Jobs for disabled nurses

[Cobweb]

I mostly work in an electric wheelchair at the moment, as an LPN in a nursing home, but very very shortly I will have my RN and I'm looking around to see what kind of jobs I can do. I have lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, and I can walk a fair bit, but my lungs are not the best. I have always worked as a VA hospital nurse until the last 3 years, so my knowledge of other nursing jobs is a bit skimpy.

I'm looking for suggestions; so far my colleagues have suggested case manager, community health, and school nurse. I really love the school nurse idea but unfortunately in my community it pays....$14k a year...I can't afford that. I'd love any ideas that you all might have. Thanks a lot!

[Ophelia78]

My mother injured her back lifting an obese patient years ago. She can no longer lift more than 8 pounds since the injury. She's worked in case management ever since. Many hospital case management jobs seem to require several years of recent acute care experience. In my state, every county has a local Area on Aging that has RN case managers. You do earn less than a hospital, but it can be very rewarding.

[shah]

I don't want any kind of supervisory position; I really suck at it. I'm best at floor nursing but that may not be an option for much longer; however, some kind of patient advocate deal would be right up my alley and I have the experience to back it up (years of cardiopulmonary and med-surg plus tons of psych experience). That's why I thought case management or community health might be OK--but I'm not really sure what all the job entails. I could probably stay at the nursing home where I'm at, but I'm strongly motivated towards community service and helping the impoverished.

Anyway, thanks again! Those tips are much appreciated!

:monkeydance:Look for jobs with stat regulatory agencies. They give good retirement benefits and you are a true patient advocate. As a cas manager, all you do is try and discharge patients before keeping them becomes unprofitable for the hospital. You also get all the flack from families that you get on the floor (and more).

[elizabethrose]

I work for a small hospital with very few jobs and far between that come along. I injured my back non work related and shoulder a year ago but continued to work and looked for other light duty nursing jobs while I could. I worked to the point that one day I couldn't work any longer. the pain was too great and I was injuring myself further an further until one day, I couldn't go to work. I am on temporary disability but at this time unable to return to prior nursing job. I worked in the hospital then home care for past 14 years. I spoke to human resources and they stated they don't have any office nursing positions for me at this time and can't even apply to any positions until back to work from leave and have so much time on leave for job protection. I started looking outside of my hospital but am uncertain of whether can apply at this time while on leave. Do I explain situation during the interview. that I can't lift or do any kind of physically demanding positions but can use my mind, some nursing skills, computer skills, research, teaching skills. I have been searching for the past year while I had back pain and shoulder pain and have applied for health insurance companies, fitness centers, research positions, wellness positions in RI/MA but find the positions competative and hard to get interviews. I had 4 interviews past year three told me that too many people applied and competitive one made an offer for very little money and to work monday through friday 24 hours as a school nurse at a boarding school. I am single, and my savings account is dwindling. I am wondering what should I do. Any advice?

[woody62, RN]

I work for a small hospital with very few jobs and far between that come along. I injured my back non work related and shoulder a year ago but continued to work and looked for other light duty nursing jobs while I could. I worked to the point that one day I couldn't work any longer. the pain was too great and I was injuring myself further an further until one day, I couldn't go to work. I am on temporary disability but at this time unable to return to prior nursing job. I worked in the hospital then home care for past 14 years. I spoke to human resources and they stated they don't have any office nursing positions for me at this time and can't even apply to any positions until back to work from leave and have so much time on leave for job protection. I started looking outside of my hospital but am uncertain of whether can apply at this time while on leave. Do I explain situation during the interview. that I can't lift or do any kind of physically demanding positions but can use my mind, some nursing skills, computer skills, research, teaching skills. I have been searching for the past year while I had back pain and shoulder pain and have applied for health insurance companies, fitness centers, research positions, wellness positions in RI/MA but find the positions competative and hard to get interviews. I had 4 interviews past year three told me that too many people applied and competitive one made an offer for very little money and to work monday through friday 24 hours as a school nurse at a boarding school. I am single, and my savings account is dwindling. I am wondering what should I do. Any advice?

At the risk of sounding negative, I found out sixteen years ago that most hospitals, clinics, and other employers, despite saying they are willing to hire the handicapped, they truly arenot. They look for any reason not to hire us. They view as us as a major risk and liability. When I was in graduate school, in 20012, I applied at a major medical center for a position that I was well qualified for. I was not offered the job. The letter they sent stated they had decided to promote from within. I wonder now that the shortages is increasing, if my skills will suddenly become employable.

Woody:twocents:

[elizabethrose]

Are potential employers able to find out if a applicant/person has been on disability or workers comp? I am wondering if it would be better to only apply to positions I am able to do, use my skills, education, perform and not mention my past history since does not apply require lifting. I don't want to be for human resources secretly discriminate against me or have my chances lost just because of my prior history when would not effect the position applied for. I notice the prejudice at my workplace. When I spoke to my human resources, I could sense. The person stated that I would need to be back to work functioning as a nurse before I can apply for any other position, due to policy. and when I mentioned that I would like to apply for office nurse. She mentioned if I can't go back as a nurse, how can I apply. I stated how my previous positions: hospital nursing, home care is physically demanding requires ability to lift with little resources, staff. and that I can certainly use a computer, educate, research, perform some nursing skills, lift 20-40 lb versus what hospital nurses lift above 100 lb. I have to figure this out, but since my workplace has no openings for anything else, not certain what I will be able to transfer to at this time or in future once time runs out.

[woody62, RN]

Are potential employers able to find out if a applicant/person has been on disability or workers comp? I am wondering if it would be better to only apply to positions I am able to do, use my skills, education, perform and not mention my past history since does not apply require lifting. I don't want to be for human resources secretly discriminate against me or have my chances lost just because of my prior history when would not effect the position applied for. I notice the prejudice at my workplace. When I spoke to my human resources, I could sense. The person stated that I would need to be back to work functioning as a nurse before I can apply for any other position, due to policy. and when I mentioned that I would like to apply for office nurse. She mentioned if I can't go back as a nurse, how can I apply. I stated how my previous positions: hospital nursing, home care is physically demanding requires ability to lift with little resources, staff. and that I can certainly use a computer, educate, research, perform some nursing skills, lift 20-40 lb versus what hospital nurses lift above 100 lb. I have to figure this out, but since my workplace has no openings for anything else, not certain what I will be able to transfer to at this time or in future once time runs out.

A potential employer cannot ask, prior to hiring you, about you medical history. However, how does one explain a one, two, three, ten, fifteen or twenty year gap in your employment history. And since many of us have physical restrictions and/or have previous Workers' Compensation history, we must share this with a potential employer. Failure to share any work rrestrictions, or medical history and then suffer an injury, you will find yourself terminated and without Workers Compensation coverage, because of your failure to disclose. Also Workers Compensation claims are disclosed by each insurance company. So, there is little point in attempting to hide a claim.

Woody:twocents:

[juschillin, MSN, RN, NP]

There seem to be jobs that are telecommuting these days. virtual vocations is a job resource that i just joined because I want some contracting work to do from home. you have to pay 15.00/month (or by week, no contracts to keep paying) and there are lots of jobs it looks like. Telehealth is becoming big and I am looking into this. Applied for one job this morning....0.25 cents/minute doing some sort of heath phone call retrieval/screening. 25 cents a minute is 15.00/hr. if I did my math right. that was just one job though there are others i see that i'll throw in my resume to. good luck. i do think tele health jobs are the way to go.