Ok, what about chart audits or phone triage?   I bet your knowledge level could be a true asset doing either of these positions which wouldnt be physically stressing.  Chart audits especially..............if your a policy junkie you could be fabulous doing something like this.

You would be amazed how hard it is to find a job auditing charts, etc.  I even offered one potential employer my skills as an admissions/discharge nurse.  She said that was an interesting possibility but they were so understaffed that I may have to work the floor which I am unable to do.  I wish I could find a job to get back into geriatrics but I cannot pull or lift so that blows most everything in geriatrics.  Thanks for the imput.

Joy, I'm so sorry to hear about your problem both professionally, healthwise, and with your family.  I was also thinking about maybe case management,  an insurance company nurse <our insurance co. calls every month to make sure I'm using my asthma and allergy crap like I'm suppose to>, and despite the economy right now, there might be a position somewhere like being a plant nurse <i.e.  in my area, the carpet plants, manufacturing plants, and Lockheed still using nurses for new hire physicals>.   I know that jobs like that  might be hard right now with the economy,   as a matter of fact alot of our carpet plants are laying workers off, but I'd keep my eagle eyes open looking in all the want adds.  Office nurses might not make as much as in the hospital, but its less physically taxing, and sometimes what they lack in wages, they can make up for in benefits.  I plan on staying with floor nursing as long as my body holds out!   Any of us could be in your shoes someday.  A back up plan is always a good idea I guess.   Personally, I'd go back to home health in a second.........I spent several years doing that and loved it.............only left that 4 yrs ago because of gas prices.  Angie

I had a hectic but happy life as a nurse educator and after several years as a professor I was voted to be the chair of the department, and director of the R. N. program. I served in this capacity for about 12 years. It was extremely challenging but also very rewarding. I would still be doing this, except in December 2005 I had a major stroke and was in the hospital for six weeks. When I returned home, and attempted to go back to my job, with the necessary papers filled out and notes from my doctors(one from the rehabilitation doctor, one from the psychologist, stating that I had all my marbles, and one from my internist), I was told by the college president that it was her opinion that I could no longer do the job and she refused to let me go back to the nursing department, even as a teacher. I fought her for a year, and finally was so battered by the meetings I had to have with the administration, that I resigned my job. I did sue the district and got a small settlement, since the doctors said I could attribute 82% of my stroke to my job! Now I am looking for a job, but can only teach in the classroom, not in the clinic, since I cannot get around well, and have to have a wheelchair if I go ant distance. I can certainly lecture though, especially in psych nursing, my specialty, although I am approved in gerontology and basic medical-nursing by the B.R.N. NOW JUST TO FIND A JOB! I'm physically handicapped, not mentally!

Wendy

This is Joy again.

You know, I find it personally insulting when people automatically think that "disability" means you're off your rock!  I have run into that more times than I can tell you.  I have this guy, hired by my worker's comp company, who meets with me every week and is supposed to be finding me a job.  Every one of the jobs he's come up with is a dead end when they fnd out that I'm injured.  It sucks.