Nurses with Lupus (SLE)

Nurses Disabilities

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Hi! Everyone,

I am a nurse with SLE. I have alot of nq1(oops, kitten on the keyboard problem...) neuro symptoms like falling, tripping, banging into walls,.... and speak openly of my Lupus in great part because I would hate to have anyone worry I had a drug or alcohol abuse problem. I teach, and limit my work hours as much as possible. I can work at home if necessary as I do alot of lesson planning on my computer. One of the first things I told my principal was "I have Lupus". The next, "I can only work part time". We are in such a crisis of not enough nurses, and an overwhelming work load. I am not defined by "my lupus', but have had to accept the reality that lupus does indeed define what I do, and literally when I do it. One big change has had to be my focus on optimum wellness. What can I do, no, what must I do today to be as well as possible tomorrow? And accept, If I do THIS, I can NOT do that. My b/p is directly connected to activity, and I am currently living on Prednisone 5mg daily. My reality? If I didn't work, my b/p is wnl. But a nurse is what I am, not what I do. And the lack of nurse instructors for RNs, LPNs and CNAs is frightening. So I want to work as long as I can, I am only 52. sue

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Specializes in CCU, Geriatrics, Critical Care, Tele.

Hi Sue,

FYI, I moved your post to it's own thread with a new title :) Good Luck in finding support!

(don't ya love it when those kitties walk on the keyboard ;) )

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Hi I have lupus and I am about to take a cna course. I want to work part time so that my lupus won't flare. I wanted to know if working part time in a nursing home offers benefits that cover lupus (pre-exsiting conditions). If you have any words of advice please let me know. Thank you D!!!

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Hi!D,

So sorry for the delay in this reply. Go for it! and you don't even have to tell anyone your health issues, and the ADA provides protection for that. Healthcare is one of the professions where CNAs and nurses can basically pick their hours and pick their shifts. Because of the terrible shortage. And it is going to only get worse. Here in NY, we are lucky, starting July 1st, 2009, Gov. Paterson just signed the bill into law, healthcare facilities are prohibited from mandating overtime. There was such an outcry against this from the AMA and healthcare facilities, that the governor delayed enactment for 12 months in order to "give facilities who use forced overtime to fill core staffing needs time to develop alternative staffing plans". So finally, there is change in the wind.

sue

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