Successful in nursing after a traumatic brain injury (TBI)?

[jds87]

I haven't found any posts about nurses who have suffered a TBI and continued on successful with nursing. There aren't any, in fact. The only one's I have found pertaining to TBI, are about patients. Hopefully some of you may be able to help me?

I was in a car accident 3/29/2012, was injured with a fractured pelvis, broken #11 rib, fractured sacrum, facial and left side scarring, plus a TBI. I had a subdural hemorrhage that led to a hematoma. I'm recovering well and aside from word finding problems and slight memory retention issues, you really can't tell I have a minor disability. I decided earlier this year, before my accident, to go into nursing. I've had to put off registering for classes, but when I am fully recovered and healed, I want to continue on that goal.

Are there any other nurses that have had a TBI? Is there any perceived difficulty with the education process and actual work because of this? What should I be wary of? Anything specific I should focus on?

Also, any other information would be awesome. Thank you so much.

[Konso]

On 10/26/2012 at 9:50 AM, Catedi said:

20 years ago, I had a TBI and other injuries associated with falling from a vehicle on the Highway, doing 60mph. Long story short: Coming home late at night, from visiting friends, I hadn't closed the passenger door properly and was not wearing a seat belt; fell asleep against the door and when the driver hit a pot hole, the door flew open and I fell out. Yes, I certainly learned my lesson about seat belts.

I sought to enter nursing school 10 years ago, because my prior work was too physical and I had been on SSD. No one can live on SSD with any degree of comfort or dignity, especially raising two children. The counselor at the Community College I went to told me that d/t TBI, I should forget nursing. I slunk away with my tail tucked between my legs and went to counseling for depression and was encouraged to go back and enroll. I am proud to say, I finished nursing school with a 3.9 GPA! I was employed last year by a Behavior Health hospital.

Anyway, now at 50 yrs old and many therapies later, the only signs of disability i display is I move slower d/t having a knee replaced, chronic back pain, and some thought blocking, which to me, is the most troubling side effect because I have to allow what is being said to process before I can respond and I have some difficulty with spelling (thank goodness for spell-check). So, despite having a very high intelligence level, and I demonstrate critical thinking skills, I notice that when I talk to coworkers or colleagues they slow down the conversation to match me, which totally unnerves me.

I'm also starting to experience some discrimination at work. I never acknowledged my disability to HR when I applied because I was advised I'd never get hired. I actually had a manager approach me recently with veiled threats about documentation fraud, stopping short of telling me I was lying when I verified a pt's medications with a pharmacy as being the correct dose being issued, because the pharmacist questioned the amount of a medication a pt reported as being Rx'd AND reordered by the physician assigned to the pt. Essentially, I've been told, in no definitive way, "Find another job, no one has confidence in you."

It's hard to be disabled in the nursing profession. I'm finding that out, first hand, in a job that is not that physically demanding, that employers and colleagues do not like or trust a nurse who recovered from TBI.

Hello, it's many years later today, but I would like to get in touch with you. Thank you

Please get in touch. [email protected]

Thank you

[K. Everly, BSN, RN]

So my whole life is basically a dumpster fire, but I graduated an accelerated BSN program within three years of getting a TBI from an MVA.

Not working as an RN right now for other reasons, but PLEASE don’t ever believe it can’t be done. If I listened to all my doctors and family members and blindly believed those would be my limitations, I certainly wouldn’t have two bachelor’s degrees or achieved what I have.

You get to decide how much you are capable of - nobody else.

[Esther C]

Hi,

I am a registered nurse with a brain injury who is living in Scotland. I have worked mostly in Surgical and Radiology but latterly worked with the nurse bank. I had a large meningioma removed in December 2018 and I am still unfit for work. As a result of my surgery, I have weakness and pins and frequent pins and needles down my left side but more so in my left hand and arm. I have also been diagnosed with non-epileptic seizures. I would like to speak to another nurse who has had a similar acquired brain injury and want to know if they were able to return to a nursing career.

[Mark Flatt]

I know this is an old question but as a survivor, nurse, and certified brain injury specialist...I feel the need to say that yes...it is possible to have a traumatic brain injury and be a successful nurse.  Do I need accommodations?  Yes.  I had a moderate TBI in 1994.  I lost control of my car in a snowstorm and smashed into a stone wall in a field after going off the road.  I was studying for my PhD in neuropsychology at Drexel University at the time (Yes, I realize the irony.) In any case, it took over a decade of rehabilitation and finding the courage to try nursing school...I failed my first attempt.  I was pre-med before I fell in love with neuropsychology so I figured I could pass nursing school even with a TBI...??? yeah right...nursing school is so hard...seriously...you have to not only be competent academically but also practical.  Good luck.  Anyway, I finally asked for help and passed with lots of blood, sweat, tears, and cursing...lots of cursing...we nurses can put a sailor to shame in that department.  :-D. I worked ED/Trauma for 10 years before I was in a second accident.  Not as bad as the first, but I couldn't stand or hold a needle or scalpel anymore...the end of ED/Trauma first assist work for me.  I still miss that.  I went into psychiatric nursing and got my brain injury specialist.  I'm also working on my psychiatric nurse practitioner.  I want to work exclusively with TBI patients.  I'd like to add that there are many physicians out there who practice with TBI.  A friend of mine is a doctor with a TBI.  To protect them I won't give details but this doc has an incredible rapport with patients because they know what it's like.  We brain injury survivors are family...dysfunctional perhaps...but we help each other out and care for one another when and if possible...

[TimL.]

You can add at least 1 nurse to your list I had a tbi years ago mainly I have like reading issues and sometime communication issues ill ask someone to repeat themselves several times until it sinks in. Anyway been at nursing 33 years. Just watch who knows youve had a tbi you know nurses are like sharks and theyll eat each other and a tbi someone could complain about and harrass you personally I just say I know I have brain damage but they may just be stupid after all Einstein only used 25% of his brain. If other nurses give you a hard time remind them of the fact their brain must be rotten from lack of use just because weve had a lil bump on the head doesnt mean were stupid!

Oh yeah maybe a lil anger issues according to my family??

And reading with computers is easier than writting which I have a hard time writting or reading on Papper takes me at least 2x as long if not more

[Sonya RN-BSN -MPH -LMT]

I have a friend who was hit by a lifted truck when she was 12 and spent 3 months in a coma. She had to relearn how to walk, talk, eat, and write with her non-dominant hand because the brain injury was on the side of the brain that controlled her dominant hand. She was a CNA when we became friends and she went through an ADN program. She took her LPN exam 1 year into the 2-year program and after graduation, she decided she didn't want to take her RN exam because she was happy working in home health as a LPN. She is a great nurse. Although her handwriting is a little wobbly- thank goodness for EMR (electronic medical records)! But YES! Depending on the severity of the TBI and the resulting symptoms, you can be a nurse even with a TBI. It may limit the types of nursing that you do such as not doing ICU and instead doing something with a slower pace, but it can be done.

[Michelle Drake]

I have the same question.  I have experience as a registered nurse for~30 years.  IMy last job I worked as a school nurse at an elementary school and I loved it! One year ago, I was in a MVA and I suffered a TBI.  I want to work but I have short term memory loss and some mild seizures.  The neurologist is not been a very communicator and I am in limbo.

I can't drive due to seizures; but I do transportation.

I am trying to get on disability but I'd rather work.