Working as a hospital staff nurse

Bi-omi

Anyone work 12 hour shifts as a hospital nurse while undergoing treatment? I’m an ER RN and went on medical leave once I started chemo last June. I had 6 rounds of TCHP. I developed erratic tachycardia, up to 150-180’s, with minor activity and my baseline heart rate jumped as well. Ended up pretty deconditioned since I wasn’t able to stay physically active. The heart rate issue resolved a couple months after chemo ended. Just in time for severe and debilitating joint pain to set in. Currently can only be on my feet a couple hours at a time. I started physical therapy. My 6 weeks of radiation begins in a week. I’m still receiving Herceptin but I am switching to Kadcyla next week which will continue through June. Just wondering when, or if, I’ll ever be able to go back to work. Would love to hear from other nurses about their experience. Thanks

Dani444

Hey Bi-omi. My treatment plan was different from yours, I did not have to do chemo due to low mammaprint. I just had noticed you had not gotten a response yet. I am not an RN but I do work 12 hour shifts as a tech in an ER. I went back to work 6 weeks after my UMX and started rads the same week I went back. It was not easy working the 12's and dealing with the fatigue from rads. I also wasn't near 100% as far as strength goes. I had some understanding co-workers but as you know when it is busy there is no downtime to sneak in. I hope your PT will help you get your strength back, but don't push going back if you absolutely don't have to. I don't know how your ER is but I was wondering if you could ease back into it if needed, maybe small shifts in triage (if your ER has nurse triage). I wish you the best.

DebAL

Bi-omi, I'm sorry you are going through this. Im sure this treatment seems to be never ending. The one thing about the nursing profession- there are so many options.

Take care of yourself first. Do what you can to exercise, eat healthy, and get your rest. I'm sure the physical therapist will give you exercises to do at home!

Our hospital system has placement for those coming back to work after extended time off. Please talk with your associate health and wellness dept. I understand it's not the ER but you will get back there! I know, I know, it may mean making phone calls or doing something not nearly exciting as the ER, but its temporary. It may help just getting back to work. Dani had a great idea about triage in the ER.

I'm a nurse in preop. I had lifting restrictions after surgery plus chemo so I tried to stay out of direct patient care when possible. We happened to be without a clinical manager at the time. I offered to do our unit schedule and manage daily staffing. I also arranged education/inservices for staff and went to committee meetings that staff could never get to. It may be worth talking to your manager. There may be plenty you can help with that wouldn't require you being there long hours. I really wanted to help my own unit rather than go to another dept unless I had to.

Hang in there. Nurses are caregiivers. It's hard being the one that needs cared for. Talk to your Dr about options to help you with the joint pain. I wish you the best also!

Stix

i am a nurse . Did not need chemo or radiation. All my cells were agresive.'ve in several areas...but only in ducts.had mx at two different times. Now ongoing rcn. Problems since 2012. Can u go on a partial lesve. Work 6 hours a day. U should get a break during that 6 hours.

Bi-omi

Thank you all! The beauty of working in the medical field, especially nursing, is that there are lots of different opportunities. I’ve been on medical leave since June 2018 when I started chemo. My ER doesn’t have light/modified duty- found that out when I broke my ankle February 2018 and had to take 3 months off. Had actually just returned to work for 3 weeks before leaving for cancer treatment. Let’s just say 2018 sucked. Thankfully my manager is holding my position until I can return. I’ve thought about triage or charge nurse but I don’t have the years of experience yet. As I get closer to finishing radiation, I’ll see if I can do shorter shifts. We all have set schedules but it can’t hurt to ask.

If my joints aren’t better, I’ll look into more admin type jobs. So not a desk/office person but I can make it work for a year or two.

NotVeryBrave

I'm an RN and had left the hospital (L&D) years ago. I used to do 12 hour shifts and they were hard even when younger and healthier. Unfortunately - so many hospitals these days don't have any other options.

I've worked in home care for many years. Most of my job is assessment and education. It's flexible and works with my life. It's not very exciting but has its own rewards.

I have a niece who left the ER to work in same day surgery. She mostly does pre-op and likes it. Maybe changing to something like that would work for you?