RNinWI

Hi Deehaverrn and others, Thanks to all of you for your suggestions and empathy. Still in pretty much the same situation - continued pain although I had to drop my medical insurance on Dec 1 when the cobra subsidies ended.., and I am still unemployed and looking for work and collecting unemployment. I have been told that there are jobs out there for me too - more times than I can count - but unfortunately the market is so tight and there are more ideal candidates than myself. Funny that they recommend desk jobs when sitting is hard on the back as well. Sitting is worse for me that most other things - with the exceptions of bending, lifting, twisting and such. I haven't applied for disability because I doubt I would get it due to my age and potential for retraining. I started graduate school a month ago which is keeping me busy. So far i am paying for it through a loan. I have applied for a training grant through the department of vocational rehab but it hasn't come through yet. Typical of the government. I am also working with a lawyer on appealing the work comp denial for coverage of vocational rehabilitation. I chose nursing education as the specialty figuring that it would allow me a more flexible schedule and keep me out of direct patient care for the most part. So, I keep chugging a long, hoping that things will come out ini my favor. Good luck to all of you as well. Keep that advice coming

This is rather disheartening to see. I am a nurse , albeit unemployed since I had back surgery in June, 2008 . I have been on chronic opioid therapy (Kadian) for low back pain due to degenerative disk disease for almost 2 years. I find that my cognitive functioning is not affected by this medication, unless we do a dose increase or I have to take something that is short acting for pain such as Percocet. I was still working when I began taking long acting pain medications and that was not a problem, even after we all had to do a random drug screen because the narc count was off. Of course the meds showed up but since they were prescribed (they also weren't the ones that were missing) nothing resulted from it...as far as I know anyway. I was eventually laid off from that position because I could not return to full capacity after my FMLA time was up. However, I have been trying to find a new job for over a year now and have only had one offer, which was withdrawn after the pre-employment, post offer physical (and drug screen)...:angryfire So it is possible that they withdrew the offer because of the meds, but I also have restrictions and they claimed that they could not accommodate the restrictions. Anyway, now I have applied for grad school to get my MSN. I hope this won't become and issue then if I am still on the meds. People that know I am on the medications ask me if I am afraid of addiction. I usually respond that I don't have any fear of addiction because I only take the medication for pain. True I may develop some tolerance or physical dependence, but that is still a different issue than addiction. I don't like medications but don't know that I can face chronic out of control pain either...

Hi all, I need to write a 2 page paper on current issues facing nursing today and how we will have to change to address them. I have lots of thoughs about the shortage, level of education, etc but having difficulty pulling it together. Any thoughts? - The key issues facing the nursing profession today, - How nursing will have to change in the next 10-15 years to address these issues, and - In what ways you hope your graduate education will prepare you to address these issues. Thanks, Marie

this is very useful information to know. Thank you!

Looking for some advice - I am looking into going back to school for more education due to a back injury and physical limitations. I am interested in an education role because I would be less likely to end up in situations where my limitations would become a "liability" to the company. I would be ok with patient education or prospective nurse education. Do you think it would be better for me to choose a masters program specializing in education or with a clinical focus (e.g. NP, CNS) in order to be most prepared? Do you think a prospective employer in either area would have a preference? Thank you :wink2:

I have chronic back issues and physical restrictions and unfortunately have found first hand that most health care organizations are less than accommodating...even the outpatient clinics. I am currently looking into non-traditional nursing roles, such as education. You may be able to squeak through though - depends on the school's willingness to work with you probably. You may also want to consider just doing a direct entry masters program - might be able to help you avoid injuring yourself and allowing you to go directly into the NP/CRNA field...although there me be some discrimination at that level as well.

I am 27, have been a nurse for four years, and have chronic low back pain due to lumbar DDD and a failed back surgery. I have been advised to look into career paths that take me out of direct patient care due to my risk for reinjury and the restrictions I have against lifting over 50lbs, repetitive bending, pushing, pulling, etc. I don't really want to spend the rest of my nursing career behind a desk so am considering going back to school. My question is regarding what typical physical requirements are for nurse practitioners so I know whether it is even an option for me to consider this track. What does your employer require and what is your experience in your day to day work? Thank you so much for your help!

This is my first post here - I am really hoping someone can give me some advice. I am 27 and have been a nurse for 4 years. I hurt my back lifting a patient almost three years ago and have since been diagnosed with lumbar DDD with annular tears at L4-5 and L5-S1. I tried a ton of treatments and eventually ended up having an IDET procedure done...by one of the doctors I was working with (worked at a pain clinic at that point). The surgery was unsuccessful and I was laid off after the three months of FMLA since they felt I was a liability to the company. 6 months after the back surgery I had a Functional Capacity Evaluation done to determine what level of functioning I could return to. They gave me restrictions which are most likely permanent. Because of these restrictions (primarily against lifting over 50 lbs, bending, pushing, pulling) it seems that no one wants to hire me due to safety concerns. I am also currently on chronic opioid therapy for pain management in addition to Gabapentin, relafen and cymbalta. I have been on it for almost 2 years and have no cognitive impairment. I have been applying and interviewing since last September and only had one job offer (which was withdrawn after I went to the pre-employment physical). I don't know what to do anymore. I am considering going back to school to get my masters degree but I am wondering if I will encounter the same discrimination there as well (due to being unable to lift or bend in the event of an emergency as well as due to the medications). I am working with DVR services and they are recommending that I avoid any career paths that would involve direct patient contact due to safety issues (which would eliminate nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist as well as many others). Has anyone else been in this situation? What would you advise?