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

I do not have the option of going back to nurses school due to the fact that I cannot sit for longer than 20 minutes without severe pain. I cannot lift more than 3 pounds also. My limitations also limit me from other avenues of employment.

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

Sharon, thank you for the information about accomodation. It shed some light on what employers and employees are expected to do. I think many of are a little confused when it comes to that.

I went for the clinic interviews yesterday and I have the job! I am really excited about it and am looking forward to being back in the workforce! I've had entirely TOO much time on my hands lately :rolleyes:

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Congrats and hope the new job works out for you Bestblonde! Does job stress and constant interruptions aggravate your pain? Or is it mostly the physical workload? I ask because I notice the stress/tensions will aggravate my pain as much as careful, controlled bedside work does (in small increments).

I hurt less tending 2 patients for 12 hrs or so a week than being in charge stuck at a desk. Funny how pain effects us differently. Maybe my limited work now is like a TENS unit for me...a little distraction to ease my day...??!!!

I'm interested in how others manage chronic pain...hope I'm not too nosy!

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

I find that prolonged standing or heavy pushing and lifting are my worst enemies and aggravate my back the most. I end up with back, but and leg pain that can be excruciating, not to mention the anterior numbness in my legs that is terribly annoying when it progresses to pins and needles. Stress doesn't seem to have too much to do with how my back feels, although I notice an increase in tension in my neck and upper back from time to time.

For pain management, I take Aleve 660 mg. QD and on occasion, when the pain is really wicked, 2 Vicodin at HS. Hot baths and whirlpools also help alleviate the pain temporarily, as does forward bending and placing my foot on a step--alternating feet when the pain gets bad again. I guess this is a common thing with stenosis and neurogenic claudication. Walking is OK most of the time, as long as I keep moving.

Thanks for the well wishes mattsmom! I am awaiting reference checks and a formal offer following that. Woo-hoo!!!!!! It'll be great to be employed again!

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My problems are not nearly as severe as most of yours. I have fibromyalgia, probable lupus, RLS and PLMD. I have had some neuro probs from all of this mostly from what they call the fibro fog. My coworkers so far have been pretty supportive. If I feel a bit foggy I will have my nursing partner double check me. I do have a question though. Are we required to report to the BON if we are on narcs chronically? If so will they take my license. What will happen? I do not take my narc pain killers while working but I do take an anticonvulsant classified as a narc. Am I working illegally. My employer is aware of my probs and my drugs.

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Specializes in Cardiac/Vascular & Healing Touch.
Originally posted by renerian

I still work but I am hearing impaired. Wear aides but sometimes I cannot hear the phone and need a hearing impaired phone which no one likes to get........

renerian

one of my best buddies @ work, Sandy, is hearing impaired, but only in certain frequencies. She has a hard time with normal speech & high pitches, but murmurs, & heart tones, she can hear fine! She wears her aides (after much coxing -years worth- to buy some) to work & they help alot. We have volume contol on our phones but I don't know how much it helps. i think it's great you work with the aides, I guess it's no different than me wearing my glasses! :kiss

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Specializes in MS Home Health.

I have had many older clients that say they cannot believe I was so young, had the aides since the age of 40, and wearing hearing aides. I could not believe what I missed without them. Just like when you get new glasses. Everything is so clear and crisp.

renerian

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Originally posted by angelbear

My problems are not nearly as severe as most of yours. I have fibromyalgia, probable lupus, RLS and PLMD. I have had some neuro probs from all of this mostly from what they call the fibro fog. My coworkers so far have been pretty supportive. If I feel a bit foggy I will have my nursing partner double check me. I do have a question though. Are we required to report to the BON if we are on narcs chronically? If so will they take my license. What will happen? I do not take my narc pain killers while working but I do take an anticonvulsant classified as a narc. Am I working illegally. My employer is aware of my probs and my drugs.

So far it seems like your workplace is accomodating you, and I'm glad for you. These stories are great to hear!!!

Let me play devil's advocate a minute:

While you are not 'illegal', (you do have prescriptions), fibro 'fog' could be seen as a risk to patient care (that's how the BON or administration could see it)

Perhaps you work with a stellar group who wants to keep you and if so you are indeed fortunate...I wish you well and hope your health problems come under control for you!!!

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The board of nursing in my state, has in its regulations that you are not to work under the influence of narcotics or mind altering drugs. If you make a mistake, you could lose your license.

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Is this the broken nurses club? I need to join! I was in a hurry to pull a patient up in bed one day 7 years ago, so I did it by myself. Hello, BIG mistake. Thanks to a wonderful manager, I'm working under a modified job description with a 25# lift limit. They pay me to think, not to grunt. I still have pain every day, but at least I'm functional. Thank God I like my job because I doubt that I could get hired anywhere else.

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Mattsmom I dont think you are being devil;s advocate I think you are absolutely correct it could be a danger to pts. I have only had it happen a couple of times and both times I let my nurse partner know and she shadowed me to insure that no mistakes were made. The med I take chronically at work is an anticonvulsant though it is still a controlled drug. However I am at leaste in my oppinion an ethical nurse and if I ever felt I could not give proper care I would not hesitate to call my nurse manager. I would not want an impaired nurse caring for me or one of my loved ones so I would not care for someone if I felt impaired. Yes you are right I am very fortunate in that my bosses and coworkers are wonderfully supportive of me.

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I know of a nurse who works (I think it is Florida) home health on a Duragesic patch for chronic pain due to GI adhesions. She was able to show she had acclimated to the drug and was NOT 'under the influence'. It controlled her pain so she could work. :)

This story gave me hope....if a nurse can prove the med is for symptom relief and does NOT impair, she/he has a chance to continue gainful employment. I think this is only fair and I applaud state BON's and administrations that support this. :)

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