Working with a cast?

miko014 · Aug 28, 2008

I know I woulldn't be able to do it. How can you write? Start an IV? Open things? Can't your employer put you somewhere else temporarily until the cast comes off? Good luck!

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Aug 28, 2008

You should report this cast to your boss before going back to work so they can decide what the correct procedure is for you regarding what work you can or can't do. When I was a supervisor and manager, a cast on the arm or leg was grounds for light duty and no direct patient care at best. If a patient starts to fall how are you going to help them without injuring yourself?

woody62, RN · Aug 28, 2008

A few questions, please. How do you wash your hands between patients? How do you wash your hands prior to giving a treatment. How do you remove dressings and apply fresh ones? How to you pass an NG tube or a foley? I agree with the other poster. Ask your employer to put you some where you do not have direct patient contact.

Another question. Don't you have short term disability insurance through your employer? If so, you can go out on it. If not, consider purchasing it, in the future.

Woody:twocents:

oramar · Aug 28, 2008

Every place I worked at a "No Restriction" rule. So to do a typical nurse bedside workday you have to have no restrictions. However, there are light duty type position for work related injuries. Also in one case I know of they allowed a nurse with a hand cast to work telemetry monitors. One of the downsides of being bedside nurse is that the slightest injury can end income.

Skwidward · Aug 28, 2008

I'm a home health nurse. BTW.

For hands I can use alcohol effectively between pts.

Just for wound care pts I am gonna have to wear XL gloves with the pinky and 4th digit cut out maybe cover up with kerlix? I dunno.

KyPinkRN · Aug 28, 2008

I'm a home health nurse. BTW.
For hands I can use alcohol effectively between pts.
Just for wound care pts I am gonna have to wear XL gloves with the pinky and 4th digit cut out maybe cover up with kerlix? I dunno.

I would still be concerned about the cast itself picking up micro-organisms, as it can't be effectively disinfected. I wouldn't want to be carrying around those germs that you can't wash off.

Batman24 · Aug 28, 2008

You shouldn't be doing patient care with a cast. If you were injured at work you can prob collect WC or do light duty as available. If you were injured off the job why don't you go on short term disability until you are better?! There is no way you can provide adequate patient care with a cast especially on your dominant side. You shouldn't put your patient, employer or your license at risk here.

loriangel14, RN · Aug 28, 2008

Our employee health nurse would have a bird if you wanted to work with a cast on. You would definitely not be allowed to return to work until she said so.

P_RN, ADN, RN · Aug 28, 2008

My job wouldn't let me work with just an air cast on my ankle-for 6 weeks. Fortunately it was W/C, but w/c only pays about 1/3 of a Nurse's salary. Employee health said it was an increased liability for the hospital. How long will you be wearing the cast? Sounds like a boxer's fracture 4th and 5th? So maybe 5 weeks?

Skwidward · Aug 29, 2008

My job wouldn't let me work with just an air cast on my ankle-for 6 weeks. Fortunately it was W/C, but w/c only pays about 1/3 of a Nurse's salary. Employee health said it was an increased liability for the hospital. How long will you be wearing the cast? Sounds like a boxer's fracture 4th and 5th? So maybe 5 weeks?

3 weeks. Yeah, boxer's fracture.

P_RN, ADN, RN · Aug 29, 2008

What does your employer say? I don't know if I would risk possibly getting something yukky under the cast where there might be some abraded skin. JMHO.