Nurses with a disability

[SN2014]

I'm currently in a diploma program to be a RN. I'm currently halfway through the program. I am 20 years old. At about age 14, I began to have issues with all over body pain... I was in the process of testing to figure out what it could possibly be. As soon as I got accepted to nursing school, I quit going and didn't mention the severe pain to my PCP in fear that I would not be able to get a job. However, lately my severe, crippling pain has been awful. I spoke to my PCP about it and am currently undergoing tests. He thinks it could be RA or MS.... I am not looking to get pain meds, my main concern is a peace of mind in knowing what is wrong with my body. My question is, will I have trouble getting hired as a RN with a physical disability? I am also on Zoloft for anxiety and depression, will that effect anything?

Thank you in advance for the responses!

[RunBabyRN]

It really depends. I wouldn't get into med/surg, but you could be an advice nurse or on the admin side of things (that may require a BSN). A position that's very physical, like a floor nurse, might not be ideal for you, but there are a lot of ways to go as a nurse (yay!). Even working in a clinic can be less physically demanding than in a hospital. Explore your options- there's hope. :)

Unless your anxiety and depression are debilitating, they won't hold you back. Many of us are on some sort of antidepressant these days.

Good luck getting answers!

[Nurse SMS, MSN, RN]

Zoloft will be a nonissue. Being unable to physically handle the demands of nursing may potentially be an issue. Potentially being put on narcotics to manage pain could also be an issue.

I hope you get to feeling better.

[himilayaneyes]

Being on Zoloft is not an issue. However, as previously mentioned, not being able to handle the physical demands of floor nursing may be an issue. You may want to consider a less laborious field of nursing such as endoscopy, administration (requires as BSN), or nursing in a clinic setting.

[NurseGirl525, ASN, RN]

It sounds like fibromyalgia to me. I went through all of the tests for RA and MS also before getting my diagnosis. After being put on the right meds and getting my pain under control and a talk with my primary care doc, he thinks I can do this. He is impressed with the turn around I have made over the past couple of years. I have no doubt that you can do it.

[Cobweb]

I work in a wheelchair. You can definitely work with a disability, it just takes a lot more planning and thinking ahead and out of the box. I actually worked on the floor as a rehab nurse in a skilled nursing facility until last year.