Need suggestions for needed change

Trauma Columnist · May 9, 2006

Hi Paulamac - I hope its not you because at 30 you're hardly old! However, I was beginning to realize that I couldn't continue this a few years ago myself. So...I went back to school. I am still doing floor nursing but it is my choice, and I do have options if I wish to take them. Education sets you free!

paulamac · May 9, 2006

The question is in reference to a nurse nearing retirement in a few years and with back problems, etc which makes it difficult to continue floor nursing, lifting/moving patients. School is likely out of the question as it wouldn't be practical at this stage. Suggestions of some sort of desk job or light physical duty is what I had in mind. Thanks.

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide · May 9, 2006

At age 46, I had to get out of Med/Surg nursing myself due to stress, burnout, and back and foot problems. I am now happily ensconced in an assisted-living community as its health services coordinator (essentially a DNS), and it provides me with the best of all worlds: I can sit down at my desk when I want/need to, get up and walk around when I want/need to, do some actual nursing care (I love wound care, patient teaching, psychosocial stuff etc.) but only what I want to do---I delegate other tasks as I see fit, or involve home health/hospice whenever it's something I can't manage on an everyday basis. I love it!

Todd SPN · May 9, 2006

How about getting into doing MDS'?