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Discussion

Job Advice Please

I need some advice. I've been an RN now for almost a year and have been working on med/surg floor for 7 months. I love my job co workers are great, management is awesome etc. etc. The problem is that I'm a very petite person (4"11, 90lbs), and my floor requires a lot of lifting and pulling. I'm finding this extremely difficult for me, and I usually go home with a sore back and it takes about a day to recover. I'm thinking maybe I should try pediatrics. My question is, how hard would it be for me to make the change from adults to peds? Are children more challenging? Would it be harder to get into pediatrics since I have no experience?

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Hello NewRNal!

Gee, seems kind of silly to change positions from a floor that you really enjoy being on, but your BACK is way more important.

My question(s) to you are: Does your hospital have a professional union for nurses? Also, does your hospital have a policy on lifting? I would most definitely check out what your Union has to say and also your lifting policy. There is a national "Push" on using good body mechanics while at the work-place. Does your health care institution use any kind of lifting devices?

Check out these websites:

http://safeliftingportal.com/safeliftinglibrary/

www.dcd.gov/niosh/hcwold3.html

www.worksafebc.com

athena

  • Experts

Don't make the mistake of thinking that peds is easier on the back than adults. Kids are unpredictable and they are VERY heavy when they want to be. I've had toddlers throw themselves sideways or backwards on my lap to avoid the infamous aerosol mask and the struggle to keep them from falling to the floor has been a mighty one. And since peds includes kids to their 17th birthday in most places, that could mean linebackers and body builders... with spinal cord or head injuries. Kids with psychiatric illnesses are no less dangerous than someone twice their age.

Even neonatal has its risks. Pushing an isolette down a hallway with an oxygen cylinder and whatever other accoutrements is a hard job. Infants of diabetic mothers emerge weighing 10 to 12 pounds of dead weight with no head control.

Much can be said for planning your next move. If you identify the risk and plan accordingly, you can often avoid injury. But there isn't a clinical nursing environment that is totally free of back-impact.

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