emmyloo85

I've done 4 years as a telemetry nurse with 5-6 pts and am making the transition to travel nursing. I've accepted a position at an LTAC facility and, based on my interview with the hiring manager, I will take 4-5 pts with the potential for vented pts. I explained that I do not have vent experience and they stated I could work with an RT to learn about the vent during my training day (yes, it's only one day. But I am studying up on the vent.) I was looking forward to this assignment but today I came across a post on facebook warning travel nurses about LTAC assignments. Apparently many nurses are unaware of how heavy the pts can be and treatment can include many ICU level meds such as pressors, etc. I feel a little silly, but I think I've underestimated the level of care involved. I'm seriously starting to reconsider. Has anyone made this sort of transition before?

So, I started working at my hospital in 2015, at age 29, as a PCA on a telemetry unit and fairly quickly started having back pain. Prior to this I spent 7 years at a desk job, so I was completely out of shape. Over time I adjusted and became stronger, but I also saw a spine specialist who diagnosed me with a grade 1 spondylolisthesis. I continued to work as a PCA and in 2017 went to physical therapy for the first time. I graduated nursing school and started working as a nurse on the same unit in July 2017. In February 2018 I had an x ray done that showed it was a grade 2 spondy. In April of 2018 I went back for a second round of physical therapy. At this point I had worked as a registered nurse for about 8 months, so less stress on my back than what I experienced as a PCA but still quite a bit of lifting required as this is a floor unit job. It is now August 2018 and I visited my spine specialist yesterday whose xrays now show that my L5 is at about 50% or perhaps a smidge further over the edge of my S1. So, it's basically a grade 3 spondy now. He's very surprised that I don't have severe leg pain at this point. I have no leg pain whatsoever. I do have pain with movement that stretches horizontally across my lower back and some pressure along the lower spine. I have adapted to the discomfort and while it's annoying at times it is not overwhelming. Regardless, my spine specialist is talking spinal fusion and within the next 6-8 months. I realize that is the recommended treatment for a grade 3-4 spondy. So, I'm here just looking for advice from fellow nurses with similar experiences. I know the outcomes for back injuries can be...not good. :/ I don't want to end up in a worse situation. But I also can see the writing on the wall, and it does appear that this issue is progressing in a rapid sort of way. If you were in this situation, what questions would you ask the provider? BTW, I went to the Leatherman Spine Center in Louisville, KY, which has a pretty good reputation. But that doesn't always mean everything. I'm currently doing recon on the physician who would do the surgery. Thanks so much for input!

Is critical care experience required for that?

That's not what I meant. It just seems that an evac unit would be more likely to deploy. I don't have any problems with deployment.

Are you more likely to deploy if they have an AE unit?

most likely the 123rd Airlift Wing in Louisville, KY. And possibly a clinical nurse.

For anyone in the ANG, what are ANG nurses (ex: a clinical nurse) responsible for during their drill weekends?What should he/she expect during a deployment? I'm interested, I'm just not sure how it works.

Thanks, I go to the doctor tomorrow. I'll see if she can refer me to a neurologist and then I'll go from there. :)

I recently started a job as a CNA and i really like it. the only problem is, i'm six weeks in and my back is KILLING ME. i'm so distraught because I really hoped to go to nursing school and now I don't know what to do. At the end of every shift my lower back is really sore all the way across and there's tightness in my middle lower back. i've been to a chiropractor, who said it's a thoracic nerve issue (my left leg was also going numb). he set my back, and my leg stopped going numb for about a week but now it's back. i really don't know what to do. it may be ludicrous to even try to go to nursing school with these issues, but if i do, are there nursing specialties that won't put as much stress on my back as where i am now? I'm on a cardiac med/surg unit. We have long hallways as opposed to a "pod" unit. Thanks!

So, this has absolutely nothing to do with this post but...im a new member, and how the heck do i start a thread? these nursing forums are really annoying, I've joined 2 and neither give me the option of asking a question!!