Physical lifting limitations? medical field?

[oceantides]

I had a back injury while transferring a patient as a tech 3/2006. I have been going through pre-nursing classes until last semester. I am not sure if it is worth it to continue in the nursing field. I thought my heart was in it and I really enjoy caring for people. It has been over a year that I have lived with chronic pain and I will be going through my second surgery in August, (neurolysis). I have no guarantee with the surgery that the nerves will not come back, because they came back 6-months after my first surgery. I have contemplated LPN vs. RN, medical office etc. I was certain it was my calling, now I am scared for my safety and am not sure it is worth the risk. Do any of you have any other suggestions that would be as fullfilling and less physically demanding? I do not want to put all my time and energy into something that I am not going to be able to physically do. I appreciate any advice you can provide for me.

[nyapa, RN]

I guess you won't really be able to make decisions until you come out of the surgery, rehabilitate, and find out what your limitations are then. Are you able to defer your course for a certain period on medical grounds, until you are able to make a decision?

[rita359]

Can think of a lot of positions in the nursing field that would probably not require much lifting. Most of them also require more schooling than just Rn but would require the RN first. In this day there are so many options in nursing you do not have to do hospital bedside med surg nursing all your life or at all. Then there is NICU where your heaviest patient would not be very heavy at all.

[llg, PhD, RN]

While there are many nursing jobs that people with disabilities can do, your concern is well-founded. Many of those "non-phyisical" jobs require experience as a nurse and are unavailable to new graduates. In all honesty, I would not recommend nursing as a career to anyone with significant physical limitations. It's nice to think that anything is possible -- but the reality of making some things happen is pretty tough.

I think you would be wise to consider other careers that offer some of the same things that appeal to you about nursing. For example, do you think you would like patient teaching? If so, you might explore career possibilities in health education ... or in clinical nutrition. Perhaps counseling or social work would appeal to you.

If you love science, then a career as a lab technician might suit you. etc. etc. I think you get my point.

I hate to be pessimistic about such things -- but I also hate to see people invest valuable time and money that they later regret. Yes, it is possible to have a nursing career with a physical disability (which is what a significant back injury it) -- but it makes a challenging career even more challenging. As your body ages, it is unlikely that your back will ever be 100%, even with good treatment. Why make life harder than it needs to be.

Find a career that suits your abilities as well as your interests. Perhaps you local community college has some vocational counseling that can help you find a career that will suit ALL of you and not just your heart.

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

If you go into nursing you're going into a field where back injuries is the #1 problem. You've suffered enough. I wouldnt' recommend nursing. You have to be physically fit to make it through nursing school without limitations. They may not even accept you as a student.

Good luck.