Nursing fields suited for physical limitations/chronic illness

**NICU Guy, BSN, RN** · Mar 19, 2019

On 3/14/2019 at 2:26 AM, bananas1 said:
so many people go into nursing but do NOT want to be bedside nurses. Anyone going into primary health/public health or school nursing.

The OP went into a Med/Surg floor with the final goal of Case Management. My point is there are other avenues to Case Management (such as Social Work) other than spending 2-3 yrs on a Med/Surg floor. If the OP had said "I went into nursing to get into School Nursing because I love children and thought it would be the best area for my medical limitations, but after a year I realized that even that is too physically demanding" I would have been more understanding because they did their due diligence and felt that was most logical position for them as a new grad. I have compassion-for the older nurses that have worked for 20 yrs and need a non-physical nursing job due to the physical toll the job has put on them, not the new grad with know physical issues that didn't research if the profession was a good fit for their physical limitations and wants to go to the front of the line.

On 3/14/2019 at 2:26 AM, bananas1 said:
AND 2 - you can't research how demanding bedside nursing is omg... I can't believe I just read that. Where can you find information on how physically demanding a certain floor of a certain hospital is!!! How ridiculous!

That is total BS. They could have shadowed a nurse, talked with a clinical instructor at a local college, or asked a relative or neighbor that is a nurse how physically demanding nursing would be as a new grad and is their plan feasible? I graduated nursing school at 48 yrs old (ABSN program) without any physical problems. My initial goal was Adult ICU or OR. After the first ICU clinical day and moving obese adults in bed, I knew I couldn't do that for the next 15-20 yrs. OR clinical didn't fair much better. After a 2 hour hip replacement surgery wearing a 20-30 pound lead apron, my back and feet were killing me. NICU was the correct decision for me. The ICU environment without the back fatigue of the adult world. I didn't blindly graduate from nursing school and expect every thing to work out. If my true passion was Adult ICU or OR, then I would have had to get a personal trainer to strengthen my core muscles to decrease the potential damage to my back or I would end up like many older nurses with serious back issues that end up taking the same desk jobs that the OP want as a new nurse.

Jacquipals · Mar 22, 2019

I developed lymphedema in both legs that made bedside nursing too painful. I became a school nurse and I love it. Good luck!

bananas1 · Mar 27, 2019

On ‎3‎/‎18‎/‎2019 at 4:51 AM, Wuzzie said:
Ummmmm. I don’t recall that being part of any nursing code anywhere, that’s for mummies and daddies. I find it’s much better to encourage people to achieve what they reasonably can, not whatever cockamamie pipe-dream they have deluded themselves into believing. We had someone here once who was legally blind and wanted to be a nurse. This is not reasonable at all but sure enough someone piped up about forcing schools, clinical sites and hospitals to make accommodations for them because it was their dreeeaaammm. We do not do people favors by encouraging them to continue toward an unattainable goal.
To the OP, you may have to figure out a way to deal with your situation until such time that you’ve achieved enough experience to transfer into a CM job. Your facility may have an ADA office that can help you. But now that you have a year’s experience it may be easier for you to find a job with less (but not zero) physical stress such as pediatric home care or phone triage.

On ‎3‎/‎18‎/‎2019 at 5:54 AM, Ruby Vee said:
Really? I am a nurse and have been for many decades, but no where in any job description I have ever read does it say I'm responsible for "encouraging and enabling random strangers on the Internet to achieve what they want." Especially if what they want isn't reasonable, likely or even possible.
I consider it a boon to such individuals to point out the problems in their critical thinking so they can adjust their expectations or work hard on obtaining the qualifications they need.

On ‎3‎/‎18‎/‎2019 at 5:56 AM, TriciaJ said:
This website is open to the public and is an excellent place to start researching nursing as a possible career. It just seems to not be the best of planning to undertake the rigours of schooling for a career that might not be doable.
Now the OP is trying to find a way to salvage her career and it might not be easy. Yes, lots of people don't want to work bedside. But a significant number of us find that it takes a few years at the bedside to be able to get out of it. And the away-from-bedside jobs aren't necessarily a piece of cake, either.
Unfortunately, nursing requires a LOT more than being understanding of people's pain. Because the people in the beds can't be expected to be understanding of your pain.
There are occasional posts that pop up on this site: "I'm a new nurse but I don't want to work nights." "I'm a new nurse but I can't stand for long periods." "I'm a new nurse but I need every Sunday off because church is important to me." "I'm a new nurse and I think it's unfair that I have to work Christmas."
For those of us who have spent our adult lives on our feet, during the night, on weekends, holidays, etc - we can only shake our heads. Anyone whose dre-e-e-am it is to be a nurse - find out what's required before deciding if it's for you. It's not classified information.

I am really shocked at these responses.. I have no other words. I absolutely disagree with you all.

Wuzzie · Mar 27, 2019

4 hours ago, bananas1 said:
I absolutely disagree with you all.

And that is your right. Have a nice day.

TriciaJ, RN · Mar 27, 2019

10 hours ago, bananas1 said:
I am really shocked at these responses.. I have no other words. I absolutely disagree with you all.

We can only speak from our own personal experience. The three of us have probably close to a century of nursing, combined. We know what nursing has required of us. We are now experiencing what it has done to us over the years. When someone asks "Can I still be a nurse if I have xyz disorder?" we can only try to imagine doing what we have to do while having xyz disorder. If it's just not imaginable we're not going to tell someone "Sure, go for it! Go ahead and put in all that effort and get in mountains of debt so you can crash and burn!"

If I asked you: "I'm 4'8" and weigh 80 lbs and have muscular dystrophy. But I've always dreeamed of working in heavy construction. Should I go for it? Oh, and by the way I'm afraid of heights" what would you tell me? Would you really tell me not to give up on my dream?

The everyone-gets-a-trophy-and-anyone-can-be-whatever-they-want generation no doubt finds us harsh. But reality is usually harsher.

Ruby Vee, BSN · Mar 27, 2019

14 hours ago, bananas1 said:
I am really shocked at these responses.. I have no other words. I absolutely disagree with you all.

Of course it is your right to disbelieve and disagree with informed opinions. I'm very sorry you won't benefit from the combined wisdom and solid advice of established nurses and AN members. But that, too is your right.

Watki22 · Mar 28, 2019

7 hours ago, TriciaJ said:
We can only speak from our own personal experience. The three of us have probably close to a century of nursing, combined. We know what nursing has required of us. We are now experiencing what it has done to us over the years. When someone asks "Can I still be a nurse if I have xyz disorder?" we can only try to imagine doing what we have to do while having xyz disorder. If it's just not imaginable we're not going to tell someone "Sure, go for it! Go ahead and put in all that effort and get in mountains of debt so you can crash and burn!"
If I asked you: "I'm 4'8" and weigh 80 lbs and have muscular dystrophy. But I've always dreeamed of working in heavy construction. Should I go for it? Oh, and by the way I'm afraid of heights" what would you tell me? Would you really tell me not to give up on my dream?
The everyone-gets-a-trophy-and-anyone-can-be-whatever-they-want generation no doubt finds us harsh. But reality is usually harsher.

I did not know I had this disorder when I started school for nursing. I slowly developed chronic pain and other symptoms throughout my education and was told it was likely fibromyalgia so I thought as long as I could push through the pain I would be fine. About 3 months into my first job is when I was diagnosed with my connective tissue disease and learned that all the manual labor I was doing was causing damage and I would gradually get worse. If I knew I had this earlier on I would not have gone into nursing. However I am like someone had said in an earlier post trying to “salvage” what I can of the career I am in debt for. I was just looking for advice on types of nursing that are easier physically as nursing is a HUGE field and there are so many options

TriciaJ, RN · Mar 28, 2019

1 minute ago, Watki22 said:
I did not know I had this disorder when I started school for nursing. I slowly developed chronic pain and other symptoms throughout my education and was told it was likely fibromyalgia so I thought as long as I could push through the pain I would be fine. About 3 months into my first job is when I was diagnosed with my connective tissue disease and learned that all the manual labor I was doing was causing damage and I would gradually get worse. If I knew I had this earlier on I would not have gone into nursing. However I am like someone had said in an earlier post trying to “salvage” what I can of the career I am in debt for. I was just looking for advice on types of nursing that are easier physically as nursing is a HUGE field and there are so many options

Yes, I got that from your original post. It seems you got blindsided and I'm sorry that happened to you. We've been taken to task for not being "supportive" of people who have severe health issues and want to go into nursing anyway. As you have found out, it's really difficult when you have to work around a debilitating condition.

As for suggestions: school nursing or hospice shouldn't require as much standing as acute care. My last job was in college health and that entailed a lot more sitting than any of my previous positions. Of course, those might be a bit boring if you're a fairly new nurse and have gravitated to ED. But if what you're doing just isn't turning out to be doable, there are still options that don't require years of experience.

Good luck!

Watki22 · Mar 28, 2019

18 minutes ago, TriciaJ said:
Yes, I got that from your original post. It seems you got blindsided and I'm sorry that happened to you. We've been taken to task for not being "supportive" of people who have severe health issues and want to go into nursing anyway. As you have found out, it's really difficult when you have to work around a debilitating condition.
As for suggestions: school nursing or hospice shouldn't require as much standing as acute care. My last job was in college health and that entailed a lot more sitting than any of my previous positions. Of course, those might be a bit boring if you're a fairly new nurse and have gravitated to ED. But if what you're doing just isn't turning out to be doable, there are still options that don't require years of experience.
Good luck!

Oh yeah, nursing is not a career for the light hearted, it’s very demanding and seems to take a lot out of even my very healthy coworkers.

Thanks for the advice! I’ve thought about hospice as well, I was worried we would be required to do a lot of turning/transferring and heavy lifting since most hospice patients are max assist? Standing isn’t as hard on me (at the moment) as just all the heavy labor of having all “max assist” patients on our floor, it feels like I work in a nursing home with super sick patients with the type of physical labor we do day to day.. I just don’t know. Another reason I asked on this forum! But I’ll look into it more! Thanks again

Nursferatu · Mar 28, 2019

It’s absurd to believe that people with chronic issues absolutely cannot enter nursing. Should nurses who develop diseases after entering the position get out?? I researched the hell out of nursing as I was making it a second career. My research (using AN, the OOH, and anecdotal data from friends and co-workers) was helpful to knowing what to expect but nothing prepares you like being tested by fire (or clinicals). Nowadays you can have a year or two of floor nursing and critical care and write your own ticket. If the job you want requires 3 yes floor nursing or some other quantitative requirements you have to choose if it’s aomwthing you can manage given your limitations. Also, think about rural communities that may be in more need and therefore willing to compromise on experience.

Some people’s version of the old school “tell it like it is mentality” can come off rude or more likely just useless. You came to get opinions in a court of public opinion. You may do better to go to your school for their advice. They may actually have contacts to help you get the job you want.

Wuzzie · Mar 28, 2019

8 hours ago, Nursferatu said:
You may do better to go to your school for their advice. They may actually have contacts to help you get the job you want.

The OP isn't in school anymore.

8 hours ago, Nursferatu said:
If the job you want requires 3 yes floor nursing or some other quantitative requirements you have to choose if it’s aomwthing you can manage given your limitations.

You are repeating exactly what the "old school" people said.

8 hours ago, Nursferatu said:
It’s absurd to believe that people with chronic issues absolutely cannot enter nursing.

Yes it is, that's why nobody said that.

medical_zebra · Oct 10, 2019

i'm so sorry that some nurses have decided to bully you about your choices (whether they realize it or not). i find many older nurses to be very rude. why you went in to nursing or when you got sick is irrelevant. all they had to do was answer your question! what's worse is, i too have a chronic condition, and know how hard it is to not have people understand your pain or trials so comments like theirs would really really hurt. life with chronic illness is really tough. i hope you are ok. (i shiver to think these people are taking care of patients with so little empathy). anyway, i have many new medical issues that i developed in my first year of nursing so i am in your shoes. i didn't do anything to deserve this and i really love nursing so it makes me sad. i'm borderline having to leave nursing if one of my symptoms cannot be controlled. in the meantime i've been networking and researching viable options: telephone triage, utilization review, case management, many types of outpatient clinics (primary, specialty, infusion clinics, endoscopy, urgent care, etc), school nursing (with a bachelors), nurse educator (with a certificate or bachelors), employee health, occupational health, infection control, public health, ....probably many more. case management generally requires more experience, but i have found some that are willing to train AND i have even found remote jobs (work from home) that are very similar to case management, but go by a different name...i can't remember what it was at the moment. often jobs will list required experience, but are willing to hire underneath that because of shortage or if you're just really awesome and they like you in interview. don't just expect that to happen, but maybe call the employer you are interested in and inquire about that. you can do nursing as long as there isn't a safety issue. also, one of the prior posters mentioned being upset by new nurses not wanting to work nights, weekends, sundays, etc.....there are TONS of jobs right out of school where this is possible and just because that particular nurse had to "earn her keep" on the crappy shifts, doesn't mean she has to piss all over other nurses who can find a way around it. i was hired immediately out of school in the OR for day shift without even having to ask for it...in fact that is the norm for the OR in my area. you know what it takes to have a happy quality life for yourself and you deserve it and you can make it happen. i'm sorry you got such crappy responses and i hope you are not in too much pain. ❤️