Major career and life crossroads

[dthfytr]

Loved ER nursing and EMS, spent most of my life with them. In January a "perfect storm" happened to my back and disabled me. Through the aging process, some genetic influences, illness, and old trauma from some recreational stuff (piloting, parachuting, motorcycling, just the usual stuff), and my employer couldn't get me out the door fast enough. Protect your backs!

My doc says find a job I can do by phone at home. No standing, walking, lifting. CPR? forgedaboutit! I applied for SS Disability and what scares me the most is that they gave it without a fight. I'm working through the stages with a big emphasis on denial, but I'll concede to undulent depression.

Late 50's, single, no extended family, most of my material possesions went for survival this year and a previous knee replacement (no home), so all I've got is SS Disability. I need and want more, and with huge experience under my belt I feel I must be able to work somewhere. My soldier/daughter has taken me in for now or I'd be forwarding my mail to my car.

The sedentary jobs posted online all want lots of experience in case management or whatever the field they're offering. It's pretty much a given I'd have to leave the Southern NM/West TX area, and moving again isn't high on my list of favorites anymore.

So there's my mess, and my wide open wound. I've done some wonderful things in life, now I need to figure how to let life help me, unaccoustamed as I am. Constructive criticism is fine. Sympathy is soothing, suggestions are great. Inside tips on lottery numbers would be great. I've run out of ideas, so hit me with your best shot (figuratively, puhlease).

[dthfytr, ADN, LPN, RN, EMT-B, EMT-I]

The limitations are pretty confining. I realised that I can never do CPR again which will probably rule out most if not all direct patient care. I keep testing my limits but feedback is harsh. Twice I tried to walk about half a mile, ended up in the ER both times. Seems like some of my CNS has some wires crossed. Thanks for the reply.

[dthfytr, ADN, LPN, RN, EMT-B, EMT-I]

You are experiencing what I hoped to avoid by jumping ship to health-care nearly 20 years ago. Only the injury complicates matters to be sure. I'll share with you my mindset at the time which may hopefully cue your own mind to see possibilities where perhaps none may have existed previously. I found myself highly educated, highly trained, and highly expendable. The job market was as it was today, abysmal however, I was lucky to be single, 31, and unencumbered at the time.

The first order of business was a worldwide search within industry. Failing that, a decision was made to retrain. The reasons for my eventual path are self evident however, the runner up was in fact mortuary sciences (undertaker). I tell you this not as a suggestion but as an indicator as to "frame of mind" in my flexibility with regard to the decision making process. A frame of mind, which is difficult to adopt but, you may find helpful in trying to "think outside of the box" per Se.

I often think about what I might do if I lost the ability to be a Nurse tomorrow. Most answers require various degrees of physical ability and vary greatly in my case, Truck Driver, Undertaker, Flight Instructor, Restaurant Manager, wherever the supply and demand, experience, or other factors may be in my favor. I do know that I would sit and carefully evaluate what is happening in the world around me ("situational awareness") and take some positive steps based on that evaluation. My short impression of you with these bits and bytes that I see on my screen, is of a well spoken intelligent individual. An intact mind is perhaps our greatest asset as Stephen Hawking would no doubt attest.

I hope that this can be of some help to you,... you have my sincere best wishes.

Retraining was an early thought. It's not practical, but not ruled out. If I go that route I'd be 60ish when done, maybe deep in debt. Logically it's bad choice, but emtionally it would give me a goal and a chance to prolong independence. I'm still regrouping from the loss of identity, the futre course yet to become clear. Thanks for sharing. As I'd hoped, nurses are being most generous in helping me gain some perspective.

[dthfytr, ADN, LPN, RN, EMT-B, EMT-I]

I don't have a clue. Sat here for a little bit and tried to figure something out. Couldn't. I'm not much help to you, but I very much wish I were. Usually I try to remain silent when I don't have anything to offer (sometimes I SHOULD remain silent) But in this situation I wanted you to know I read about your problems, and I'll continue to think about some options. I'm so sorry for your worries.

Thanks for the feedback. Semi seriously I keep thinking about dispatching taxi's.

[rn/writer, RN]

Semi seriously I keep thinking about dispatching taxi's.

Or seriously dispatching semis? Sorry, couldn't resist.

What do you think about EMS dispatching?

[dthfytr, ADN, LPN, RN, EMT-B, EMT-I]

Or seriously dispatching semis? Sorry, couldn't resist.

What do you think about EMS dispatching?

Can't believe I didn't see that one coming. Did EMS dispatch while in nursing school, not a bad idea, semi enjoyed it.

[jacknkai]

i am so sorry for your loss! my husband went through this a while back but he works in a different field so it did not have as great an impact on his job. i understand your whole life is affected. when i was in school i spent some time with the diabetes nurse educator. they did have to walk a lot but as far as the physical aspect that was it. no heavy lifting, lots of teaching. perhaps an educator position would work for you. i'll pray for you!

[Altra, BSN, RN]

I don't know what kind of money it pulls in, but other possibilities are chart reviews for large legal firms and equipment demonstration/training for health care equipment vendors and software companies. The latter involves travel, but just throwing it out there as a possibility.

I will be keeping you in my thoughts - we stick together in the ER!

[happy2learn]

First, I'm sorry to hear this. :hug:

Humana hires RN's to work on the phone, many from home. Other insurance companies may do this as well, but I can't say. I've only worked at Humana.

Here's an example, not sure where you are located, just pulled the first example I saw:

Personal Nurse - Wisconsin Full Time Regularposted 08/30/2010

WI - Green Bay

Humana Inc., headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, is one of the nation's largest publicly traded health benefits companies. Humana offers a diversified portfolio of health insurance products and related services - through traditional and consumer-choice plans - to employer groups, government-sponsored plans, and individuals.

Today, Humana is a leader in consumer engagement. Throughout its diversified customer portfolio, the company provides guidance that can both help lower costs and lead to a better health plan experience.

Role: Clinical Innovations Personal NURSE Navigator

Location: Wisconsin - Work at Home

Are you a fit?

If every medicine was passed, every IV was hung, every order read, every dressing changed, what would you do? Are you that NURSE that would choose to sit with the patient who needs your nurturing presence? Have you ever wondered how to unlock the key to guiding a patient toward a healthier lifestyle? Are you a self-starter and capable of working alone from your home office? If you answered yes, continue reading to learn more and decide if this role is for you!

Assignment Capsule:

The Personal NURSE provides one-on-one guidance to information; resources and tools to increase the member's ability to manage their own condition understand their health care options and become active decision makers with their physician. Highly qualified, telephonic, work-at-home registered NURSEs outreach to provide coaching and guidance to members when they need it most. This position requires full-time hours on the phone, with the ability to work flexible hours to meet the needs of our members in the evenings or occasionally on weekends. As a Personal NURSE with Humana, you can make a difference in the lives of your patients and improve their health outcomes. Through your clinical knowledge, support, desire to educate and empower your patients, you are making a significant positive impact in the health care industry.

Other responsibilities will include:

Apply your clinical knowledge to educate and empower your patients to take charge of their own healthcare decisions.

Provide guidance and clinical expertise on how to navigate through the health care setting.

Provide ongoing consultation with your patients via telephone to ensure that they are receiving the best quality of care possible.

Consult with your patients on how to ask the right questions and interpret complex medical content in an effort to enhance the Patient / Member Experience.

Key Competencies:

*Leveraging Technology: You are at home in a separate, secure room that can be used as a home office to ensure you and your members have absolute and continuous privacy while you work. You are comfortable using telephonic and electronic technology. You are a seasoned user of the internet and you know how to navigate efficiently.

*Problem Solving: You are a problem solver with the ability to engage others in collaborative problem solving. You can be a broker and consultant regarding resources. You engage people in problem solving without taking over.

*Is Accountable: You are a self-starter good at self management and capable of working alone. You set your own goals and structure your world so you can reach your goals. People describe you as independent and reliable. You work full-time (40 hrs minimum) Monday through Friday including 2 evenings/wk up to 9pm (local time). You work flexible hours during the day when working that evening. You make infrequent weekend calls to accommodate individual patient requests.

You don't mind travelling as needed for training.

*Clinical Knowledge: You understand clinical program design, implementation, management/monitoring to support choice in consumer medical care. You understand the medical utilization implications of such programs while possessing clinical licenses in multiple states with out restrictions.

*Influencing Others: You believe in people and their potential. You empower people to make decisions and be accountable. You are empathic and you understand the dilemmas that people encounter. People turn to you with problems because you listen.

*Communication: You genuinely like talking to people; you are curious about who they are. People describe you as warm, accepting, kind and caring. You have exceptional communication and interpersonal skills.

Role Essentials:

Active Wisconsin unrestricted RN license in your state of residence.

*4-year degree, BSN or Bachelors preferably in healthcare or business related field

*Seasoned professional with 3 or more years of clinical experience

*Web Navigation, Microsoft Applications and Typing skills

*Must have accessibility to high speed DSL for a home office (no satellite or wireless)

Role Desirables:

*Health promotion, wellness, counseling and coaching experience

*Telephone experience

*Bilingual (Mandarin, Spanish, Creole, Portuguese) is a plus

Reporting Relationships:

You will report to a Personal NURSE Coach. This area is under the leadership of the SVP & Chief Operating Officer.

[GHGoonette, BSN, RN]

Oh boy. What we do to ourselves.

I have crocked up both shoulders from moving beds and equipment and lifting patients.

I have 4 compressed discs in my neck (not telling ANYONE how that happened!).

All the lumbar discs have had it....classic nurse, huh?

Fortunately I can still function with anti inflammatories, but surgery is waiting down the road and waving to me.

Reading your posts I would have thought teaching and training, if not in a classroom then as a clinical instructor. Do your hospitals have In-Service Training sections? You might not need additional education for that?

[msrosebud28]

That's what I was gonna say was insurance company. Try humana, blue cross blue shield, Aetna, and the list goes on. Most do ask for BSN but also request hospital experience. Good Luck and don't throw that towel in yet. Sounds like your heart is still in it!

[TDCHIM]

I'm in the same boat, only about 20 years younger (and mine wasn't due to working as a nurse, just lousy genes and a lot of physical activity). I couldn't stand the thought of taking disability, but my choices are pretty limited - no standing, no lifting, and I have to sit in semi-reclined positions a lot.

So after a lot of thought and research, I decided to go back for a bachelor's in health information management. It's an interesting field that is really growing, and there are roles like clinical documentation specialists where your skills as a nurse would be invaluable. You would need some additional training in documentation and regulations, but it doesn't take terribly long to qualify as a registered health information technologist (I'll be sitting for the registered health information administrator role, which takes a bit longer, but there are shorter post-grad certification programs if you already have a bachelor's or higher). I don't know if that's the type of thing you would find interesting, but here's the site for the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) if you want more information.

I know it is discouraging to end up in such a situation, but it doesn't mean you've lost all control over your future. One other suggestion I would make is that you get in contact with the folks at your state's Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation/Rehabilitative Service Commission. They are charged with assisting people with disabilities to be retrained and to find and manage working in appropriate jobs.

BVR reps help with everything from school expenses to adaptive devices and technology that can make your job workstation better (for instance, a chair that is more appropriate and comfortable for you or a workstation that is better designed for you). They also help you find employers willing to work with disabled employees; they can give employers tax breaks for taking on disabled employees. I can tell you I probably wouldn't be back in school without my local BVR rep's help.

I wish you the very best of luck. Please feel free to PM me if you have questions or want to talk. :)

[bagladyrn, RN]

Retraining was an early thought. It's not practical, but not ruled out. If I go that route I'd be 60ish when done, maybe deep in debt. Logically it's bad choice, but emtionally it would give me a goal and a chance to prolong independence. I'm still regrouping from the loss of identity, the futre course yet to become clear. Thanks for sharing. As I'd hoped, nurses are being most generous in helping me gain some perspective.

Lots of sympathy and one small suggestion:

I have a friend who was just granted SSI (and like you very disturbed that it was actually granted!) who was told that in his state funding may be available through SSI for retraining for jobs that would be within his physical limitations. Might be worth checking into.