just about here.

In the meantime, I've been fortunate enough to do a lot of research. First, fusion is a bit scary. The rate of successful fusion isn't beautifully high. So, hesitating before leaping to it is a good idea.

I've also learned that a lot of nurses have gotten fusions. I'll soon be one of them. I am hoping above hope that it will be successful without complication so that I can continue to work the floor. If I can't, I'll be bummed, but nurses are fortunate enough to have many settings to become employed.

Depending on your area and degree type, it is possible there are non-acute setting jobs attainable without acute setting experience. A lot of people will say otherwise, and for their areas that very well may be true. Where I live, BSN nurses were snatched up post-graduation in health departments in my county and surrounding counties. It's completely circumstantial whether you will be able to work outside the hospital. You'll have to do your research locally to you to know for sure.

So, I guess all this is to say that the answer to your question is completely "it depends".

(P.S. It's strongly recommended you not use real names on here as a screen name. Crazy people lurk the interwebs.)

AngelaShepard · Dec 23, 2015

Thank you ladies. I'm actually going for my associates degree. Does that make any difference?

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Dec 23, 2015

Thank you ladies. I'm actually going for my associates degree. Does that make any difference?

Depending on your geographic location, an associate degree in nursing may limit the number of non-bedside roles that would be available to you. Again, it depends on the local job market in your region.

sailornurse · Dec 23, 2015

Angela, if this is your real name, please change it. If I can google you and find you, please change it. Many faculty are on this site.

applesxoranges, BSN, RN · Dec 24, 2015

You may want to keep an eye out for lift systems in hospitals and which ones really enforce safe lifting. One hospital unit is super gung-ho on safe lifting. There are sky lifts in many rooms and all floors have lifts.

Atl-Murse · Dec 26, 2015

Step 1 . Go to a area with lower competition.

Step 2 . Get a job in the NICU , NICU PTs weight very little, almost no work load on your back

Step 3 . Get the experience, move back to your city and becomes an educator/ case management/ Telephone triage RN/ and other non physical jobs

emtpbill, ASN, RN, EMT-P · Dec 26, 2015

I am a male so I don't know about females but I can give my perspective.

I have worked as a 911 paramedic for 18 years. One day while taking a 90lbs. Soaking wet patient out of the ambulance I felt something pop in my lower back. Anyways I herniated my l4 and l5. Ended up having anterior lumbar interbody fusion done 6 months later.

I am back to work on the ambulance , lifting patients and carrying them down flights of stairs.

There are days when it aches horribly, especially when it rains. But other then some stiffness it really hasn't affected the way I do my job. I pull patients over onto my stretcher from hospital beds sometimes, and some of the bigger ones can go 500lbs.

It was scary at first, thinking my career was over as a medic, but here I am in nursing school and starting a new career, not because I had too but because I wanted too!