15 lb weight lifting restriction / light duty

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Hello everyone,

I just have questions as to how your employer handled a need for you to go on light duty. I was recently told by my doctor that I will until further notice have to work light duty on an ICU floor, and am a bit concerned as to what that will entail. I would feel uncomfortable taking an assignment and having to call a coworker every time my patient needed anything that would exceed the weight limit, I also would not be able to preform chest compressions if needed. It could just be a dangerous situation.

What types of responsibilities did you all have while on light duty?

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Specializes in Critical Care.

In my experience light duty might include doing audits, working as a UC, projects, etc. Keep in mind though that generally employers are not required to offer you light duty work, they can instead just put you on leave.

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Specializes in Maternal - Child Health.

If your need for light duty is not due to a work-related injury, your employer may or may not honor the request.

In my experience, if they have enough desk work to justify your hours, they will make it available to you. If not, you will likely be placed on medical leave, utilizing FMLA if you qualify.

Best wishes for a speedy recovery.

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From what I've experienced, "light duty" translates to, "Don't come to work until you can actually do your job." There are no accommodations beyond time off at many places.

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Specializes in tele, ICU, CVICU.

The only way your employer is forced to give you modified duty is if it's a work-related injury. If your employer is nice/supportive etc, they mite use you as a unit clerk, secretary, monitor tech, pre-admission testing & day after minor procedures follow-up phone calls. I have seen a friend work under occupational health, doing annual PPD's, N-95 fit testing etc. The one OH nurse had a fairly large of family issues and was very appreciative of the assistance.

I was always told that if your on lite/modified duty (whether a work injury or not) you are not even supposed to be on a clinical floor. Rationale: if you see a patient start to fall, 9/10 times, you're going to try to intervene and stop the fall, just about anyway you can and injure yourself further.

the way you posed it "until further notice", I'm curious if you will be just recouping (after a minor surgery/procedure) that you can get back to regular duties Or is it something chronic only going to worsen, requiring you to be lite duty the rest of your nursing career?

Best of luck & well-wishes

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