Nurses with Rheumatoid Arthritis

[ssanders80]

Hi All:

I worked and completed all my nursing prereq's w/ the hopes of becoming a RN (this would be a second career for me). I ended up being rejected from every school I applied to for an ASN b/c of my 10 year old SAT score and rejected from a BSN program b/c some of my documents were lost.

After all this happend, it became more of a fight to become a nurse rather than a desire b/c I kept being told no so many times. For a few months, I stepped away from nursing and took some time for myself. Recently, I've gotten back on track and my desire to become a nurse has come back...for the RIGHT reasons.

My new and ongoing dilemma is my RA. I'm 27 and have had it since I was 22. My Rheumatologist and I have worked together over the years to improve my joints and strengthen my body to prepare me for nursing. I feel great, know my limits. I'm scared that when/if I become a nurse, the frequent lifting will cause my body to breakdown and then I can no longer work as a nurse or work at all. Patient is the first and foremost priority, but I don't want to risk their lives b/c of my physical limits.

Is there any advice anyone can give me. I've researched other career options in healthcare and they are very promising, but I still feel this strong pull to become a nurse, I'm just scared of how my disease would affect my work and my body.

Thanks!

Steph

[lynnintn]

Hi to everyone. I am a 34 year old stay at home mom of 3. I was diagnosed with RA at 24 years of age. Had a long and hard battle with the illness. At present, the RA is under control. I have days when I feel like I can do anything and then I have days when I feel very limited in what I can do.

I have always had a dream of working in the medical field. But due to the RA and having little kids I have not taken any steps in that direction yet. However, lately, I have had a strong desire to become a nurse. And I think, I would be good at it. I have a college degree but not in science. So I will have about 2 years of prereqs to cover.

My question to you all is: Do you think it is worth it to put myself in a long training and become an RN about 5 years from now, when I have RA?

Also, those of you who are nurse; think it is doable physically with controlled RA?

l would very much appreciate your comments....looking for advise very badly.

Thank you.

Umeed,

I think nursing school may be difficult IF your RA is not well-controlled. The thing about RA is you can be cruising along fine and then "WHAM", a flare hits you. I have my BSN and although it was not that difficult academically, it was VERY time consuming and took me 5 years (I was working and did have a baby when I started. Also, I was 20 when starting). Only you can decide if you want to chance starting something you may/may not be able to finish. I am having a HARD time finding a job at this point, which is partially due to the economy and mostly due to my physical limitations. My options are very limited and I am not going to chance catching opportunistic infections with my history of MRSA infections, which is something to think about if you take immunosuppressants. Also, you will be required to participate in hospital clinicals during school, which will expose you to lots of bugs.

I am NOT trying to discourage you, but give you a realistic picture of what nursing school is like.

Good luck in whatever decision/path you decide to follow,

Lynn

[iwanna]

I can relate to not finding a job due to limitations. I have Sarcoidosis vs. Wegner's.(that iw what its narrowed down to) I am 54 and have not really worked since 2004. I worked briefly in a nursing home. I don't know what I was thinking! It was way too overwhelming and exhausting.

Back in 1994, drs. suspected that I may have collagen vascular disorder. My joint pain started out gradual and was intermittent. I had a tracheoplasty in 1994, and my ENT dr. said there was nor reason that I could not do nursing. Of course, at the time, I didn't have too many symptoms. However, things progressed while I was in school. In 1996, I was pretty well into my RN program, and it was getting more intense. I was overwhelmed with the demands. It was stressful and much work. Also, I had two school age children. I was exhausted all of the time and had a hard time keeping up. I was falling asleep in class. (even though, I slept the night before) My concentration/memory became somewhat foggy. I failed a med-surg course. I really contribute my illness to my failing. I had complete blood work in January 1996. Some questionable labs, but no diagnosis.

I decided to get my LPN since it would be another year to repeat my nursing class. So, I transferred to an advanced 12 week LPN program. I was to graduate November 1996. However, my illness was exacerbated, and I was in hospital for 3 1/2 weeks. Got diagnosis and on medication. Took my boards in March 1997.

My first job was in nursing home in May 1997. I had a flare up and left one month later. In July 1998, I worked in drug/alcohol unit in hospital. Lost that job in Nov. 1999 due to them closing the unit. In July, 2000, I got a job working in pshychiatric hospital. I worked there for 4 years. I was on STD for three months. I returned to work and lasted 4 months. Then went on long-term disability and SSDI.

When my health was stable, I took refresher course in 2008.The only job that I could find was in nursing home, so I gave it another shot. As I mentioned previously, it was way too exhausting. The only jobs that I am now able to get are seasonal flu shot clinics. My long-term disability is terminated, and all I have is a meager amount of SSDI. I cannot find a job that I can do.

So, I don't think that I would advise anyone to get into nursing that has chronic illness. If I had a do over, I would do something else in health care like Health Information Tech. I loved the nursing jobs that I had. My heart is in nursing, but my body isn't in agreement.

If I would have started out when I was younger, I would have gone for my BSN where there are more opportunities. I started school when I was 37.

[FutureNurs]

My mother is a nurse and has been for 30 years. She got diagnosed with RA a few years back when one day her headache got terrible and had to be rushed to the ER. I was fresh out of high school then and was scared. She had known it for some time but kept quiet to keep the bills down and the family reassured. Its gotten worse over the years and her joints swell up. Even then she still gos to work. She stopped taking the pills because it was bad for her. it affected her immune system terribly and she couldn't take it.

Now I make her Aloe Vera juice every day and she drinks it before going to work. She says that it helps a lot. Its not foolproof or a pain suppressant. But it somehow works just enough. It tastes bad but my mom's awesome for sticking to nursing for my family. She is the breadwinner. It depends on the will power and the personality. my mom doesn't get depressed easy and can handle pain very well. She has the rest of us to take her work stress and frustrations on .

[organicnurse24]

I'm a senior in a BSN program. I was diagnosed with RA last year at the age of 22. I'm really worried about my nursing future. My RA isn't well controlled right now, and I don't know what I'm going to do when I graduate. All I've ever wanted to do was be a med-surg nurse, but I'm having trouble with fatigue and pain, especially in my feet and hands. I'm also having a lot of trouble with strength in my hands. Things like spiking an IV bag are hard for me.

If I can't work on a med-surg floor, do you have any suggestions for some other places for me to work? I was thinking outpatient chemo or dialysis might be easier on my body but still give me a lot of patient contact. I don't want to be stuck in an office all day with no contact with patients if I can help it.

[FutureNurs]

from watching my mom I say that you should not make the mistake of underestimating your RA. It can seriously destroy both you and in turn your loved ones if you do. Taking on a stressful job can leave you bawling like a baby and unable to move for a long time. try to work shorter hours. I don't know much but how does working in a clinic sound? its the lifting, turning and standing for a long amount of time that you need to avoid. it takes a toll. and since it seems like your hands are already affected, you really need to avoi places that use the written method for nurses notes and stuff. my mom uses her other hand or something to poke the keys on a comp when her index finger acts up. she can't bend it anymore. I hear that night shifts are easier on the body too at certain places. but please don't underestimate it cause the RA can easily have you unable to function as you wish and leave you hating yourself for it (especially if you have a lot of pride in your work) and you might break and hurt loved ones and go down in a spiral of regret......even before you realize it.

congrats on making it to senior year by the way:clpty:!

[jeannepaul, BSN]

I have RA and take methotrexate and enbral, it helps just enough for me to keep working but I live with the pain everyday. I also take hydrocodone and ms contin when needed. I work in home hospice and it seems to work out well, not too much standing, sitting or walking. Most of what we do is teaching and the few times I do need to do something with the patient, I make the family help me, they need to know how to do it anyway. The hardest part of my job are death events. after pronouncing the patient, I usually give them a bath and just bending over the bed is hard to do, but I take advil before I go in the house and that helps.

I actually work as a weekend on call nurse and it seems to suit me as I can't sleep much anyway without getting up in pain and being stiff. we use computers so writing isnt a problem for me anymore.

I never thought I would like hospice nursing, but I was about to quit nursing until I started in hospice 9yrs ago and now I wouldn't do anything else.

I think its a great career for a person with RA.

I refuse to be a disease, if you want to be a nurse with RA you can do it, you just have to find what suits you, there are all kinds of nursing jobs. telephone triage, working with insurance company's, if you want to do it, it's just a matter of finding the right fit for you.

[Rascal1]

Thank you for sharing your story. Are there nurse's aides that help you with the bath ?

[Rascal1]

I have thought about trying Hospice home care, but don't know to get into it ? Any thoughts?

I too, take Mthx. ,used to take Enbrel. I also take prednisone 5 mg. and will be starting Arava. My thoughts on R.A. are that

there should not be significant pain/swelling daily. Meds. need adjustments if there is. How long have you had R.A.?

Michelle

[jeannepaul, BSN]

I actually went to apply for a home health position and was talked into hospice, I had asked if I didn't like it could I go to home health, but I never asked!

It seems there are always positions open here in San Antonio, most people do not think about hospice unless they go through it with a loved one.

as a case manager, we are given around 12 pts. some are in nursing homes and some are at home. we usually see them 1-2 times a week, depending how they are doing. We make our own schedule so there is flexability which is great when you have small kids who sometimes have "bad" mornings. I'm not worried about being late and punching a time clock.

We don't use a lot of skills, when we go see a pt, we do a head to toe assessment, check their medications, and talk to the family. Some visits take 30min, but if a pt doing really bad, we could be there for a few hours. We use certain medications to get symptoms under control, but sometimes it is the family we are talking to for so long. We explain the disease process, what is going to happen to them, and just reassure the family that they are doing a good job caring for their loved one.

HHA go out 3-5 times a week for the bath, so we do not do not clean the pt unless he/she has a wet or soiled brief, and then like I said before, I always make the family help me. I do not get the pt out of bed.

we have social workers and chaplains who visit the pt. also.

its not all roses though, alot of medicare paperwork, and you get mad at management rules just like in a hospital. i look at it this way, there are going to be tmes you get angry in any job, but would you rather be mad in a hospital where you cannot get away and cool off, or be mad in your car drinking a soda listening to the radio?

it is emotionally draining, but not physically. my feet do not ache, or my back doesnt kill me when i get home and i actually feel like i make a difference in peoples lives. I dont save anyone, but i help the pt stay comfortable on their journey, and help the families. its the best job ever.

ps. sorry about any typos. im doing this one handed while holding my little girls hand with the other til she falls asleep.

[iwanna]

I was called a few months ago for an interview with ***** for hospice. I have worked mainly in behavioral health. The only considerable bedside nursing that I have had was in geripsych. We were not a medical hospital, but we sent them out when there were medical issues. I worked briefly in nursing home, but found it way too overwhelming. However, maybe I did not give enough of a chance. The longest that I worked was only 6 weeks in nursing home. I canceled the interview with ***** because I felt that I was not experienced for it. Now, I must work. I am unable to find a job. I have not worked a permanent job for 8 years. I just worked seasonal flu clinics. Now, I am re-thinking the ***** job. I know they are not a desired home health agency, but I was wondering, if I could get the experience then move on. I am wondering if I would try hospice, or just try to do shift work. I know there is not much orientation. However, I was wondering that perhaps there would be support staff to contact, if I had question.

[JinJerEvans]

I was diagnosed after working full time as an RN 2 years after graduating, so I understand your concern. At the time, I had been working night shift which I had done since before school...worked full time the whole time and continued after getting my ADN.

So I decided that my best option was to go back to school and get my Bachelor's. Even though I loved patient care, I thought that I needed to be nicer to my body. After obtaining my BSN, I was offered and accepted a Case Management position, well that lasted for 6 months. I hated it! Like I said I loved patient care, but did not want to be a slacker with my team, ya know... I would end up hurting myself just to ensure I was pulling my weight.

Well, God knows your heart and where you need to be... About 3 weeks before I had worked in the Case Management position for 6 months, I received a call from one of my previous preceptors where I did clinicals to obtain my Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner certification and my BSN clinicals...at a local health department. As God would have it, It was just before I was to take a previously scheduled vacation to go see my Dad in Maine for two weeks...so I interviewed, they offered me the position, allowed me to decide over the two week vacation. So with a lot of prayer, and discussion with my family, I decided to take the position, and yes I did take a small pay cut...

So I can tell you that I love my job, I was even able to go back to school to get my MSN and am now a CNS in Adult Health, treating patients that desperately need help due to either no insurance or underinsurance...and my employer helped pay for my education, even paid me when I was away at clinicals..I did not have to use up my accrued time off!

Yes I have bad days, even still, with not much lifting involved!! But I have found that working not only helps keep my mind off of it, it brightens my spirit because my problem seems so much smaller than the people I am helping.

Point is there are other jobs that don't require lots of lifting, and I really do think that working day time hours helps too! Don't give up, there will be a position that is great for you in patient care, you just need to find the right fit! Pray about it!!

[cadeucus4927]

Hi i was diagnosed with severe RA about 30 years ago my passion is in nursing and have gotten as far as RMA and CNA i want to continue to RN or even LVN but i am worried about the physical demands. Does anyone have any tips or advice to share i was called from a local school and theres a space in the LVN program for me but i am honestly worried about bein a -nursing student with a disability???