I recently graduated from an accelerated nursing program as a BSN this past December and was offered a position in a Level III ED hospital in a large Metropolitan area. However, due to personal health reasons I've been having a rough time with my new job. Without going into a long story, I've had major back surgery 4 times (2 discectomies, 1 spinal fusion, 1 reconstruction) since the age of 19 due to a herniated disc from a college sports injury. I've been active my whole life, but the part that gets me is standing on my feet for longer than 30-45 minutes without sitting down - I'm talking 8-9/10 level sciatic-type pain. I was able to complete all of my clinicals while in school with minimal issues with my pain, but since starting my new job and working 12.5 hour shifts I've been in so much pain.
Being a new nurse is tough as it is, but I've been excelling in my new position and really love all the activity of the ED - I've been in 1 code, hung TPA, and had 3 critical stroke patients just in my first week of work. However, every day at work I'm in so much pain that I just can't function normally. Every shift I've had in the first month and a half I've been able to sit for maybe 15 minutes consecutively in a 6-7 hour span, it's just that busy. Without further personal details, I do see pain management on a regular basis and there's not much more they can do for me outside of doping me up which is not an option for me. I feel I have to step away from this position since I cannot take the pain anymore. I'm not sure where to look for a nursing job where I can sit down for the majority of my shift. I really need to think long term here for my health since I have at least 35 years left of work before I retire.
Without any prior experience, what areas of nursing could I look into where I could sit down? I've thought of these areas that "may" allow me to sit, but I'm curious as to what others think?
- Public health nurse: County job - Circulating nurse?: can they sit down during their shift? - CVICU: I've heard many nurses can sit at the end of the bed of a Pt and monitor from there - Chart review: Non-clinical and many of them want experience (IDK if this is interesting to me) - School nursing: Not big in my area - many nurses are contracted through agencies not affiliated with the actual district
I really don't know where to look at this point. I will definitely miss the action of the ED, but my health is way more important and at this point there's not much physically more I can do. Thanks for any input!
I am arguing with myself about responding. I'm not a mean person and don't want to be unsympathetic, but at the same time, this type of question irritates the heck out of me. Unfortunately it seems to come up quite often, in many different forms, among some new grad nurses here.
I guess I'm just going to say it straight out...why on Earth did you go to school and become a nurse if you can't stand for long periods?
I'm one of the many nurses that have worked my butt off for years; missed holidays, worked weekends, took night shift even when it made me ill, worked when I was having more pain than the patient and had to crawl in the front door after a long shift. I've raised 3 kids, dealt with horribly traumatic events, been a single parent, and been broke as heck. And now, finally, I've earned my stripes and have the sit down, no weekend, no call, no holiday job. But I freakin' earned it, the hard way and so has every other nurse that has put in his/her time and now can look forward to better positions.
I just don't understand why the OP or the other new grads (a minority) that complain about the physical and/or mental challenges in nursing. What is wrong with people??
I can say the same about your comment. Didn’t want to respond but really bothers me.
Experience is one thing. But dealing with a lot **** like you’ve had to is not mandatory. Just because you’ve had it tough, doesn’t mean thats what all nurses need to go threw, before finding a job that they enjoy and works for them.
Nursing has so many option, that’s part of the reason people enjoy the job. Some enjoy fast pace acute care, or mental health, or community health or children’s health. Doesn’t make a difference. It’s all nursing.
We shouldn’t exclude others from the profession if they can’t/don’t want to work in a hospital. They can go nursing school and contribute a lot to society without having to do hard labour.
I have just started a Community Health job (at an FQHC). I’m a new grad. There is a fair bit of sitting; I’m not sure whether it would meet your needs. It’s sort of— walk in an exam room, sit 5 minutes, get up and walk around for 10, sit and chart for 2 minutes, hop back up. So it’s pretty “active” but it is not standing for hours at a time. Side note is that we HAVE to sit to chart, because the PCs are not on mobile carts.
You sound like a great nurse! You’ll find something that works for you
Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.
8 hours ago, MgoBlue37 said:
I also see what you mean in terms of experience type jobs such as management or educators that require the actual work in that specialty that new grads don't have. Unfortunately in nursing school, we aren't exposed to the types of positions that nurses may work in that aren't as physically demanding as bedside nursing. With such an adaptable field, I'm curious to see how nurses fit into such roles as informatics or nurse navigation too and what they entail.
I definitely do not mean this unkindly, but you are saying you see what we mean re: managers and educators but not informatics or nurse navigation...and this kind of proves you don't "get it". Here's the thing - those jobs require an in-depth UNDERSTANDING of the job and the patient population being served. That is achieved via acute care experience the vast majority of the time. Therefore those jobs require 2-5 years of acute care experience. Even doing chart review from home for an insurance company generally requires 1-2 years or more of acute care experience. It isn't because you have to do what floor nurses do in those jobs. It is because you have to understand what they do, why and for whom in those jobs. The best way to prove thorough understanding is via having worked them. There is no paper test that can prove you have developed the critical thinking needed to fulfill those roles.
It would be nice if nursing were a one-size-fits-all, everyone-belongs-somewhere kind of profession, but the truth belies this. There are basic requirements to different nursing positions. Acute care, long term care, physical patient care etc all require you to be able to stand for long periods, squat, lift, twist and otherwise use your body to physically care for patients. The positions that get you outside of that demographic generally require you to have the experience of having done them in order to qualify for those positions. It isn't your "right" to get those jobs without that experience, because it is that experience that leads to the thought processes and critical evaluations needed for those positions.
I know that sounds harsh and I apologize if so. I am not trying to step on you. Thinking you should be able to have a less demanding nursing job without the requisite experience is flat out magical thinking. You aren't physically capable of doing the job and that kind of sucks....for you, for your patients and for your coworkers. You don't have the basic qualifications to do the most basic of nursing positions. Yes, there are more advanced positions that no longer require those qualifications, but it is kind of like having to take pre-requisite classes in college. You can't progress to the next level without proving mastery of the level prior. Since there is no exam that can bypass the experience requirement...the experience requirement stands.
If you can stick it out a little longer you may be able to qualify for case management positions at insurance companies. Those will still require you to drive a lot, walk a lot and move heavy loads of paperwork, but a lot of the job would be sitting down as well. I have a friend diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis not long after graduating who now works one of those jobs and is doing well. I think, however, that she got rather lucky. I am hoping you get lucky too.
I am sorry for your pain and I am sorry your chosen profession may not be able to accommodate you to the level you want it to. Disabilities are a reality, but so are the requirements of certain professions. When the two don't mix....they mean something has to change. The requirements of nursing aren't going to, which means likely you will.
I've been offered by management to do 8 hour shifts, however it would be more days on my feet overall. I'd say that the minimal duration that I'd need to sit is about 15 minutes for every hour or at least have the opportunity to sit frequently. For example, in an hour I can stand quite a bit if I have the time to break it up. So far I've gone about 3.5 hours of standing without sitting, but by the time I do get to rest my back is spasming so much that it's hard to recover until I can get home. I like the idea of the OR to be honest and reading the posts on here, I've seen that circulating nurses can sit often depending on the type of surgery.
MgoBlue I sympathize with your back issues. Many nurses have them after years of lifting patients and heavy equipment. However, to start your career off with what appears to be life-altering level pain is perplexing to me. Indeed taking a position in an ER was setting yourself up for increased pain. I am writing to share with you that the OR is not a safe haven for someone with a back injury. I have been a circulator for over 15 years, in many settings from large trauma centers to small surgery centers and no matter where you go the work is very physically demanding. It is a setting that requires stamina and strength. You would be required to position, lift and turn patients who are dead weight under anesthesia. It is not something you would delegate because if the patient falls, it is your responsibility and license on the line. Each case requires the opening of heavy instrument trays. I currently work in orthopedics and open anywhere from 2 to 20 metal instrument trays, depending on the type of case. This repetitive action is a major issue for anyone with back pain. There is very little sitting involved, and a circulator who is sitting in the corner, tied to their computer is not watching the field appropriately or anticipating the needs of the surgical team. Some may suggest working in a surgery center because there is less lifting and cases are shorter, however, the pace is typically faster and there may be less support staff to assist. Some cases require fluoroscopy, which means you would be wearing a lead apron for the duration of the case which compresses your spine. At the end of some days, I cannot bend down to put my shoes on when I leave. I ruptured two discs several years ago, and have endured daily pain ever since. It has been life-altering. If I continue to work in the OR, I will continue to complicate my injury. There is simply no light duty in surgery. My solution is to further my education, and I am halfway through a masters program. I do not agree with the sentiment of the responder who commented that she paid her dues, and so should you. That is old school thinking. There is a place for you that will fit your health needs. Good nurses are needed, and you clearly are a smart person. I can say with certainty that PACU is a setting where the nurses sit the majority of the time. I have observed them with envy for years. ? They are closely monitoring their one patient, and have a lot of support around. It is a sought after unit that a lot of ICU nurses go to after they have "paid their dues". However, things are changing and new nurses now have the opportunity to train in PACU. My PACU has several young nurses on staff and they provide excellent care. I wish you well, and hope you find your niche.
Extended care home health would offer the opportunity for respite care night shift where you could virtually spend the entire eight hour shift sitting (sometimes in a gliding rocker) observing a sleeping patient if you ask for that type of case. However, this would probably be a dead end to your career at this point with dead end wages and should only be considered if you want to maintain a last resort nursing job.
Navigators need to know the system in depth and have extensive personal networks to be successful. Those, unfortunately, come only with experience.
Re. IT - in my BSN class there was a guy who had previous IT degree. He had open heart during preclinical semester and from that on was not allowed to lift anything above 5 lbs, on top of being effectively made into an untouchable snowflake. He had to stomach a whole lot of direct bullying from pretty much everybody. He did not work a single hour bedside, and went directly into nursing IT MSN. He is now grabbing kind of money well above of what his many doctor clients make.
I had to go through same BSN with mandatory home health rotation without ever doing a home health visit. Doing them could kill me on the spot, so I just said "no" and brought my doc's note. Similarly, I just said "no" for every action which was obviously dangerous for my health - I never did a single round of compressions during codes, for one example. After my first year (when I endured terrible bullying) I just positioned myself the way so they need me more than I need them. That solved the problem. There are tons of people who would like to push chest; there are not so many of those who can effectively run the code or agree to put out all the fires in the unit while everybody else busy with code.
I definitely do not mean this unkindly, but you are saying you see what we mean re: managers and educators but not informatics or nurse navigation...and this kind of proves you don't "get it". Here's the thing - those jobs require an in-depth UNDERSTANDING of the job and the patient population being served. That is achieved via acute care experience the vast majority of the time. Therefore those jobs require 2-5 years of acute care experience. Even doing chart review from home for an insurance company generally requires 1-2 years or more of acute care experience. It isn't because you have to do what floor nurses do in those jobs. It is because you have to understand what they do, why and for whom in those jobs. The best way to prove thorough understanding is via having worked them. There is no paper test that can prove you have developed the critical thinking needed to fulfill those roles.
To piggyback onto this comment...My last 2 jobs have been in nursing education and informatics. Both jobs have periods of sitting (although in education there were days of being on my feet with students, moving around heavy mannequins, etc.). However, I qualified for these jobs after years of clinical experience. Without significant clinical experience, I truly would not have been able to do those jobs.
You seem to love ED, but at the other end of the spectrum is LTC, which does have some desk jobs like MDS coordinator, case manager. It might not be the type of nursing you love but I don't think any job is worth your health. And to qualify for those jobs, you may be required to work on the floor which is definitely physically demanding.
Public health is definitely an option(look at county and state jobs). Have you considered psych?
How about Urgent Care? I worked Urgent Care for 2 years and there was sitting to chart. I'd triage, sit, help with procedures, sit, draw blood or start an IV, sit. On the occasional crazy day (like back to school) I might stand for an hour or two but otherwise I always got to sit several times during the hour. It was a great job and I only left because there was no forward mobility for nurses. Heck, we actually functioned more like a mini ER because we were across the street from the hospital and people having strokes and heart attacks would come to us trying to avoid the hospital.
I also worked for the Health Department as a vaccine nurse. Great job, plenty of time to sit, triage, perform procedure, sit, repeat. States are different, but my position lost funding due to shifting political climate and I didn't want to transfer to a different clinic (TB) so I ended up quitting before the year was up. The pay was decent but I took a pay cut from UC when I worked there; the health insurance was top notch at $25/month, so that helped.
I went back to floor nursing as a vascular access nurse. I now have done that two years and it killed my back. I have an autoimmune disorder that attacks my spine. I have so much swelling and inflammation on mine spine coupled with abnormal fusion. So, I literally understand your pain. I really do get it. I'd suggest you look at the nurses with disabilities board here as it can give you more insight into what others have gone through as well.
You really have several options:
- Tough it out for a year and switch to 8 hours shifts, maybe even only work PT (if available, 3-4/week). Get a year of experience and then explore your options.
- Switch jobs to a clinic role.
- Go back to school for MSN. Keep in mind, most schools require at least 2 years experience.
I've been where you've been and come home crying from being in so much pain to the point of wanting to quit nursing altogether. The last two years have been the worst but I'm at 5 years of experience now and more doors have opened with experience. I don't know if you have a spouse or significant other, but part of my journey has been handing over the reigns of some of my responsibilities to him, like cooking and some cleaning. We order out food more than I'd like but it also saves me. We also hired a cleaning lady so my days off can be my days off. It is a worthwhile expense to us, so something to keep in mind as well.
I have to agree with one of the posters that the nicu allows for significantly more sitting. I’m a float nurse at a children’s hospital, and I know nurses have requested a nicu when they have a temporary back injury. Also the biggest patients they get weighs 20lbs (long term significant support needed). There is some standing but you will sit charting, holding babies, and even when talking with families. Also work nights they transport less.
I disagree with the nurse who said you shouldn't have become a nurse knowing you have limitations. The great thing about nursing is that there are a huge range of jobs that you can do. I know plenty of people who never worked in an inpatient clinical position who do just fine in their respective roles.
That said, I agree that most of these jobs will look for someone who has at least some clinical experience. It sounds like your job is trying to work with you which is great. If you can find a way to make it work I would try to stay in the ED for 6 months to a year to get that experience. If not I would second what some have said and look into urgent care, etc. Or what about inpatient/clinic specialties like wound care? I know it may not be typical for a new grad to start out there, but I have a friend from nursing school who did her capstone in a wound care clinic and started there fresh out of school. She loves it.
I can tell you that CVICU is not going to be a good match for you. There is no sitting at the end of the bed and monitoring. You're constantly up and down, titrating drips, turning heavy patients, etc.
I’m going to echo others and say, the nature of the job is that you are on your feet. It’s the job. Not everyone can do it. Just as there are jobs that I couldn’t do, not everybody can do my job. It’s not a big deal.
Its not about paying dues to get to sit. That’s laughable. I don’t make the new grads run around while I sit at my computer and eat chocolate and laugh evilly because they are new grads. I walked over 15k steps on my last shift. That’s the norm no matter what unit you are on.
To work in areas that have more sitting, they require experience so you can have a fundamental knowledge of nursing. If you’ve never seen these conditions how will you adequate see them in the clinical or phone triage setting? How can you be an educator if you have no bedside experience?
I live with chronic pain and have issues in my cspine. I get treatment for it. I work real hard at it. Not every day is easy for me, but I go and get the job done. And if it got to the point where I was having to sit 15 minutes an hour, I’d hang it up. It doesn’t make me less of a person. It makes me realistic.
EDNURSE20, BSN
451 Posts
I can say the same about your comment. Didn’t want to respond but really bothers me.
Experience is one thing. But dealing with a lot **** like you’ve had to is not mandatory. Just because you’ve had it tough, doesn’t mean thats what all nurses need to go threw, before finding a job that they enjoy and works for them.
Nursing has so many option, that’s part of the reason people enjoy the job. Some enjoy fast pace acute care, or mental health, or community health or children’s health. Doesn’t make a difference. It’s all nursing.
We shouldn’t exclude others from the profession if they can’t/don’t want to work in a hospital. They can go nursing school and contribute a lot to society without having to do hard labour.