oceantides

Hi to all, All of you have been very helpfull to me answering questions with honesty I really do appreciate it. I know that sometimes nursing feels like a thankless job, however if there were not people like you who do truly care for their patients, I wouldn't be here. I have been taken care of multiple times for different medical issues and I send a sincere thank you for all that you do, "you are appreciated", hope you have a great week. Ocean

Thank you all for your input, I really appreciate it. It is just hard to give up a dream, I guess. I also do understand the flip side of hurting worse everyday, just to be a nurse, that is scary too. I really enjoy caring for patients, but it is hard for me to accept my limitations and really apply them to my life. Are any of you working with pain? I want to embrace my goal and dream, but I want to be reasonable to myself as well. I will continue contemplating for a while, my MD. says there are so many fields and you don't have to lift in everyone, don't give up your dream. My pain Dr. said that I should not continue a career that requires frequent lifting. This is where my confusion comes from. I appreciate your honesty and look forward to whatever decision I end up making. Thank you, Ocean

Hello, I worked as a PCT at a hospital in Florida and I really liked the work. I was certain that nursing is what I should do for my career. While working a patient turned into dead weight during a transfer and I know have facet joint injuries t1-t5 and am having a radio-frequency surgery for the second time. I am now in pain everyday and need to do the surgery to stop the pain. The problem is that there is no 100% healing with this injury, just possible death of the nerves for as long as they stay dead. At this point I do not know how well or how long I will recover this time. My concern is that I have already invested a year and a half doing prerequesites for nursing and I am not sure if I should continue for my degree, or change to something less physically demanding. I know ultimately it is up to me, but I really truly want to know a typical day at the hospital how much of this do I have to be able to do, regarding lifting. I know that fresh out of school you don't have a lot of options, so I am scared and I do not want to spend all the time and money and find out that I am not going to be able to handle the physical demand. I appreciate your help and honesty regarding my situation. Thank you, Crystal

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

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.

Thank you I really appreciate it, I have the heart to do it. I am just concerned long term for my health.

Hello, I am considering an lpn school instead of pursuing my RN due to the limited access to programs. I am apprehensive because I have a back injury and repetative lifting might be a huge problem for me. I have been doing nursing pre-requisites for a year and a half and I do not want to wait four more years to have a professional career. I would like advice regarding the amount of lifting required for lpn's. I am scared of spending the $ and time to find out I am not physically able to do the job effectively. I appreciate any information regarding my situation. Thank you:)