Working with a fracture

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This might be a dumb question, but do any nurses out there have any experience working while you've had an injury? I fracture my right ankle, which is my dominant side, and I'm currently looking for employment. I know this will take months to heal, and I need surgery next week. I am currently in a splint and may be in a cast or boot after surgery. I know most working environments are obviously not suitable for this, but was wondering if anyone knows any that are? I hate to think I will have to wait months to get employment. Please let me know.

Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

You should post in the Nurses in Recovery forum. They know about PNAP, Peer Assistance Programs for Recovery.

If this is hanging, unresolved, over your head, no one will hire you until it is.

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1 hour ago, SmilingBluEyes said:

Wait------did I read you had a DUI? Oh boy that is a problem. Unless and until you are cleared by the board (meaning you will have to successfully enter into Nurse Recovery Program ---name varies by state) you have a big problem. You may not even be eligible to work if there is any hold/limitation on your licensure. And your potential employer will be more than interested in this.

It's not the fracture you need to worry about, from what I see, but the DUI.

Yes, I am aware of this. I have been upfront with everyone I have interviewed with, and I still have employers who are interested. I know all about this process. Maybe you also read that I have an attorney involved. I am being proactive about this.

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1 hour ago, SmilingBluEyes said:

You should post in the Nurses in Recovery forum. They know about PNAP, Peer Assistance Programs for Recovery.

If this is hanging, unresolved, over your head, no one will hire you until it is.

I have already done so. Thanks.

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

Good luck! Stay at it. Some places want nothing to do with recovering nurses; others are more recovery-friendly. But couple that with a current fracture, and you may have an uphill battle.

Best wishes.

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As for the fracture, night shift extended care home health on a ‘respite’ case with few routine duties, after explaining to the DPCS why you need an ‘easy’ case, (although s/he will see your cast or boot). As for the DUI, there will be your problem, as programs usually restrict nurses from working in home health. You need to get a determination with that issue before you can seek employment with all the ‘facts’ pertaining to your situation.

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

When in a Peer Program, you cannot go near narcotics, for a while, from what I understand. Home Health will be forbidden, as you need to have an RN willing to supervise your practice while you are there.

I think restrictions lighten up later on. Certain specialties are very recovery-friendly. Dialysis, one of them. Lots of recovering nurses go into this; no narcotics there. Also LTC often will hire recovering nurses, with the understanding that that nurse will not touch narcs. It's by no means, hopeless.

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I once worked in a post-op boot. I had already been working there, though.

Try telephonic work or something like that.

Wishing you the best.

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