Nurses with autoimmune diseases

jjbaby · Nov 6, 2003

Originally posted by nurse2be in ny
I'm a student who was diagnosed with SLE four years ago. For those of you either in school or working with an autoimmune condition, how has having a chronic illness affected your life as far as nursing goes, if at all? Did you flare during school, and if so, how did you handle it? Do you have any major limitations, and how are employers at working with them? Did it influence the area of nursing you went into? Thanks!

Nurse2be,

I also have SLE, and I am in my last quarter of nursing school. I was diagnosed in 1994, but, believe it started in 1985. I have had many ups and downs with this disease over the years, and have also worked full-time while going to school.

My SLE predominantly affects my platelets, they get very low with flares and usually I get very tired and run down when this happens. I used to have joint related problems but, those have subsided over the years. I have managed to deal with this over the years and don't really have any limitations, except I cannot take vaccinations of any kind as they trigger very bad flares.

I will graduate in March with my RN and can hardly wait until we get to graduation. I hope to work either ER, OB or maybe NICU. It is good to see another student who understands the world of SLE. JJ

Sekar · Nov 7, 2003

Hi. I'm Sekar's wife, I don't I have my own account as I just log on under his. I am also a Nurse and I have SLE. I was diagnosed with SLE in 1982. Went to nursing school and graduated in 1995. I have had several flare ups during the last 8 years and to date not a single problem with my employers when I have had to be off due to my disease.

I have found out that night shift did not work for long periods of time. I became too tired and flares up happened quite often. As of today that has been the only limitation that I have had. I have worked in a wide variety of assignments ie General Med, Med/Surg, Telemetery. ER, PACU, Mother/Baby unit, Family Practice, GI. and LTC. While working general med all new SLE patients where assigned to me. I was able to relate to the new patients as a fellow SLE'r and an then as a nurse. Let's face it, when it comes to patient education physicians have a hard time bridging the communication gap.

So focus on your abilities not your disabilities with this disease. Use the knowledge of the disease to make you a better nurse.

Good luck with your studies and the future... You can do it.

nurse2be in ny · Nov 13, 2003

Thanks for your replies, jjbaby and Sekar. It's nice to know there are others out there who deal with similar things!

goverman · Nov 13, 2003

Hey, I will finish my pre req's this spring and will begin the Nursing course in the fall of 04'. I have M.S. There are some days that I just want to collapse! I work full time during the day and attend school at night and raise my daughter. The only bad part of having an autoimmune disease is that many people are uneducated and there are many unvisible symptons such as fatigue that those with out the disease just don't get. I however get tired of hearing "you look Great!" Anywho... I haven't found any obstacles yet, just scared of the unknown. Good luck to you all.