Nursing job after a carpal tunnel syndrome

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Specializes in Rehabilitation,Home Health, Neuro ICU, PACU.

Hi all! 

I have been diagnosed with bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome.  It is going on for 6 months now, doc. said moderate to severe and offered surgery. 

I am a Neuro ICU nurse, 1 yesr will be in this June. We take patients to CT often, which includes pushing/pulling heavy beds with patients,  transfer them. We don't have nursing assistants and have to give bed bath by ourselves to a, most of the time, obese-dead weight patients. 

My question is, what kind of job can I switch to after a surgery?

Surgery will be on a left, non-dominsnt arm.

Thank you all, I desperately need an advise.  

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Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.

Has your provider recommended a job change? I have worked with numerous nurses who have had carpal tunnel surgery (one even worked an 8 hour shift, then checked into preop for her early afternoon bilateral carpal tunnel decompression!) who came back when allowed right into the same job. And OR nursing is pretty physical too- pushing beds from preop to OR to PACU, positioning patients who may be asleep and can’t help at all, prepping various limbs that sometimes require holding with one hand while prepping with the other, lifting heavy instrument trays, and so on. Is there a particular reason you wouldn’t be able to return?

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Specializes in Rehabilitation,Home Health, Neuro ICU, PACU.
4 hours ago, Rose_Queen said:

Has your provider recommended a job change? I have worked with numerous nurses who have had carpal tunnel surgery (one even worked an 8 hour shift, then checked into preop for her early afternoon bilateral carpal tunnel decompression!) who came back when allowed right into the same job. And OR nursing is pretty physical too- pushing beds from preop to OR to PACU, positioning patients who may be asleep and can’t help at all, prepping various limbs that sometimes require holding with one hand while prepping with the other, lifting heavy instrument trays, and so on. Is there a particular reason you wouldn’t be able to return?

I did not talk to my employer yet. Just considering other options with less heavy maneuvering involved.  

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