Need help brainstorming slow paced jobs!

johnst10 · Apr 29, 2009

I'm sorry to hear about your accident. Sounds like you have a positive attitude and will be back. I've been trying to think of positions. I know one LPN who works as a unit sec. There are not a lot of positions out there for limited walking but there are great minds out here in allnurses land!

Cobweb · Apr 29, 2009

I work as a night shift nurse in a rich people's nursing home (acuities are soo much lower) in an electric wheelchair. I highly recommend the electric wheelchair! I also worked a year as a school nurse, pay sucked but I loved that job. I have heard that the clinic nurses in the Public Health Department, or at least some of them, don't have to run too much, although the jobs can be high-stress. I suspect you don't have enough experience to do telephone triage, but something like that might work. Some doctor's offices are pretty slow-paced, some are not.

Some of the special-ed kids at our school have their own CNAs, I don't know if there are openings for LPNs like that. Home Health might have some jobs in your area that would be suitable. Be careful they don't give you something beyond your experience. You don't want to have a baby on a vent if you've never even seen a vent!

Hope that helps :) That's right off the top of my head, if I think of some more I'll post 'em.

shannonFNP, BSN, MSN, RN · May 1, 2009

Thanks for the replies! I just went to the medical supply store after doing a little research on walking boots. I asked my doctor about them to help with foot pain (that's where a lot of my decreased mobility comes from d/t the decreased bone density from being nonweightbearing) and he said that it wouldn't help with the pain and he only gives them for fractured ankles. I'm a little stubborn and I've proven the docs wrong before (I told them I wasn't going to lose my leg, I told them I was going to walk. They said I woudnt. Here I am).

Anyways, so I bought a good walking boot (expensive!) and I can't believe how much it helps! It helps my gait and posture, it takes away the pain in my foot, and I can endure walking so much more with it!. I take less pain medication because of it. It's not the most appealing look in the world, but I'm ecstatic about it. Even the med equip nurse recommended it. The box mentioned stress fractures to the foot AND ankle injuries. I'm losing confidence in my doctor. He's very negative, and I'm just a number to him. I get very down about healthcare providers acting in this manner because healthcare is my LIFE, it's embarrassing to me to know people act this way to their patients.

Anyways, the point of this post is that I'm really thinking I can handle a lot of walking at work. I've seen nurses wear these boots before in the hospital, do you think it'll be a problem if I start a new job wearing one if I'm getting around well?

HM2VikingRN, RN · May 1, 2009

I broke my right fibula 10 weeks ago. The boot makes it possible for me to work. mental health is slower paced.....

nancyp · May 1, 2009

NICU is high intesity, but hardly any running! The isolettes, cribs and warmers are usually quite close together, and even if the unit is large, you aren't expected to "run" across the room to help with a baby that is crumping. They don't usually hire LVN/LPN's but as an RN you may enjoy it!

86toronado, BSN, RN · May 1, 2009

The mental health idea was a good one! When I was at the VA hospital for mental health clinicals, they had an LPN who just stood in the med room, and all of the residents came to her to get their meds, she hardly had to do any walking! Another idea I had was maybe one of those assisted living communities, where the patients are independent/ambulatory, but just need some help with meds, etc. Anyway, I hope you find something... I've often thought what would happen if I were injured, since I've always done jobs that required me to be up and about. Let us know if you do!

Cobweb · May 2, 2009

The ALFs I have been around were actually harder work than a regular nursing home, but maybe that's a fluke.

3boysmom3 · May 2, 2009

Mental health is a great idea. I worked mental health for years, and it's not an "easy" job- can be very stressful, and you have to have really good communication skills (you sound like you do!); there are often crises and occasionally a real hair-raising situation. However, you don't really do much running, lifting, bathing, etc. Patients are usually ambulatory (most of them, anyway), and expected to be out of their rooms, so yes, they often just come to you when they need something. And when you're interacting with them, it's perfectly acceptable to be sitting down. It's also a lot of fun, and very rewarding. I loved it! The only reason I left was when the department closed down d/t hospital saying it didn't bring in enough $$$. I work in a large clinic now, and I run more than I ever did on psych.

I know what you mean about your doctor. Mine has so many patients that when she rushes into the room, she's visibly in a rush and you feel like you have to hurry up and "spit out" whatever you came for, in a hurry. She tries to help, and she's a very knowledgeable doctor, and she used to be really caring and patient- but since she had such a great reputation, everybody else wanted to go to her too, and now she's got more than she can handle. So now I'm planning to change doctors. I know they're all busy, but I want someone who will at least pretend to want to hear what I'm saying! If your doctor is making you feel bad in any way- whether feeling like a "number", or being too negative about your treatment and prognosis, or whatever- don't hesitate to find another one. I occasionally see a specialist who is also busy, but he always greets me with a big smile and a handshake, and asks me "what's going on?" and makes a moment or two of small talk before and after we get to what I'm there for, and he makes eye contact and lets me say everything I need to without looking like a deer caught in the headlights. He's also very optimistic about treatment, etc. There have to be more like that out there!!!

caliotter3 · May 2, 2009

Night shift peds cases in home health. You can spend the majority of an eight hour shift in a rocking chair watching your patient sleep. Relaxing and without stress if you get the right cases.

iwanna · May 3, 2009

I have worked in psych hospital and it became too physically demanding for me. I worked with all ages and the children were really exhausting. You have adolescents with behavior problems. As the physical aspect, I have had to give injections while the patients were restrained on the floor. I was on my feet quite a bit for that job. I thought that psych would not be too physical, but it was more than I imagined. However, I did like it, and I think that I would like to go back. But, my family is not supportive at all. I have a chronic illness and had been off for four years on disability. I had a job working in a drug rehab that was not physical at all. That was the easiest job that I ever had in nursing. Unfortunately, they have closed many inpatient rehabs, and mine was closed. I would love to work in a drug rehab, but there are none in my locality. I wish you the best of luck in finding a job to fit your needs.

Nurse523 · Jun 5, 2009

1. Medicine Unit.

2. Renal Unit.

3. Geriatrics setting

4. Home care

5. Acquired Brain Injury unit

6. Any other long-term care facilities and units you can think of.