Nursing school, lifting limitations

[oceantides]

Hello,

I am wondering if the nursing department can refuse you into the program if you have a back injury? Are there enough divisions of nursing to be able to work in a limited lifting area directly out of school?

Thanks,

Crystal

[*Blessed2BaNRS*]

Hi Crystal,

I don't know about all schools, but for mine, we had to have a physical and doctors statement saying that we were healthy physically to be able to withstand being a nurse and doing everything that a nurse does. As far as a back injury, that could very well limit your acceptance.

[labcat01, BSN, RN]

I cannot imagine that having a back injury would keep you out of school- you'd have a nice lawsuit if it did. I'm pregnant right now and my classmates know that I need extra help turning patients but I try to make it up by helping them out whenever I can. I think if this is something you really want for yourself you should start asking around at different nursing schools. They are the only ones that can tell you for sure.

Good luck!

[fultzymom]

Would your doc be willing to sign your physical saying that you are fit to work as a nurse? If not, then I do not see how you would be able to get in.

[kanzi monkey]

Hi, don't know what your back injury is, but I have a minorly herniated disc (scar tissue from surgery of a previously majorly herniated disc). I take care of it with exercise, stretching, and I don't usually lift what I shouldn't. The thing is, I don't have any specific restrictions--if I don't lift something without help, NOBODY should lift it without help. So, I don't tend to talk about my back injury--I didn't at school, and I don't at work.

But to start school I had to have a complete physical assessment--so, of course it's in my record that I have this injury. But to GET IN to school, no one had to know about my back injury. Most places have a non-discrimination policy and will not ask about physical limitations in an entrance application.

This way, you can leave it up to yourself to decide if you can tolerate nursing. For one thing, there are areas of nursing that are not as labor intensive as others--certain out patient clinics, for example. Getting through school will be the toughest cause generally you start out with more labor-intensive responsibilities--turning, ambulating patients, etc. My advise to you is--learn quickly how to speak up for yourself and get assistance. Get help from aides, they tend to be quite good at these jobs and will probably give you some tips on ways to do things that won't hurt your back. At my job, if I'm feeling meek or sheepish or get it into my head that I can turn a patient myself--well, my coworkers have actually gotten upset with me. And they don't even know I have a back injury. Because ANYBODY is at risk for hurting their backs in this field, so if you ask for help people will appreciate it. Cause then they won't have to deal with peeling you up off the floor, sending you to the ED, and finding another nurse to cover. :trout:

I hope this helps, and good luck!