Nurses with disabilities

Nurses Disabilities

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I am curious as to how many of the members of this bb are nurses or nursing students with disabilities. By disabilities, I am including congenital problems, injury-related problems, or work-related injuries that have resulted in that person's inability to perform regular nursing tasks without accomodation or the inability to perform bedside nursing at all.

I am a 25 year veteran of healthcare, 20 of which have been as a RN. I sustained an initial back injury at age 18 while working my first job as a nurses' aide and now have severe thoracic and lumbo-sacral stenosis, disc herniation and degenerative disc disease/arthritis. I have been through PT and surgery is not currently an option due to the rehabilitation time and the fact that I carry all of our health benefits and cannot afford COBRA for that period of time at present. I have worked staff as well as management positions, but chose to return to staff nursing about 1-1/2 years ago in an effort to refresh my skills. Unfortunately, my back isn't able to handle it--even in an ICU setting where there is a smaller patient load. Now it's a question of finding a position that I am able to do and that I am not "overqualified" for. Believe it or not, even in this nursing shortage, it's tough to find a physically lighter position! I am fearful of revealing anything about my physical limitations to a potential employer, although a pre-employment physical exam as well as how poorly I am able to move some days would definitely show how advanced this problem is. I have contemplated applying for SSI disability, but I don't think I meet the criteria as it relates to my ability to learn a new job or to find something less physical in my current area of expertise. I have been forced to resign from 2 positions within the past year due to my back and am now having a really tough time finding something. It's humiliating as well as depressing.....

Have any of you ever faced these challenges? How did you handle them? What did you finally end up doing in order to obtain gainful employment?

Thanks for any input or advice any of you may have. :)

Suzanne

Specializes in Cardiac/Vascular & Healing Touch.

congrats best blonde, sounds like a great job, interesting!:D

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Specializes in OB, M/S, ICU, Neurosciences.

thank you everyone! :kiss

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I have actually felt better mentally since I got my news. Pain is still there, but not as depressed.

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Yes, Disabled, the financial worry is definitely part of the problem with chronic pain, depression and disability, isn't it? Things were tough at my house financially the 2 years I couldn't work...and I remember how it effected me.

I'm so glad some of your burden is lifted..good to know nurses can qualify for SSD. I may be there someday. :)

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Specializes in med/surg, new FNP.

I am almost deaf in my right ear and am currently looking for a steth for the hearing impaired if any of you with hearing problems have had any luck please share your preferance. I also have essential tremor and the shaking is alomost too bad to start IV's. My mom has it too though and she says I'll learn to steady it with some practice. Hope so, nothing is like a student nurse coming at you shaing with a needle. :)

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Hi everyone,

I am sooo sorry to hear that so many of you are suffering..my thoughts are with you!!! I don't know if I can include my disease as a disability...but it sure feels like one to me!!!! I have endometriosis and have pain most all the time from it. During my periods, it literally feels like I am in full blown labor..which makes it almost impossible to work. I've kind of tweeked my work schedule (with my bosses help) so that I'm off on those "bad" days. I also have lingering back pain which is worse right before, during and after my period. I've been told that it is because of implants in the posterior cul-de-sac. I've had two surgeries..and been on countless meds....but the crap just keeps coming back. I just got done with my period and right now the back pain is horrible....I'm sitting here wondering how I'm going to make it thru the weekend at work..snifffle. I know I sound selfish...but it is sooo hard sometimes to care for patients when you feel like crap yourself. Last week, I had one of those patients "that should have been discharged a week ago..but beg the doctor to stay types". Anyways..he was rude and demanding to the nurses, on the light every 3 minutes...basically thought we were there only to care for him and answer his every beck and call. He constantly wanted help with re-positioning.....he'd yell out ..."give me your hand" so I did and he proceeded to try to turn him self..using all his body weight against me...(which was 400 plus pounds I might add). I just had to walk away...ran to the bathroom and started crying because I was hurting so bad. I just don't know how long I can continue to do all this. My problem is that both strenuous activity (i.e med/surg nurse) and sitting down for long periods of time both increase my pain....I guess there's no where for me to be. It is really frustrating for me..I feel like such a failure. Even at home..I feel like a failure...sometimes I'm just hurting too much to do a ton of things around the house. My hubby then gets stuck doing everything and I feel bad about it. Chronic pain is such a terrible thing....it not only affects your job...but every other aspect of your life. Ok...I"m really sorry this got so long...I guess I needed to vent more than I realized. Once again though.....my thoughts are with everyone here that is dealing with a disability. Luv ya all...

Snoop

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There Are Different Ways To Use Your Education Don In Nursing Homes Require A Lot Desk Time But Is Not Physically Demanding High Stress Though

Take A Para Legal Course A Para Legal With Nurses Training Is A Valuable Asset To A Lawyer

Open Up A Health Care And Employ/supervise Others

God Bless I Hope Something Opens Up For U

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Specializes in Cardiac/Vascular & Healing Touch.

My co-worker wears hearing aids & uses a Littman cardiology steth (when she removes her heaing aids) as does a local cardiologist here in town. they can hear the lowest tones, they have mainly trouble with regular speech & background noise.

I am almost deaf in my right ear and am currently looking for a steth for the hearing impaired if any of you with hearing problems have had any luck please share your preferance. I also have essential tremor and the shaking is alomost too bad to start IV's. My mom has it too though and she says I'll learn to steady it with some practice. Hope so, nothing is like a student nurse coming at you shaing with a needle. :)
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This thread was an old one..last post almost a year ago and now revitalized...wondering how everybody is doing? BestBlond? Disabled? Healingtouch? Everyone else here? Hope everything is tolerable and check in if you feel like it.

Me I'm hanging in there but having more difficulty with the job every year. Taking proactive steps to NOT let patients hurt me is a big step...we have to control all the movements and cannot let the PATIENT determine how to transfer or move with our help...invariably we will end up taking the brunt of the weight. Some of them who are set in their ways "Let me hold around your neck", or try to use me as a crane I tell firmly we cannot do that way as it will hurt ME. I refuse to help coworkers pull the patient up without a lift sheet or transfer without a gait belt. It's a constant exercise to conserve my energy and avoid self injury. We must look out for ourselves.

Am truly considering asking around in LTC for desk positions..although I hate it, the physical end of bedside care is tougher and tougher. Paralegal training for disabled nurses is also a good idea...I may have to bite the bullet there...altho I may feel a bit like a traitor it is a job that is in demand..

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Specializes in Cardiac/Vascular & Healing Touch.

I have been teased incesantly because I still put a draw sheet on the bed then a pad, I like to be able to seal the bed & keep the mattress in line while shifting the person up in bed without making such a mess. The younger generation is just not doing this...& hospital doesn't like extra linen usage. But it's MY back we are saving. I have already had my back injury (3 months of PT & light duty, whatever that is....). I also hate it when one cannot find help to move the growing amount of obese clients. Last night, we had a fella >350 lbs & another lady >300 lbs. & it takes so much out of us to make these people comfy. I did get the lady a Big Girl bed & ordered the fella one. That helps. As for the issue of not being able to do beside care, I have a dear friend in my dept who has been intubated 3 times in less than a year for her brittle asthma. I have encouraged her to take a QA or case mgmt job, so she can be 7-3 or 8-4, & not push, pull drag foks & work in isolation. It's hard on an asthmatic (I know as I am there!). She may have felt like I was disrepecting her bedside abilities, but it couldn't be further from the truth, she needs to take care of herself. Martyrs ain't no good to her kids & hubby, right? Nor to the client!

just my opinion-take care & have a great Memorial Day!

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Specializes in RN, LNC, Owner of Staffing Agency.

Let's face it. How many of us are going to last an extended period of time, working 12 hours shifts, night shifts, etc. Some medical experts are convinced that night nurses are more at risk for breast cancer. Think about the way that facilities treat nurses that are injured or ill. They want this "crisp" robot that can run their legs off for 12+ hours straight, have a continual smile, and meet all their patients needs. But, what happens when that nurse becomes a patient? I would think long and hard before I took a full-time job with any facility, primarily because of the way they treat you if you are ill or disabled. They promise and promote wellness and caring to the community, but tend to treat their own nurses just the opposite. It would be nice if every nurse could just independently contract themselves out, and facilities would learn to appreciate them for all the hard work they do!

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Specializes in MS Home Health.

I have been hearing impaired for about 10 years. I have a hearing aide but I cannot always wear it at work because the phones just make it buzz. I have learned to read lips fairly well. Many people do not realize I am hearing impaired but they can tell quickly if they call me and my back is to them LOL. I have had hearing impaired phones before to help me which made a huge difference. I am 50% impaired in the right and 75% in the left.

renerian

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