what's a nurse to do with epilepsy and no health insurance?

Published Jun 3, 2010

12 Posts

Specializes in pediatrics.

Hello,

I recently moved from California to New York in September 2009. I left a job at a pediatric hospital in California that I had been working at for almost 3 years.

I have always known that I wanted to live in New York City. A big motivator for me was the fact that I could get around easier in NYC then in Los Angeles. The reason why this is a big deal to me, is because I decided about 3 years ago that I would not drive anymore due to epilepsy. I had a huge car accident in 2007 in which I had a seizure while driving, my car drove off the freeway, ran into a parked car, both cars exploded, and someone pulled me out of my car. After this accident, even though I still got my driver's license back, I just felt more comfortable not driving, not to mention that my car insurance cost was going to go through the roof at about 100 (x) the amount of what I originally paid.

While living in LA and not being able to drive anywhere, I began to feel isolated. I had to take the bus everywhere, and it was hard to go places that I used to go to before I stopped driving. It seems that a lot less people want to hang out with you when you can't drive in LA. However, after visiting New York multiple times last year before my move, I had truly experienced that I would be happier living in New York and I could get around more easily here.

I began searching for a job in NYC last summer. During my search for jobs in pediatric hospitals, I couldn't find ANY jobs from travel agencies. They all attempted to get me a job, but all at other states that I did not want to work in, for example South Dakota, saying that they would give me free housing and a car... They obviously did not listen when I told them I couldn't drive.

I did get a job right before I moved here. It is a home care case in which I am a private duty nurse. I took a pay decrease, but luckily my rent here in Brooklyn is cheaper than it was in LA. I was going to use COBRA for insurance, however, it was too expensive for me, and I qualified for a New York Hospital Private/Free healthcare insurance. It has helped be in many ways since I have to see a neurologist and take seizure medications.

Soon, my healthcare from the hospital may expire, and I'm assuming it will be in September. I'm going to need real insurance, and therefore, a job that offers benefits. I don't get benefits from my job right now. I am paid through medicaid, however, I am still basically self-employed. Medicaid pays for my patient's care, but does not directly hire me. I am aware that getting a job in a New York Hospital will be quite the challenge. I really want to work in PICU, but I would take a job anywhere wether it be PICU, NICU, or general peds. Another obstacle I face is that I cannot work night shift due to an increase aggravation of my epilepsy with an erratic sleep schedule.

So far, my plan is to get my ANCC certification in pediatrics, I am already PALS, BLS, and ACLS certified. I am planning on volunteering, as well as taking extra CEUs at various hospitals. Does anyone else have any suggestions as what I should do to promote myself as well as my resume? I have stellar references as well. I am planning on bringing all required documents with me such as copies of certifications, my nursing license and malpractice insurance, letters of recommendations, etc to any interviews that I get. I am also going to bring a neurologist letter that says I can only work in day shift (it's what I have done with my past jobs as well). I have been researching and there are about 26 hospitals with PICU units in NYC that I will be able to apply to. I will apply to all other hospitals with pediatrics departments as well. If I get no responses within 3 months, I will keep applying to hospitals until I hear anything, and in the meantime, I will still be working my home care case.

Any suggestions as what I can do?

Health care for epilepsy without insurance will cost me over $1000 a month for sure. It will definitely make life harder without any public assistance. The world is a weird place when you find that it is nearly impossible for even a nurse to get health insurance. How can I take care of patients, if I am not taken care of?

Let me know your thoughts, opinions, recommendations. I am aware already, that some people may think I should have just stayed in California, but I always felt that my life and soul would be incomplete without leaving. Even with the obstacles I face, I am still happy to be alive and living in New York, and I have faith that everything will work out.