Is nursing school possible with RA.

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Hello All

Maybe some can shed some like or advise on my current situation. I currently have two degrees (Sociology and SLP) and have been working in the education field for the past 7/8 yrs. It has drained me to the core and I have been looking into the medical field for quite some time. I have completed all pre-reqs for any nursing program but have been taken back from applying due to my RA diagnosis. I have many many flare ups and the pain sometimes become unbearable and the many symptoms related to it seem not to get any better. The med cocktails that i have tried did not help much and if they did i was experiencing side effects, one being mild hand tremors that come and go as they please.

I fear that with this I will not be able to preform my duties as a nurse to the best of my ability or even worse, put someones life in danger.

Is being a nurse with this illness achievable?

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I knew a nurse who worked with this problem. She suffered greatly. She was doing infrequent home health shifts (mostly sitting during night shift) in addition to her full time job as a call center advice nurse. As I recall, when she had especially bad bouts, she was forced to take time off. Both jobs accommodated her. I see your problem as finding an employer that might be accommodating to your problems. The onus would be on you to make certain this does not happen too frequently.

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What makes you want to invest in a nursing education when you already have a SLP education? SLP seems a better fit than nursing for someone who is living with a chronic condition. SLPs can plan their days and schedule the patient appointments one patient at a time which makes it somewhat easier to pace yourself at work whereas nurses are usually responsible for a group of patients with fluctuating needs and their shifts can be chaotic. If you are drained to the core from teaching, it's possible that nursing will make you feel drained as well.

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I don't have RA, but I have OA, and some other bone/joint problems. Work is painful to the point that I am looking for a way out of bedside nursing now. Partly because my doctors are saying I need to get out. I personally would not encourage somebody with RA that is active/advanced enough as yours to pursue nursing, unless you were to pursue a facet of nursing that is extremely non-physical. Even then, you still have to get through nursing school which means getting through clinicals. Lots of heavy lifting and physical activity.

I am in constant pain, all the time, and after work the pain is MUCH worse. It affects my sleep and quality of life.

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What makes you want to invest in a nursing education when you already have a SLP education? SLP seems a better fit than nursing for someone who is living with a chronic condition. SLPs can plan their days and schedule the patient appointments one patient at a time which makes it somewhat easier to pace yourself at work whereas nurses are usually responsible for a group of patients with fluctuating needs and their shifts can be chaotic. If you are drained to the core from teaching, it's possible that nursing will make you feel drained as well.

Agree. I haven't met an SLP who wasn't happy in their work, whereas nursing is common,y known to have the potential to be exhausting in all aspects.

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I have done work within the SLP field and it's not as glorious as people might perceive it 2 be. And with the new regulations I would have 2 obtain my PhD to practice, which is something that I don't want to do .

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

I am going to be blunt: floor nursing is physical. You will spend much of your time on your feet. You will be expected to roll, transfer, push and pull a patient population that is becoming heavier with each passing year.

Some nursing positions are sedentary and involve no physicality whatsoever. In fact, I work a desk job that involves no patient care. However, I spent nearly 10 years in the trenches (a.k.a. the bedside) before landing my current job.

The reality is, unless you have friends in high places or a connection who can place you into a desk job, you will start your career in direct patient care. Forewarned is forearmed: direct care is brutally painful for those with progressive RA.

Some pollyannish respondents may come along and chime that "you can do it!" Yes, you can do it, but you will probably be miserable and in chronic pain while doing it.

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I have done work within the SLP field and it's not as glorious as people might perceive it 2 be. And with the new regulations I would have 2 obtain my PhD to practice, which is something that I don't want to do .

Everything is relative.

If you work in acute care you have a pretty good perspective of today's nursing and plenty of nurses to ask these questions.

If you work in a school environment then you likely are only familiar with the challenges there and nursing could be a better fit if you were looking for a huge challenge for someone even without a limiting condition.

I'm going to second The Commuter, forewarned is forearmed and hopefully you are hearing us.

As far as having to obtain a PhD, adoctorate isn't required for an SLP, are you referring specifically to Audiology?

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Honestly I think staying in SLP is the way to go for you... Most "sit down" nursing jobs (telecommuting or call center work, clinical doc improvement, etc) requires at least two to five years of full time work experience in nursing- so on the floor. If you're already having bad flare ups I think going through nursing school (~1.5 years if ABSN, 2 years for ADN, or 2+ for typical BSN that you're able to transfer all general credits in to) AND trying to get work experience for one of those "sit down" jobs will be really hard on you. Trying to do some of the most common tasks will be painful during flare ups. So you're looking at 4 or more years of worsening pain- and stress can affect RA as well, so take that into account. Whereas you can complete a 2-4 year program for something in SLP / Audiology which is much less physically stressful if not mentally as well. The timeline is going to be similar so you probably will want to just focus on what is going to be best for your health.

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Specializes in 15 years in ICU, 22 years in PACU.

In total agreement with previous posters. I have had well controlled RA (Enbrel, methotrexate) for over 20 years and would never be able to go back to the early days of bedside nursing, let alone school. The fatigue factor as well as the pain would prohibit this.

I have worked my way into a wonderful job in PACU which rewards me more for my mental and prevention skills than brute manual labor. On some of those long 12 hour days though, I limp my way to the car and take a pain pill so I will be able to get out of my car when I finish the 15 minute drive home and head straight for my medically necessary 104 degree hot tub.

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Hi I was an ED nurse for twenty years and I was diagnosed with RA two years ago. unfortunately i had to quit my job because i was no longer able to perform my duties and was afraid of putting someone's life at risk. I have applied to graduate school so that i can redefine my career to work with my disease.Nursing school is physical. Most of nursing is a very physical job for new nurses, but you can always find something! I am wishing you the best of luck!

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I was born with Stills, juvenile RA. I have the hand tremors (Neurologist calls them "Benign Familial Tremors"), and I have recently started B12 shots for the 2nd time. The shots stop the tremors and make it easier for me to concentrate, increase my energy level, etc. I manage the RA using different OTC analgesic cremes, heating pads, warm bubble baths, and the occasional anti-inflammatory. I find, the smellier the creme the better, my two favorites are Pain Bust II and this cold therapy Bengay. I'm 33 so obviously, being born with this I have had multiple treatments through my life, and I can honestly say that the OTC cremes are the best thing I have tried!

Anyway, it's never gotten me down! I rock climb, spin, yoga and pilates (the strengthen exercises in these 2 actually really help!), especially hot Vinyasa yoga which makes my body feel so comfy and flexible. It will only get you down if you give in to it. I kind of half-joke that I don't believe in pain, and people who have seen me in really bad shape are always amazed with my pain tolerance levels, and it's mainly because I think I've lived with it so long I'm numb to it!

I hate to tell you, but RA only spreads no matter what you do. As a child it was in my knees and elbows. By my teens, I started to feel my hip and shoulder, and now I can feel it in what sometimes feels like every bone in my body. I just have a mindset that nothing will beat me. I am strong, I am capable, and the only person holding me back is me and my irrational fear. You can beat this! Just believe in yourself, and make some lifestyle changes. Dietary changes have had a significant and profound effect on how I feel! And, get plenty of excercise and drink lots of water! No more soda, caffeine, or alcohol!

Whatever you decide is best for you, I hope my story gives you some hope... never forget YOU ARE IN CONTROL, a disease cannot control you!

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