Return to work after work related injury

[KimmyKins]

Hello,

I have been licensed as an RN with my BSN for over 8 years. I am licensed in two states. (Where I graduated school and where I live) I graduated at the height of the recession and so there were hiring freezes and layoffs and no new grad programs/no one wanted new grads (In MA). It took me two years to find a Nursing job after graduation, and it was a seasonal flu clinic job. From there I got my first nursing home job and was there for about 7 months. It was hell but the reason I left was actually because I got married and moved out of state.

Here's where my story takes a turn! I was at my second nursing home job only two months when I was taken out of the building on a stretcher by ambulance as I had slipped and fell at work. I broke my patella and ruptured my patella tendon. Two surgeries and a lot of pain and physical therapy, and I'm able to return to work with limitations. However, this is after having been out of work for about 5 years. (Not cleared to go back to work for a long time and it was originally only with restrictions that my employer couldn't accommodate so I lost my job)

Fast forward to now and I am having a hard time finding work that I can physically do (can't go back to a nursing home or hospital floor) after having been out of work for so long. Because it was Worker's Comp, I couldn't even volunteer or anything during that time. I have this huge gap in employment but prior to that only had about 9 months of actual experience (aside from the flu clinic job). I put that I was employed for a whole year because technically I was so it makes me look a little better.

I work now for an agency that I've been with over a year and started back by being a 1:1 School Nurse. Now I mostly do sub school nursing and for the summer I am working in a middle school as the School Nurse. (Being a regular School Nurse in a lot of places now requires certification which I don't have) I want full time, permanent work but it's proving difficult to find with my lack of experience in anything, yet not being a new grad. And also being kind of picky where I can work because of my limitations now. I also don't disclose the injury as I don't have to by law. My husband passed away while I was still out of work (blessing in disguise being out of work!) so I use that as an explanation for the gap when brought up.

Maybe I should mention the injury yet leave out work related (afraid to come off as a liability), and an employer might be sympathetic? I love nursing and worked really hard to become a Nurse. I don't want to do anything else. I'm not getting calls for interviews etc partly because I know my resume sucks. I have no accomplishments/achievements to speak of so I literally just list my past employment and job duties. Nothing makes me stand out and i'm afraid the gap could be hurting me too

Tips, advice etc.?

Thanks so much!

[AnnieOaklyRN, BSN, RN, EMT-P]

Hi,

I have had a couple jobs since falling on a wet floor a few years ago and breaking my jaw, as well as many teeth. During my employee health physical both places asked outright if I had any work related injuries and I told them. I would not lie if they ask!! I was totally honest with them, I was also only out a few weeks, not years, and nothing changed.

When you get an employee physical they are asking why you have limitations I am sure, and I sure as heck wouldn't lie about it being work related, that could bite you in the future if you have another injury.

Annie