Nursing Career Options Given My Disabilities/Situation

[Mikeya, BSN, RN]

Hello,

Posting this here because I'm not getting anything in the other section. I was just wondering if I could get some advice as to what sort of (hopefully) nursing positions I can work towards getting given my situation.

It's hard to go into details without bringing up too much personal information. But basically, I started out as a Nurse (ICU and Med-Surg experience) for about half a year, with >1 year as a Patient Care Technician on a Med-Surg floor.

My career was completely halted after fighting (and ringing that cancer free bell) two cancers. But I developed a rare condition where my body still thinks it has cancer and requires what sounds like lifelong immune suppression. I haven't been signed off yet and I I feel safe to return to bedside nursing unless there are safer options out there for me.

Given that, and my wide time frame without a job (about a year now), I'm just unsure where to take and how to get back to my nursing career. I just want to know what options are out there for me, and what I need to do to get into them. (Lord only knows how long I can go without a job without going craaaaazy!) But God bless my parents and amazing doctors for being able to support me through this.

Thank you so much in advanced! And advice is greatly appreciated. 

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

Your oncologist  would be the only one that can clear you for any position. Perhaps he/she could give guidance on this.

You are in a tough place. You only have six months experience.. and inactive for a year. I would still search for work from home jobs. Think about home care..but your agency would need to know your health history, and assign you accordingly.

You beat cancer, and you earned a nursing degree.

 You are a survivor. 

Best wishes,  let us know how you're doing.

 

[JBMmom, MSN, NP]

Congratulations on beating cancer! You are right that the timing and your health may pose some challenges related to certain positions. As Been there, done that, posted- your oncologist will be an important resource for guidance. I wish I had some thoughts of options, but my opinion would not matter as much as your doctor, just want to wish you the best of luck!

[mmc51264, BSN, MSN, RN]

I have a friend that has had some hip issues and she does pre-op triage at her local hosp. 

congrats on beating cancer!!

[CommunityRNBSN, BSN, RN]

I work in a Federally-Qualified Health Center. It is a really good job— the pay is fine, not top of the scale, but fine. It’s also a 8-5 job, closed on holidays etc. Due to the type of clinic it is (we have a lot of homeless and otherwise “difficult” patients) and the chaos of the environment, it isn’t an in-demand position for nurses. Therefore, they are willing to hire people who are not perfect candidates. They hired me right out of nursing school, with no experience at all, for example. Another coworker has a past history of diverting opiates; she is clean now and a great employee, but of course it is a risk to hire someone with that background. I don’t think you would have any trouble getting hired here. In the interview, you would say “I had a great start to my career and then unfortunately I had a serious health issue. But, thankfully, I am fully recovered now and ready to start again!” They wouldn’t see it as a red flag.