Working with crutches or knee scooter

[rachmbu]

Hi all,

I have been out on medical leave due to a leg injury for 5 months. My doctor has written that I can go back to work but a desk job only. I lost my actual floor nursing position after my 12 weeks of FMLA ran out but my workplace is keeping my benefits for a full 6 months. I have asked to please be transferred to any desk job open and am looking at case management, scheduling, or registering patients. Even if it is a paycut, it is still a job while my leg may take a while to heal. The Human Resources department is trying to tell me that there are no desk jobs available and that the scheduling or registering patients jobs are not desk jobs and they require walking. My question is: at what point would the Americans with Disabilities Act come in? Would it seem like a reasonable accommodation to let me work a desk job with crutches? Has anyone been in this type of situation before? I have many years of nursing experience with this company and my BSN. I really want to be able to work a job, any job. I know my employer hires disabled people. I am applying to jobs with other companies at this point because I don't want to be without a job. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

[Twaldron1]

Hello, I just want to say I feel your pain. I just had foot and ankle surgery and I am out on STD as well. My FLMA ran out as well and I lost my job. I am thinking of applying to the same types of jobs you are. I wish I had an answer to your problem. You will have to post here when you do get a job. I know you can call or find out more about the disability act. If you have a union at your hospital they can help you too. Good luck to you.

[Emergensee]

Hello! I have been dealing with a trimalleolar ankle fracture since April 25 so I can understand a bit of what you're going though. I actually broke my ankle 6 weeks into my 12 week maternity leave, so I had to be back 6 weeks post injury or risk not getting my job back! I work in the ER and fortunately my employer was able to work out allowing me to do triage with a tech to help out with vitals/rooming patients etc. while I was still non weightbearing. I spent about 2 weeks non weightbearing at work and am now doing a gradual return to full duty. I am currently allowed 8 hours per shift of full weightbearing in a cam boot. I am currently 8 weeks post-op.

In regards to your question, it is my understanding that the ADA does not apply to temporary disabilities and your employer is only required to provide accommodations for your temporary disability if it is related to an on-the-job injury. I'm not 100% versed in this topic though so I may not be entirely correct. I really hope you are able to work something out with your employer to allow you to go back to work! Unfortunately I don't think they are required to accommodate this injury unless you sustained it at work. I would try and get ahold of the job description for any of the positions that you are attempting to transition to and see what they say specifically about walking/lifting/standing etc., as that is probably the determination that your employer is going off of to say that these jobs would not fit within the guidelines of your work restrictions.

*Edit to add: I now see this post is from March so hopefully you have figured out a solution to your problem by now!