What to do???

[NYnurseatheart]

Hi all,

I am new here, and have looked around the forum (which is awesome from what I have seen so far) and thought I might as here for some advice. Here is my story:

I have been a nurse for 14 years. Last October I had been working in an inpatient Adolescent Psychiatric unit (had transfered there from ICU almost 2 years before) when I decided I wanted to get back into bedside care, and took a position in another hospital (one I had worked at and trained at as a student nurse) in the ER. In February I injured my right (dominant) shoulder. I don't know how many nurses here are familiar with Workers Compensation - but let me just say that in NY, it is not the greatest system. At the time I was injured, the highest amount WC would pay is 400.00 a week. It took almost 3 months to get a simple MRI approved (finally deemed necessary because I wasn't getting better), then another month and a half to get surgery approved. I had surgery (arthroscopic) in the middle of June, and then went back to work with no restrictions at the beginning of August. My surgeon had simply said it was my choice, and to use common sense. Well I was only back for two weeks when my shoulder started hurting again. I went back to the doctor - who advised me I could go back out and resume PT more vigorously, or continue working, but not the 12 hour shifts I had been working. I chose to stay at work (stupid me) because after being on WC for 5 months, my savings was gone and making less than half my previous salery was ruining us financially.

To make a long story short, I strained my shoulder again - and was taken off work for a week, then today I went back with restrictions - to work "light duty" and only a few hours a day (maybe 4 hours a day, M-F). I have to go see the doctor again this week, and my shoulder is still bothering me, though granted, not as much while on the light duty. I think that I have to change to a different position, but am not sure where to even look. I could try talking to human resources, but apparently my boss is ticked at me because I came back and then 3 weeks later left again, and now can only do restricted duty. Human resources had been good to me (working with me to pay my premiums to maintain my family's health insurance - was coming out of the light duty check - which was sporadic throughout the 5 month ordeal). Now they are less than cordial to me. When I brought the last work restriction note from my doctor (one employed by the hospital), they were quite rude. I have not talked with the nurse recruiter, but I am not sure if they have anything available anyhow. I do not want to go back to med/surg or telemetry. I know I can't go back to ICU - because that is just as physically demanding (for the most part) as ER. I have almost exclusively worked in a hospital setting - either as a traveler or a staff nurse. I had planned on going back to get my BSN (my youngest child is finally in full time school), but right now that is not feasable.

What do I tell people I interview for about why I am leaving? I really like ER work, but have finally decided that I have to look out for myself. I don't want to reinjure my shoulder, nor cause permanent damage. The doctor says it often takes a year or more to fully heal. I have worked in home health for a short while - but don't know if that is something I should look into or not. Does anyone here have any suggestions? I am not sure if anyone will take a chance on me, if I tell them that I need to leave ER nursing to let my shoulder heal.

Thanks for reading, and I hope to hear from others who might have had similar experiences - or have any ideas for me.

NY Nurse