Lots of young people on disability?

Ruthiegal · May 17, 2011

Why do you judge these people, and how do you know they don't have pain, or bi polar... those are often illnesses that you cannot see. I for one am disabled but it isn't something that you will see on an x ray or necessarily a CT...but I assure you I am in pain everyday... My son is mentally ill, and cannot work, and I suppose if he came in with pain you would lump him in that same category... I know there are some who are drug seekers, but I hope I never come to your ER and get treated like one when I certainly am not..... Learning to live in this world takes patience and learning tolerance and to walk in another's shoes before you JUDGE...

Thanks, I'm off the soapbox now.

DLS_PMHNP, MSN, RN, NP · May 17, 2011

Bi-polar is a devastating psychiatric illness...

Wow...

caregiver1977 · May 17, 2011

Many people who can't work and are on disability are ashamed. Some people with epilepsy can't work (or do much else of anything they like/once did) and it is not always apparent unless you see them having a seizure.

Then again you do have drug seeking free loaders. But it is hard to tell who is who a lot of times.

digoe74 · May 17, 2011

I know a couple of "young people" who are disabled due to diagnosed psychiatric illnesses and they most certainly could not work. The process that one goes through to even receive such benefits is grueling and takes several months -- sometimes years. I doubt that the majority of these individuals are on disability because they simply 'don't want to work' as many of them need to rely on others to support them until they receive their benefits and those less fortunate who do not have family/friends to help out live in shelters. Not a life one would choose if they had an alternative. Actually, it's very sad. IMO

soxgirl2008 · May 17, 2011

Bi-polar is a devastating psychiatric illness...
Wow...

Agreed. I know people who are bi polar and it's not easy to live with and they have a very very hard time holding a job...There are the free loaders out there, but many people on disability would rather not be.

heathert_kc · May 17, 2011

Of coorifice you cannot generalize or assume that you know these people or their intentions, but certainly there are some individual out there who abuse the system. I had clinicals at the health department last semester and spent some time talking with one of the social workers, who despite have the same ethical mandates as a nurse had the same frustrations, if not worse. She said, "It is my job to assist these people to reach their goals, but what do I do when it is their goal to get on disability or take advantage of governmental welfare programs/public assistance when I know that they are capable mentally and physically to work?" She seemed equally as sad as disgusted that some of her clients didn't think their was anything better they could do in their life.

Fribblet · May 17, 2011

Very telling that the people responding are not ER nurses.

The OP was venting. We see A LOT of abuse of the system, and often these patients who are taking total advantage are more than happy to let you know it. They're proud of finding a way to let working people support them.

And, after you have been doing this a while, it gets easier and easier to spot the free-loaders. Those of us who are experienced are rarely wrong.

We can get angry at people and still treat them, but after you've watched people abuse the system and abuse you day in and day out, you've earned the right to express frustration.

I'm sure all of you are completely perfect and would never judge or jump to any conclusion about anything, give all of your meds on time, and have all of your pillows fluffed. The rest of us evil, awful, ER nurses are in our forum ********, so, please let us.

jmqphd · May 17, 2011

My students were discussing what they "hated" about some nurses. I had to point out to them that they were being judgmental towards nurses they thought were being judgmental. So they were guilty of the very thing they were criticizing.

Who among us has not felt angry toward patients who choose to NOT do the hard work of getting and staying well? Why shouldn't we feel helpless when patients (who may never be "well") seek the secondary gain of being sick. (Drugs, manipulative relationships, or just the bonus in their welfare stipend.)

May I suggest that you are not human if you aren't susceptible to the OP's feelings. The problem is not the anger and frustration expressed, it's the generalization. When the forest is so big and you're lost in the middle of it, sometimes it's tough to distinguish the individual trees.

PS: I am guilty of this. But even when I'm right, and the person is a "loser" by choice... I still have to take care of them and conduct myself like a professional. Sometimes I don't meet my own standards. Not proud of it... but there it is. I just try to get some rest, some perspective and get back in the game.

flashpoint · May 17, 2011

The really bad part is that it is so hard to tell who is truly disabled and who is not. My FIL seemed quite capable of working but due to issues with pain and seizures, he could not. He spent five years working to get on disability. I have a friend that has seizures despite taking medication. He seizes frequently enough that he cannot be alone for more than an hour or two. He has a choice of either hiring a caregiver or having his wife stay home with him. A caregiver would cost more than she could make working.

But, I also know someone who cannot work due to back problems that are able to go water skiing, four wheeling, and rappelling without problems. She is also able to help her brother with his moving van company. She lifts heavy boxes and furniture and drives long distances without break periods.

It is impossible to know what someone's day-to-day issues are. They may be perfectly capable of doing something today, but not tomorrow. It can be very frustrating to see someone who receives huge amounts of assistance and has a seemingly better life than those of us who work long hours. It is very frustrating to struggle to pay medical and dental bills while watching someone else receive so much care at no cost to them.

Either way, we treat our patients with respect and dignity and pretend we don't know how the hospital is being paid.

JennyMac · May 17, 2011

I know a couple of people with Bipolar Disorder who treat it with medication and are actually quite capable of holding down very good jobs...my roommate and friend being one of them. Is it possible that some (not all) of the people on disability for this or similar issues are abusing the system when they really could control their disorders?

Side Note: Am just asking, I don't pretend to know what it is like to have this disorder.

cardinalRN · May 17, 2011

I'll give you 6 months in an ER and see if you don't feel the same.

My husband is paralyzed, diabetic, deals with chronic pain and bladder infections...yet he is able to hold down a full-time job. Why? Because he takes pride in earning a living. Sure, there are some out there who need disability, but I find that the vast majority are just lazy, have a sense of entitlement, and are just taking advantage of the system. It makes me sick, too! :madface: