<p>My mom’s a nurse, so with the constant heavy lifting and turning of patients, she’s pulled her arm - again. </p>
<p>Before she was on “light duty” for 6 weeks (or months, can’t remember.) Since she’s a night shift worker, she gets extra premium pay, so even switching to a lighter shift (day shift) would make paying bills and such hard. </p>
<p>It scares me because I’ll be leaving for college next year. I’ve been the second parent since my sister was born. I don’t want to leave knowing this could happen again. </p>
<p>Also being a female myself, and having a little sister, I don’t like how she’ll have to walk to/from the bus stop, etc. I know I had to do it, and it’s a part of growing up, but I don’t like the idea of grown men staring at my little sister. I’ve seen it happen, and almost fought the guy. </p>
<p>I guess in short, I want to leave and be independent, but I can’t come to terms with leaving the responsibilities of taking care of my family. </p>
<p>I don’t really have a question, I’m just confused.</p>
<p>It is tough and I can remember feeling guilty when I left my home to start school 2500 miles away. I felt guilty that I wasn’t homesick and was enjoying all this time and space to figure out what I wanted to be and got to pick & choose what I wanted to get involved in.</p>
<p>I know it was hard for my family, since I did a LOT at home but it was something they could and did adapt to. You can talk to your little sister about strategies to keep safe, including having a LOUD whistle she can blow if she’s ever bothered/hassled by people who stare at her. (Is it just her or is it that they stare at any female or other person?) She may also wish to take a course or two in self-defense–maybe you can take it together?</p>
<p>Could your mom get re-trained so she can do work that is less physically demanding, like supervising and training other workers? How about suggesting that she work with insurer to see if she could be a case manager? I have several nursing friends who do that and earn good money. It does not appear physically demanding. They review files & be sure patients get to their appointments & work with the providers the patient has to coordinate care.</p>
<p>Is there any other caring adult that you would feel comfortable talking about your concerns–a trusted aunt/uncle/family friend? That could help your family find some solutions that you may not have considered.</p>
<p>I don’t notice/care to find out if they look at other people, I was just vigilant in regards to my sister.
I’ll look into the classes, didn’t think about that. </p>
<p>My mom said she didn’t want to do that kind of stuff. The higher up positions (manager, etc) require more time than she has (they often get calls with problems in the middle of the night, have to go here and there whenever. Not sure if it’s only how it is where she works, though.) And she said she became a nurse to physically help people, not sit behind a desk, and the lighter work (at her job, not sure about other hospitals) get paid less, which we can’t afford. </p>
<p>I think I would be able to deal with things better if there was someone else, but it’s literally just us 3.</p>
<p>At some workplaces (like Kaiser in Hawaii), they have hired a person to help with lifting patients, especially those who are heavier. Perhaps her workplace would consider that, as it’s significantly cheaper than worker’s comp. Would your mom consider pediatrics? If she works with younger children, they should be lighter and perhaps less likely to have her injured.</p>
<p>Case managers can be VERY helpful in getting people who have serious health conditions and multiple issues the care they need and being the link between different providers. Insurers DO hire people to help with those types of cases but they DO involve paperwork. It is still helping but less physically demanding.</p>
<p>Would she consider being a private duty nurse perhaps or work in a doctor’s office? There are a lot of different options and possibilities if she’s open to it. How about public health where she helps with immunizations and school children?</p>
<p>My mom’s been thinking about transferring anyway; she works on the only burn unit/intensive care unit in our tri state area so they get an extra bonus, though, so she might be transferring to another nursing position getting less money. </p>
<p>She doesn’t know where she wants to go yet(but wants to stay in a hospital), but she knows she doesn’t want to stay there because it IS really physically strenuous. </p>
<p>We’re still looking for more options, something will happen after I move out (well not literally move out, but live at college.)</p>
<p>In our state, frequently, work comp insurance carriers can and will offer job retraining, especially if an insured is hurt/has been hurt on the job, to help them find something that they can do that still uses their skills. She may wish to inquire with her employer & W/C carrier. You’re a good kid to help your mom with this! At some point, it really can be too hard to be lifting and moving very heavy, injured patients and it’s time to consider other options.</p>
<p>Hey I just wanna say, we might be arguing on some thread, I symphathize with you. I don’t really have any suggestions other than praying (even if you’re not religious), but I’m in a similar, though also bery different scenario. Since he’s one of the founders of a small business, my dad works and goes on business trips a lot, so he’s not really home much, and my mom has some health issues, so as the eldest, I have to step in sometimes. I don’t really have to worry about money, and overall my situation seems a lot easier than yours, but I really do feel for you. I don’t really know if this helps or not, but I justed wanted to express my support, even if we’re arguing about some arbitrary political topic on the internet.</p>
<p>The sooner that you can graduate from college and become financially stable, the sooner that you can really help with the financial stability of your whole family.</p>
<p>Robert- I think it’s funny how to can argue with someone on one thread, but agree with them on another. Thanks for the support and I hope things get better for you/your mom/ your family. </p>