Nursing Student : Back Injury

I've asked a similar question quite a few months ago, but I'm hoping to get a few more responses. I have sustained a back injury, Spondylolisthesis, and I am due to start my sophomore year of Nursing school in the fall. I did not get the back issue from nursing, it occurred during a high school sports practice.

Nursing is the ONLY thing that I have ever wanted to do with my life, as clique as that sounds. I cannot imagine doing anything else. However, I worry that because spondylolisthsis cannot be cured, I will suffer even greater problems. I have issues walking/standing for prolonged periods of time, which makes me especially worried. Clinicals start this fall.

I was just hoping to get some input. I love nursing will all my life, but if it will destroy my back, maybe I should consider a new career?

Thanks in advance!
Have you asked your doctor how your potential career would mesh with it?

I don't see how any of us could possibly help, but....since you asked.....my advice would be to meet with your doctor or whatever specialist you saw for the initial injury and treatment.Nursing IS very physical, at least initially, in order to get through nursing school and working as a new grad you are going to be pulling, schlepping, tugging, lifting. Turning and positioning morbidly obese bed-bound patients is no small feat; having help only lightens the burden but the end result is a workout no matter what.You will be standing for long periods of time. You will be walking, you will be trotting even. Can't get around the physical aspects of nursing school and beyond.So....talk with your doc, see what he/she says, and decide from there.Good luck to you!

Not to be too negative, but floor nursing is very physical. Even people with great backs can have issues with all the standing, lifting, turning, etc. When I come on shift, I don't sit for at least the first 5-6 hours and even then it's only sporadically. Honestly I wouldn't waste my time or money pursuing a nursing career if I had a bad back at the very beginning. Maybe you should look for something else in the healthcare field that won't be so demanding on your body. Even if you worked with babies/small children, you would have to be on your feet for long stretches of time. I have no physical issues but sometimes after driving home after a shift, I have to muster my strength to just get out of the car and walk in the house.

There are nursing jobs with less back involvement. I imagine MD office, school nurse, public health nurse, etc. don't require as much physical labor, but I could be wrong. However, these types of positions are not something you can usually get right out of school. Most of them want you to have at least a year or two of acute care experience. So, you don't have to work somewhere that's hard on your back all of the time. However, you're probably going to have to sacrifice your back for a year or two to get there. It's up to you whether that year or two sacrifice is worth it.

You could join me in NICU