How long until back to work-active/RN?

[abunnybabe]

Jo, or maybe some of our others RN's can help me out here. My RTKR is in 10 days. My mind is whirling.
I work a 10 hour shift in an EPS-cardiology lab where we use fluroscopy/XRay for all of our cases. This means that I am wearing a lead skirt and vest. I am either scrubbed in and standing or medicating/monitoring/sitting during cases. We also move patients on and off the OR tables, push strechers, transport at times and do all the other little tasks that nurses do. This is all in addition to the drive back and forth and alot of walking.
With all this is mind, what am I really looking at as far as getting back to work 3 days a week after a TRK? I usually work Mon-Wed Fri. I've been out of work since my arthroscopy on Aug 5, and I really do need to get back my income.
Thanks.

 

[Texas]

Hey Terri yes i know they will tell you it should be awhile.....you will be running and running RNs you all never stop............nd always on your feet so I can only imagine what they say..........I know you stomach is topsy turvy...........but you will be ok...........i think Jos page says ease back into it ............but you have a hard job........I know you will be happy when its done...........Try to relax I know its hard.....Will someone be with you after .........best of luck you have been very good to me i hope i can return the favors...............)

 

[abunnybabe]

Thanks Kim, you are so sweet. My husband is taking time off to be with me. He has a reservation at a hotel down the block from the hospital for the first few days. The hospital is in NYC and he wants to be near if I need anything. Afterwards, depending on if I go to rehab or not, he has lots of vacation time that he can take.

 

[mwolf]

Hi Terri!
My name is Mary and I am also a RN. I work Med/Onc outpatient. I also work part time. 2 days one week and 3 days the next. I had my TKR 11/08. My OS let me go back to work after 8 weeks for 4 hours 2 times a week for 4 weeks and then I resumed my schedule at 12 weeks. Like you I am sure, we NEVER sit at work. Basically we eat standing up and chart standing up. It was tough at first. I actually did PT 3 times a week for 12 weeks. I am super active anyway, so I was so ready to go back to work. But the more I pushed the more my knee would swell. Even almost a year out my knee will swell with too much activity. My OS said to expect that for up to 18 months. I would be happy to answer any questions you might have. The group of nurses I work with are my best friends also, so I had a ton of support at work. GOOD LUCK!! You will be in my thoughts!!

Mary

 

[abunnybabe]

Thanks Mary, I'm not sure that my manager would let me come back at any less than 100%. She's kind of a b!tch like that, ya know, well if you can't do the work....blah, blah, blah. I work 10 hour shifts but even then you just can't leave if there is a patient on the table, so you just stay, no matter how bad you feel.
I am sure that I need to find something a little less active than what I am doing now. But, I just can't start looking for a new job when I don't even know when I'll be ready to go back.

 

[Texas]

Aw that is so sweet Im glad that always makes it better..............and you dont want to have a good recovery then go backwards...............)just take your time..............

 

[Jamie]

Bunny, I'm having a difficult time imaging a NURSE who would demand that you only come back to work for full 10-hour shifts after knee replacement surgery. Is your supervisor really that dense??? If so, it's going to be a while before you can do the job on your feet for 10 hours a day....like many months! Surely there must be a way to present this to her so that she can see the value of you easing back into your job. If you go back and try to do those long hours, you'll only end up being off again and that benefits no one.

 

[Josephine]

Oh, we nurses eat our young, Jamie! No quarter shown.

Terri - I'd aim for 12 weeks minimum and then a phased return to work, whatever you can negotiate. I have this suggestion for full-timers that we used when I was OR manager some years back. Even people having a conventional hysterectomy would be required to do this. Those having had anything as major as a TKR would probably do it over 6 weeks!

week 1: Tues, Thurs 10-3
week 2: Mon, Wed, Fri 10-3
week 3: Tues, Thurs full day
week 4: Mon, Wed, Fri full day
week 5: normal duties

I still talk with Pat Finch, one of our British members. She is an RN who works in a women's prison and was made to return to work full time after only about 8 weeks. That was over a year ago. Now she has flexion of barely 85 degrees and cannot run up and down the stairs when they get a code call (suicides and attacks). As a result her job is under threat as she is deemed not to be able to fulfil her duties - which she can't.

Please don't leave this to the last, Terri. Talk with your manager now and your occupational health department, and plan ahead. There needs to be some understanding that returning to work too early can be injurious to your final outcome.

 

[abunnybabe]

Jo, thanks for understanding about the eat your young part, that is unfortunately so true in nursing. I'm going to talk to my manager about a similar schedule once I get through the surgery. My actual position is only guarenteed for 12 weeks of leave of absense, through Oct 30. I am hoping to be able to get back to work in January, which, like you said is another 12 weeks.
What happened to your friend Pat is EXACTLY what I don't want to happen to me if I overdo it. Great idea about the occupational health dept.
Thanks Jo, great job!

 

[Josephine]

Glad to help! Specially glad to help a fellow nurse!

Think perhaps we could use a nurses only forum here? :hehe: