maryellis

I just started my adv patho and it's tough. We have multiple chapters to read every week plus quizzes/case studies nearly every week and a few papers. I would say overtime is probably not the best idea during this class.

An update on me: I work my three 12 hour shifts per week on the floor with no restrictions/accommodations and have been doing so for the past 2 years. Last year I even went back to grad school for my DNP and have been doing that full time as well as my hours at work. :)

Surgery went well, will be getting my prosthetic this week and will be returning to work Nov 11 on light duty until dec 9 when doc will reevaluate my restrictions. Pain is gone. No phantom pains either.

No. We're not union

I have FMLA figured out. We have a program called "transition to duty". Basically it's light or modified duty until the employee can go back to normal duties. I have spoken with my boss and HR and as soon as my ortho releases me to "light duty" I will be assigned to chart reviews/case management stuff. After I have my prosthetic I will be put back on the floor for short shifts until I am able to return to the full 12 hour shifts. They are aware that this could be a long process and are willing to work with me. I have been promised my job even after going past the 12 week mark. I have both STD and LTD that will pay the difference in income due to me not working my full FTE. My hospital and my boss are behind me in this

I am not asking my employer to accomodate me. I think that you are a negative person and are comparing apples to oranges. I don't have an autoimmune disorder of my muscles, I have a bad leg that is going to be better in a few months. Stop trying to compare your problems with mine and making me feel insecure and anxious. In my experience the nurses that are given the boot after FMLA expires or when trying to come back from a disability are the ones that haven't been able to "toe the line" to begin with. So unless you have personal experience with working with a nurse that was an amputee, I don't care for your input.

This was my thought. If amputees can run marathons and climb mountains there should be no reason I can't go back to nursing in the ER. Honestly what I am dealing with now is worse than an amputation. I have zero flexion/extension of my ankle, have to wear an AFO and have a 1.5" height difference...and I made due for the past 8 years and that includes running 4 marathons. My being "fit for duty" has never been an issue. I have never asked for accommodations for my disability and don't plan on needing accommodation after returning to work.

I wasn't looking for anyone to tell me what recovery will be like, I already know what I have ahead of me. I also know I am more capable and motivated than most people undergoing an amputation. I was looking for others who are working as a nurse with a below knee amputation or have worked with one who could share their experiences.

Maybe I should have believed ortho when they told me I would never walk again too

I am 31 and in excellent health. I am not overweight and exercise daily. The ortho who's doing the surgery says 4-6 month recovery time. I told my doc "more like 3-4 months" :)

Hi there. I was looking for some people who have experience with working with below knee amputees. I was involved in a severe accident as a child that left me with a crushed left leg. I went through about 5 years of antibiotics, external and internal fixation, muscle grafts, bone grafts, skin grafts, central lines, 50+ surgeries....it was hell. I was left with a left leg that was 1.5" shorter than the right and decreased function. I am unable to walk without a brace. Anyways that all cleared up in 2001 when I was 19 and since then I have gone on to get married, run a few marathons and most importantly graduate nursing school. Since 2005 I have worked in the Emergency Department. I did my first few years in a busy level one and never let my bum leg get me down or stop me. And now, within the past 6 months I have been having intense pain in that foot. After seeing a couple of specialists and discussing quality of life and long term solutions we decided a below the knee amputation was the only real permanent solution. I have come to accept this. It hurts and I'm pretty scared about the whole thing but what I am most scared of is returning to work. What is that going to be like?? As supportive as my coworkers are, how will they act when I come back? Will I be able to keep up?? Any insight would be appreciated. My surgery is scheduled August 20.