I'm 36 years old and planning to start an accelerated BSN program in the Fall. I am a little nervous as to how I will deal with the physical aspects of the job. I currently have 5 herniated discs as well as arthritis in my spine and knees. Obviously this will not improve with age so I'm concerned about starting a new career at this age and what it will mean for me physically. Does anyone have any recommendations or advice on how the physical aspects of school and the job can be handled?
And while it’s true that not all specialties are as physical as others... nobody is going to hire a green nurse to manage or teach other nurses or students.
I was thinking more like community healthcare clinic type scenario. Do you think there are opportunities along those lines that may be open to new grads?
I was thinking more like community healthcare clinic type scenario. Do you think there are opportunities along those lines that may be open to new grads?
Where I am, community clinics/private practice offices hire new grads for sure. Only one thing that the job requirement is still bending/lifing up to 50 lbs. It was a job requirement even for me, and I was already an NP and, yes, at times I had to do that.
Patients have certain expectations about visiting health care establishments, and quite a few of them include in their programme to be tenderly helped on and off exam table, walked in and out of waiting room and so forth. It doesn't matter that the moment they get out of there they will jump into their pickup trucks and on their way home stop in Walmart where they happily throw a keg or two of beer and a few other heavy things; while in clinic, they wanna to have "experience" and they will demand just that, hanging on you with their 200+ lbs body mass while telling endless stories about 100/10 pain everywhere and at any given moment.
I seriously saw one guy of this kind demanding that a nurse would go and wipe him after taking his UDS and FOBT in the office. On my question of who is doing that for him at home he answered: I am in a medical place and I am a patient, they always do this for me when I am in hospital, so I see no reason why I should wipe myself when I just can ask someone.
WOW! SarahMaria, thank you for sharing. How were you able to handle the physical requirements? I’d love to know what you did after graduation too if you’re up for sharing. Was it difficult to gain experience and accommodate your physical needs? Appreciate the encouragement!
Jedrnurse, BSN, RN
2,776 Posts
So true!!