kayRN21

what we should be asking is what a frail confused elderly woman's life is worth in our society? Is it worth only the revenue her diagnosis can generate from medicare or medicade? The least amount of care so the most amount of money can feed greedy corporations that own these facilities? The profits come from the exploitation of the elderly and their caregivers. I wonder if the politicians even care about the poor, sick and vulnerable.

I do not think it is part of being middle aged. My mom who is 80 had an MRI of her neck and mine is worse than hers. Mine was caused by years of lifting patients in nursing homes and rehab units. I never had men around to lift my patients. I was expected to do it by myself because of short staffing and the total patient care where at times I did not even have a nurse aide to help me. The patients need protecting but who protected me from the patients and the system. I do not like begging for social security disability. I was able to support my family and thank god I was able to work till my kids were grown. Now I have chronic pain that I will live with the rest of my life. I can not believe I was that stupid. I bought into the idea of protect the patient at all cost. Think twice about lifting heavy patients. I am too young to feel this way. My mom who is 80 is more active than I am. 32 years of bedside nursing has done it to me. I received my RN in 1974 and worked continuously since then. I do not believe Yoga is going to fix my neck and spine. I was fired from my job in 2005 after a 3 month leave of absence because I could not lift and I was told by my DON that there were no positions for any RN that could not lift.

I left nursing because I herniated two disc in my neck. My last two 12 hour shifts in ICU I could not lift my right arm above my shoulder and had to wrap my left ankle and used a brace as i could not bear weight. I had had an MRI the week before. I could not say when I hurt my neck so worman's comp was out of the question. I called my supervisor and told her I could not lift by Doctor's order. They put me on 3 month leave of abcesnse and fired me. I have not worked in 18 months. What a way to end a 31 year nursing career. I am poor but happy. God has released me from nursing and I place my trust in him. Social Security turned me down three times and I have an advacate to be with me at the hearing. I have chronic pain after the surgery and I am still on pain meds. I will never go back to patient care. All the long 12 hour shifts and the lifting took its toll. I pray to God I get social security disability. Nursing was a love hate relationship and I can relate to all that responded to this link.

All I can say is "YOU GO Girl." I have so much respect for those that fight for the patients. When you are exploited so is the patient. I am tired of corporations making money off our backs and all the elderly population is worth is what companies can collect.

I also have degenerative disc disease and had disc surgery on my neck. My lower back is fine. I would suggest that on employment obtain disability insurance at work or with an insurance company outside of work. I could not say when I hurt my neck so I am left to the mercy of the Social Security system. It usually takes two years to get Social Security Disability if you can get it at all. After 32 years of bedside nursing I worked till I couldn't use my right arm. I am an RN and I will never go back to patient care. I am in constant pain.