Return to work dilemma - broken arm. Sorry so long.

[Antonia]

On October 1 I broke my right upper arm in a fall. It was severely broken into 3 pieces and on October 10 I had surgery to repair it that was extensive and I now have a plate and 18 screws in my right upper arm (the humerus). I have been going to therapy 3 times a week and my arm is a lot better. There was a time I could not get my own hand to my mouth!

Well, it is now January 7 and my employer requires that I return to work by January 25 or I will be terminated. I can be rehired within 90 days and retain my original hire date, pay, etc. I am a registered nurse. I work on a med-surg floor three 12-hour shifts per week.

At this moment I still cannot lift more than about 5 pounds with my right arm. The main problem is that I cannot raise my arm as high as my own shoulder with that arm. I can't touch the top of my own head. My employer has no light duty. I had been planning to return to work and just wing it the best I can by primarily using my left arm/hand. This could possibly work, but it may not. Other nurses may start complaining if I need help to do certain things and then it will become obvious that I have not returned "100 percent" as the employee health nurse said I must do.

I am drawing long term disability at this point. I cannot decide whether to try to wing it and go back to work by January 25. Or face the facts and allow myself to be terminated and let my arm continue to improve and go back within the 90 day time frame when my arm will probably actually have improved to a point I can actually do the job of a registered nurse. I have worked as a nurse for 29 years and cannot accept the fact that I have suffered an injury that has limited my function like this. I'm only 50 and have been very active. I have always worked and I am having a really hard time with this.

 

[Antonia]

I go back to the doctor next week. At my last visit a month ago he had said he was going to pretty much leave it up to me about returning to work. I think he is being nice because I am a nurse, but it really puts a lot of pressure on me trying to figure out what to do. If I return and then discover I cannot wing it, I'm not sure if I can restart my long term disability or if I'll just be SOL.

I feel like a deadbeat not working. My husband is very supportive of me however this situation turns out. We are two empty nesters and financially we can make it as long as I am drawing my long term disability.

I just wish I had a crystal ball to know what to do. In all my life I have never been wounded like this. I've had gallbladder surgery, etc. and always just bounced right back. This right arm thing is driving me nuts and I am right handed.

 

[HelenePA]

I could be wrong but I dont think your employer is allowed to fire you while your on disability, did your dr release you to go back? My dad's former employer did this to him, he sued and won..

 

[cornflake]

Geez, you poor thing.

It sounds like you're making progress but as to being able to do what you'd probably end up needing to do on that floor...

Have you talked to your physical therapist about it? What does he/she think?

I can understand how you feel about it and wanting to try to make due but given the place you'll be working, maybe run through some scenarios in your head.

Like, how likely is it there'd be an immediate need to lift or move a patient or move something that'd be hard for you, working where you work? How easy will it realistically be to find someone to help you do that, in time, every time, so the patients don't suffer? If it's not likely there'd be some immediate need, or an emergency that you couldn't handle with one hand, or if there's always someone around who might begrudge you but would help, that's one thing.

Also - would you be putting yourself at risk? If you tried to move a patient that you thought maybe you could and it turned out to be too much, would that risk damaging your arm mid-recovery, setting you back or worse?

If you're running scenarios in your head and come to ones where you might really need to do something you think you realistically may not be able to - and you'd be putting either patients or yourself in danger if you tried, then I'd think it's better to wait it out.

At least you're lucky enough to be in a position in which a. you can be rehired with no loss of senority, etc., many, many people wouldn't have that option, and b. even if this job, in the long run, turns out not to work on that duty station, with your arm, you have options as a nurse that will allow you to work, just maybe switching up where you work, and you may even find a new, more rewarding spot.

My cousin is a nurse and enjoyed one area of nursing, then ended up in a personal-care situation and ended up loving it, though it wasn't her intention to go that way. I don't mean that's what you'd like but if it turns out this particular duty isn't going to work out, long term, or be best for YOU, you've got a wealth of options you probably wouldn't have considered, because you've just been happy working where you were working.

 

[cornflake]

This may sound strange but.... be grateful for your injury for one thing - I'd bet anything it'll make you a better nurse.

I mean I'm sure you've seen tons of people in hosp. who were waylaid by something they didn't expect and are frustrated, scared, etc., by their new situation. While you could be sympathetic before, now you'll be empathetic. Now you know what that's like and how they feel and that can go a long way toward even just making someone feel better, explaining to them that you really know how they're feeling and there is progress and etc.

 

[Antonia]

Cornflake - you're exactly right. I will have an empathy for people that I could have never had before my injury.

And, yes, I have been going over scenarios in my head and I do think there are situations that could arise that I would be unable to do things that need to be done. For instance, we get a lot of patients from surgery. If I had to slide a patient from a stretcher to a bed, I could not do it. January 25 is coming up fast. I just thought I would be well and ready to go and I'm not. When I told my physical therapist my plan to return to work January 25, he said "that's optimistic".

 

[Pakey]

I'm sorry you have exhausted your FMLA; your employer has to follow policy. Do they have a policy that allows you to request discretionary leave once your FMLA period is complete? Have you talked to HR?

I would not risk doing permanent damage. If the physical therapist (and you) believe you are not ready, I'd wait and find another position once you are completely healed.

I hope you are back to nursing soon.

 

[npmommie]

OP this advice is coming from a nurse who used to work Med Surg. Don't go back if you are not 100%. don't try to wing it!!
you will risk further injury to yourself and you will also risk injury to patients.
I can think of several scenarios off the top of my head that could end badly for you and a patient.
good luck, and please take care you yourself!!

 

[Antonia]

HR granted me a 30 day leave beyond my FMLA. I realize that they must follow policy and they rarely grant a leave beyond the 12 weeks of FMLA so I appreciated that. I am just facing some hard decisions and trying to sort it all out.

 

[cornflake]

Cornflake - you're exactly right. I will have an empathy for people that I could have never had before my injury.

And, yes, I have been going over scenarios in my head and I do think there are situations that could arise that I would be unable to do things that need to be done. For instance, we get a lot of patients from surgery. If I had to slide a patient from a stretcher to a bed, I could not do it. January 25 is coming up fast. I just thought I would be well and ready to go and I'm not. When I told my physical therapist my plan to return to work January 25, he said "that's optimistic".

It kinda sounds like you know the answer, you just don't like it.

What would you say to a patient on your floor who was talking about going back to work when you knew they weren't ready and could end up doing harm to themselves or others?

Instead of thinking about what you can't do, maybe focus on your therapy, obvs., so you can get back after the 90 days, and researching other options you might be interested in. Different floors, stations, whatever, different situations entirely - check what's out there, it's not like nurses aren't in demand!

There might be private situations, different types of facilities, etc. Even if you do end up healing 100% and going back to the position you had, no harm in checking out options, who knows what you might find.

 

[mlittig]

 

[DebbieB]

I could be wrong but I dont think your employer is allowed to fire you while your on disability, did your dr release you to go back? My dad's former employer did this to him, he sued and won..

She will be past the time allowed by FMLA.

I would wait until closer to Jan 25 and assess your condition. Then talk to HR.

 

[tvguy]

I think you need advice from a lawyer who knows your state's disability laws.
You aren't at 6 months yet, and in many states you are protected for 6 months, then family leave kicks in.

 

[Caropooh]

I'm guessing that as a nurse in a hospital, that possibly you are a member of a union? Have you talked to them about the situation?

 

[Janepod]

I think you need advice from a lawyer who knows your state's disability laws.
You aren't at 6 months yet, and in many states you are protected for 6 months, then family leave kicks in.

I agree. This is the only person qualified to give you a precise answer.

I also agree with posters who noted you should not risk injury to yourself or to your patients.

Is it possible to start using vacation time when your FMLA runs out?

 

[pixiewings71]

I was going to say the same thing tvguy said. You need to check into your state laws regarding this. Good luck to you, please be sure you give yourself time to heal, don't rush it. (((HUG)))

 

[Anne MN]

Did you sustain the injury at work?
that makes a BIG difference on how your employer proceeds.
you need to talk to your union rep and/or an attorney.

 

[Antonia]

I was injured at home. And, no, I am not a member of a union. All of my vacation/sick time was used during the FMLA period. My employer has them to be used concurrently. I also drew short term disabilty and now my long term has kicked in.

 

[Saphire]

I strongly urge you to not go back to work until you are completely healed. That is going to take much longer than January 25th. What you do as a profession makes all the difference in when you can return to work after sustaining an injury like yours. If you worked at a desk it would be entirely different, but as a med-surg nurse, you have a very active job. My advice as a physical therapist: work as hard as they will let you to regain the strength in your arm, incorporate light weights as soon as they allow. Consider your job right now to be working to regain the strength and mobility in your arm. This takes much focus, dedication and courage! Few people understand how long the recovery is from an injury like yours. But you must take the time needed to heal. Best wishes, Antonia!

 

[Antonia]

Saphire - thanks for your advice. I look normal in clothes now - no more sling and swath. I just don't have the strength or function in my arm to really do my job. I agree that I probably cannot do my job as a med-surg nurse. I just feel so useless. I do my therapy and I have exercises I do at home. I have come far, but maybe not far enough to return to work.

And you said it - few people do understand how long recovery is. People keep asking me if I have gone back to work yet and it just makes me feel terrible because to them I look normal.