Career Change needed due health reasons....please help

2 Hello all! I am new to this site so please bear with me....

I am 31 yrs old and have been a RN-ADN almost 9 yrs. Most of my experience lies in heart and lung CCU and ICU with an 8 month working stent as a Nurse Supervisor in a nursing home (not recommended). I have 3 children, the last child being a girl and she is 20 months old. After having her I never "felt right." Long story short....in layman's terms, I had an allergic reaction to the carrying and birth of my daughter!! I have been diagnosed with LUPUS, Sjrogrens Syndrome, and Antiphospholipid Syndrome (my blood clots VERY easily).

All of these are VERY serious autoimmune diseases that have already nearly killed me. I was an in-patient at the Cleaveland Clinic in Ohio for nearly 2 weeks until I had at least 1 answer regarding my health. I don't even live in Ohio!! I live in Sellersburg, IN.

They found that I had blood clots everywhere. By the time I got to them, I had blood clots in every branch of both my lungs and I am very lucky to be alive. I now see about 8 specialists and it's a daily struggle to even get out of bed.

My docs want me to go on disability but I'm not ready for that. I want to give it all I got and plus some!! I'm the sole supporter of my family of 5. My husband is a stay at home dad because daycare for 3 young kids is outrageous! He doesn't have any type of professional degree either to help support us, so it's all on me. Floor nursing will kill me, according to my docs, and now I believe them! If the physically demanding part of the job doesn't then my constantly compromised immune system will working in that environment.

I've been looking for office jobs or sit down jobs for at least a year and have had NO luck. They are all very rare or are hired internally. Currently I'm looking into a Legal Nurse Consultant or possibly wound care but there are hardly no listings for those jobs either.

I personally think I would be a wonderful Legal Consultant because I am so obsessive about giving good and thorough patient care. I don't mind taking some courses (as long as their affordable) or even re-locating if needed. I'll do whatever I have to do to provide for my family. When researching Legal Nurse Consultants, it mainly mentions taking classes and starting your own business. I don't want the stress of that. I would just like to work for a law firm or insurance company. I am open to any and ALL suggestions.

Please help! Last edit by Blanca R on May 2, '12 : Reason: spacing
Welcome to Allnurses, Elizabeth!! Speaking on behalf of the Guides, I hope you enjoy the site and all it has to offer.I'm so sorry you are going through all these trials. I wish I had some words of wisdom for you, other than "Everything happens for a reason", but I believe there is something special out there waiting for you......we just don't know what that is yet. From what I understand, there really isn't a huge market for legal nurse consultants these days, so if I were you I'd research this very carefully before committing time, energy, and money that you may not be able to spare at this time of your life. You can do this right here by clicking on the Site Map at the top of your page, scrolling down to Legal Nursing and clicking on that link to access threads by nurses in this specialty. Also, sirI is one of our Administrators and a LNC herself, so she can tell you more about what's going on in that field than I can.Once again, welcome, and may your association with AN be a long and happy one!Viva
.....wanted to PM you but you have that disabled.....
This isn't what you want to hear, but maybe you should listen to your doctors and take the steady income that disability provides. It's not much ... but if you stayed home with the kids ... your husband could get a job (at least start to get the education needed to get a decent job). His income plus your disability payments would probably come close to what you would make as a nurse -- particularly if your health prevents you from working full time at a stressful job at the higher ends of the RN pay scale.At least it would be better than you both being unemployed. In time, you might be able to find or develop a "2nd act" for your career that would get you off the disability.I wish you the best in luck with whatever you decide.
Morte,I am new to this site and just fully activated my account so hopefully you can PM me now but it did say something about needing "15 quality searches" or something to that note in order to use the PM system. Please try again or feel free to reply to me here. Thanks, Elizabeth
llg,The problem with seeking disability is that I have to be unemployed for at least 6 months before even applying. Then the process can take years. I do still currently work as an ICU nurse but it takes A LOT out of me, I can't work more than 2 shifts in a row and if I do work 2 in a row then I sleep for at least 14 hrs the next day I have off!! We currently don't have the income to send my husband back to school and, of course, I make too much for any kind of financial assistance with his tuition. See how difficult this is?I work at a newly established (within the last 3 yrs) physician owned hospital and the benefits are horrible. There is no retirement, short-term or long-term disability, and the insurance is fair at best. We also provide primary nursing care....no aides, no IV team, no phlebotomy, aka no help. So far the only reason I have stayed is for the FMLA I qualify for although no one ever has enough PTO to use it and my health insurance. I would gladly go back to school and earn a higher degree but we don't have tuition reimbersment and nor can I afford the tuition.My hopes are to find a field that offers shorter, less physical days and can help me further my education. Thanks for taking the time to respond to my thread, Elizabeth
Kaiser has call centers where nurses answer the phone and give nursing advice to patients or set up dr. appointment for pt when they need further assessment. This is to prevent unnecessary trips to the ER when nurses can resolve the situation over the phone. It is a desk job and all the nurses love their jobs! every nurse gets their breaks and its a very relaxing job Gluck!
Nursegirl75,Thank you for the heads up about Kaiser. I'll try to find their website. I wouldn't even know what to do on a break, since I never get one or even a lunch!?!Thanks again, Elizabeth
Quote from morte.....wanted to PM you but you have that disabled.....
Quote from Elizabeth138llg,The problem with seeking disability is that I have to be unemployed for at least 6 months before even applying. Then the process can take years. I do still currently work as an ICU nurse but it takes A LOT out of me, I can't work more than 2 shifts in a row and if I do work 2 in a row then I sleep for at least 14 hrs the next day I have off!! We currently don't have the income to send my husband back to school and, of course, I make too much for any kind of financial assistance with his tuition. See how difficult this is?I work at a newly established (within the last 3 yrs) physician owned hospital and the benefits are horrible. There is no retirement, short-term or long-term disability, and the insurance is fair at best. We also provide primary nursing care....no aides, no IV team, no phlebotomy, aka no help. So far the only reason I have stayed is for the FMLA I qualify for although no one ever has enough PTO to use it and my health insurance. I would gladly go back to school and earn a higher degree but we don't have tuition reimbursement and nor can I afford the tuition.My hopes are to find a field that offers shorter, less physical days and can help me further my education. Thanks for taking the time to respond to my thread, Elizabeth
Esme12,I now no why I felt so compelled to join AN and post my thread....I think God had it in his plan for me to meet you!! My primary doc told me from the beginning to get a lawyer but I figured they would charge me a large fee I didn't have. I also had NO idea that I could receive disability money for each one of my 3 kids also?!? We've also had a lot of financial hardship related to my illness (lost our home and filed bankruptcy) and it's still a daily struggle to make rent, pay utilities, and just put food on the table. Food pantries have become a Godsend to us.I am also receiving the same treatment at my current job that you did after your "cat was out of the bag." I have started receiving write-ups for nothing. My first was for tardy's. Most places of employment have at least a 7 minute window before and after your shift is supposed to begin but my job is only allowing a 7 minute early window. I literally clocked in 1-3 minutes "late" too many times and was told that if I clocked in "late" one more time (even by 1 minute, no matter the reason) then I was going to be terminated. I work a 7a-7pm shift and had clocked in too many times after 6:45am. Literally the clock-ins were 6:46am and the latest being 6:53am!!! I had never had ANY complaints from the previous shift of being late, I felt as though I was being zeroed in on. I explained that my fatigue and pain is so bad in the morning that it is harder for me to "get going" and asked if I could use my FMLA towards the "tardies" and was told "no!" I was told that even if I have to get to work an hour early and sleep in the car until clock in time, then that was what I needed to do in order to meet their clock in requirements!! I now have my husband literally scoop me out of bed in the morning so I can make it to work on time. My boss was expecting me to walk out and quit that day! She already had arranged coverage for me. I did just go ahead and leave early that day since I was so distraught. Since then I have clocked in "on time" and some of my occurrences have dropped off. I also was denied coming back to work on a full-time basis due to this and they would only let me hold an official part time position after coming back from FMLA leave. So they let me work full time hrs (since they needed a full time person) but I'm paying part time benefit rates!! This has all passed now within the last few weeks and I'm off of probation but I'm still waiting to get my full-time status reinstated!I also got wrote up last week for "disturbing the unit," apparently I'm not allowed to voice my opinions to fellow co-workers and the Charge nurse about unfair and unsafe nursing assignments. Needless to say, I need to "get the hell out of dodge!"How is it constitutional do be denied a job for your disability? I thought all places are supposed to be an "equal opportunity employer?" I could understand if it turned out that you didn't meet the physical requirements for the position during your probationary period and then were "let go." But to deny you upfront or pull you out of orientation after reviewing your health history doesn't seem legal?!?I am in the middle of a flare up now and my LUPUS rash is overwhelming and I'm experiencing an even worse intolerance to heat right now causing me to overheat easily but within the last few days they have made it against policy to use a small desk top fan, stating that it is an "infectious disease hazard!" Today my patients were asking me if I needed to sit down? My BP sky rocketed and I felt as though I was going to have some kind of heat stroke. I have shoulder length hair and it was pulled back into a pony tail and all my hair was soaking wet with sweat today, all the way down to the tips of the pony tail! When I asked about getting a doctors note for a fan, they said that I probably wouldn't be allowed to continue working there with that "restriction." Needless to say, I do completely sympathize with your work horror stories.How long have you been ill? Mine came hard and fast!! Do you share my same diagnosis? Is LUPUS and my clotting disorder one of the approved disability diseases?I just seem to have no good luck and I'm scared of not being able to take care of my family. You mentioned that I could stay at home with the kids while my husband tried to find employment but I'm also scared of falling asleep while being home alone with the kids. As you know, this disease takes a HUGE physical toll on you and I can fall asleep out of nowhere sitting straight up on the couch. My boys are a little older (almost 6 & 7 yrs old) but my daughter is only 20 months old. My husband has been a lifesaver this way!! Since he stays home, I can rest. I'm just so confused and lost. How do I go about finding a lawyer also? Thanks for all your help and support, Elizabeth
This process is so convoluted.... I agree that we were meant to find each other. I ma still in the throws of adding diagnosis. I have Dermatomyositis/polymyositis and I am in the process for some sort of lupus right now amongst other diseases being tossed about. I have had "issues" off and on for years....but this present process was hard and fast. I have struggled since 2008.....but that is another story. You will be less confused and tired if you stop working. You can try to remind them that they have to accommodate "reasonable accommodation" in: the fan.....but I have found that your elimination process has probably already begun. Lawyers......another subject. They are expensive. I have reported places to the EEOC, the ADA, and to whom ever I could report to and not spend money.Being ill has enlightened me that hospital administration and Human resources people have the morals of alley cats and the compassion of a toad. I was once reported for crying at work......in my office, ALONE, at 3 am(I leave my door open at night to hear the overhead and to encourage staff if they need something my office is open.....after a particular BAAAADD code in L/D when both baby and Mommy died.....I was unprofessional. I am so disheartened and disappointed in healthcare in general.The lawyer worth her weight in gold was my disability lawyer. I found her in a local news paper. Just do a google search for disability lawyers and pick one that appeals to you. call them and see if the karma is good. Call those guys on TV they can refer you to a lawyer in your state.http://www.socialsecurity.gov/disability/professionals/bluebook/AdultListings.htm14.00-Immune-Adult7.00-Hematological-AdultI'll PM you and you can PM me when you can about 15 posts.....unless you get a paid membership....which is not alot ($30.00 yearly for the basic) and really worth the money. Support the site and get more perks in the process!
Esme12, Another member (Morte) was able to PM me the other day once I completed my registration, so hopefully we can start communicating this way. If you can try to PM me when you have time, we'll see if it's working or just a fluke. I do plan to get a membership but it will have to wait a few more weeks.I found something on-line that I filled out regarding disability lawyers. They asked for basic info regarding my situation and were going to send it on to local lawyers. They also gave me the names of the lawyers so I can follow-up with them myself. I plan to make follow-up calls tomorrow. I also see my pain management doctor tomorrow and I'm going to ask if they can refer me to anyone good and cheap. I would assume they have A LOT of people on disability there. Thank you for the links you provided, they are very helpful. Are you familiar with the "ticket to work" program? I've seen a thread or 2 about it. In all my life I have never been so stressed and just plain unhappy. I hate going to work because I know how I'm going to feel after only being there for an hour or so, just plain horrible!!! My newest symptom is this chronic sunburn like rash that have my doctors stumped. It looks like a bad sunburn and itches. It's on my face, neck, and upper chest. After only being active for 15 minutes (whether at home or work) it turns nearly purple and my skin feels like it's on fire! I've been on high dosed steroids for weeks now with little to no improvement. Once it really starts flaring up at work and my profuse sweating begins, I go from feeling "okay" to "blah..."This is when I realized that I'm hurting myself and my family probably more by working in the long run than if I was to stay at home. I never thought I would reach this point and this soon in my illness but I'm sure I still don't have all of my diagnosis' yet. I was put on call today then later called into work. I got there about 12:40pm. I was hoping to feel much better today since I wasn't going to be working a full 12 shift. But it never fails....just within an hour of working I was bright red (nearly purple) and sweating so bad I was having to wipe the sweat off of me in front of patients in their rooms. All my patients, they're family members, and my co-workers continually told me how "bad" I looked. I can't keep doing this, it WILL kill me!My hopes are to get disability and I am in hope that they have programs that will pay for me to go back to school. With an advanced degree, my door will open for less physical jobs that my body can hopefully handle. If I can get my NP, I can work set hrs at a doctors office, clinic, or ER. My husband has also agreed to go back to school and finish his graphic design degree but that's only if we can get his education paid for. He'll also need to work, doing something, while in school or we won't be able to afford to just live because I'm sure my disability won't keep us "afloat." Do you have any idea of what disability pays? I also have 3 young kids. I know you or someone else had said something about me being able to receive disability money for them also.I need to figure out how to post pics of myself on here also so I can get peoples input of this rash I have. As always....thanks for being so helpful. I know I can survive this with people like you supporting me and giving me advice.