New Grad with a Bad Back

[lexxa25, ASN, BSN, RN]

Hi everyone! I don't want to be long winded but a quick background before I ask my question; I'm entering my final semester of nursing school in a few days. I'm excited to be graduating soon but now that I'm so close I'm thinking more about the reality of what it will be like as a working nurse. I have scoliosis and had a spinal fusion with Harrington rods at the age of 17, from T3-L5 I'm fused. I have back pain but only take OTCs occasionally, clinicals are tiring and I try my best to be aware of body mechanics but moving patients with a bad back and petitie on top of that, is difficult. I leave with my back aching at the end of the day. All my professors and older nurses emphasize taking care of your back, but my back is already a mess. So I'm just wondering, if I'm at the end of the game before even starting it. This is a physically demanding career and I love everything about it but I don't want it to be short lived. I can't imagine how I'd be able to work though with adult patients especially those with mobility issues. I'd really like to pursue a career in labor and delivery but I don't know if that would involve a lot of bending over and moving laboring mothers. Maybe eventually even pursuing being a midwife. So my question is; what is it like for those of you who have back problems working? What areas do you work in? What do you recommend? Any advice would be appreciated.