Any Nurses?

Hi my name is Brittini and I recently had my second device implanted as well as an additional lead. I originally had a single lead ventricular pacer, after an underlying heart condition was found after a venomous snake bite when I was 17, due to a 22 second asystole.

My pacer generator was at the end of life so my new cardiologist decided to do a tilt table test before changing my device. My tilt was positive so he decided to implant an atrial lead as well.

My question is: Are there any nurses or other people that do strenuous lifting at work and work very long hours? If so, when did you return to work with no restrictions?

I am 3 1/2 weeks out and my doctor says that I can go back to work, I'm concerned about lead dislodgment as there is no "light duty" as a nurse and my place of employment will not allow me to come back until I have no restrictions. Thanks!

7 Comments

Time varies

by Theknotguy - 2015-10-13 11:10:07

I was told by my cardiologist to wait 90 days before doing any heavy lifting. Then the restrictions were 100 pounds per shoulder.

I had CPR twice. The first round broke a rib, cracked three ribs, and collapsed the lung. That was done by EMT's. The second round of CPR was done by nurses in the hospital. No broken ribs. I've been sore for two years now and am having a licensed massage therapist work with me.

Because I was so beat up by the first round of CPR it was five months before I even thought of doing any heavy lifting. I started back doing lifting at seven months.

My cardiologist was concerned with me lifting 90 pound 4x8 sheets of melamine. At the two year mark I'm able to move the sheets without any problems. Most of the time I move them with the aid of another person. But I can, in a pinch move the sheets by myself. I just choose not to do it. Having 90 pounds eight feet out is a lot more awkward than moving a body.

Because you haven't had any broken ribs or other trauma, I feel you should be able to be back up to speed at/about 90 days. You, of course will want the pacemaker wound to heal completely. But the remainder of the healing should be done by that time.

I currently volunteer at a hospital taking patients out by wheelchair. I don't see the nurses doing any real heavy lifting because of worker's comp issues. And I think, most of the time you, as the nurse, can ask for a second person to help. Point being, there isn't any problem with the pacemaker with what I'm doing.

At the seven month mark, and because of the trauma I received, I still had problems with soreness and stiffness but nothing that cold/hot compresses and tylenol couldn't solve.

Hope this gives you some insight into what you might be able to do.

Clarification

by Brittini07 - 2015-10-13 11:10:31

MISSYELECTRA,

I appreciate your reply. I should clarify my question: I'm not concerned about my ability to be a nurse after I am fully healed, I am concerned that 3 1/2 weeks is not enough recovery time to go back to my full duties as a nurse.

I don't think I am a risk to my patients, I am concerned about lead dislodgment with heavy lifting or chest compressions. My doctor and I had originally discussed a 6 week leave from work to allow for proper healing. I have since called his office and he is out until Friday, hopefully he will clarify the return to work order at that time.

Nursing Duty Is A Unique Situation

by Artist - 2015-10-14 01:10:30

I think many people are not aware of the very heavy lifting required for some RNs. I have a good friend who is a retired cardiac nurse, former Chief nurse and ICU nurse. She often talks about the extreme lifting requirements for things like transferring 240 lb unconscious patients. There are also the extreme physical demands of aggressively and rapidly compressing someone's chest in administering CPR. It is a job like no other and a crisis requiring an immediate lifting situation is often entirely unpredictable.
The decision in part may depend on your specific nursing assignment, but my opinion is that 3 weeks post op may be too soon. You really can't tell a nurse that is on the job in potentially life threatening situations that if she doesn't feel able to perform heavy lifting that the situation may require, to just not do it!

Unique Indeed

by Grateful Heart - 2015-10-14 02:10:31


Nurses and Doctors lift/ move patients who cannot move themselves all the time. That's why they call it dead weight.

During an emergency situation you will not be thinking about yourself but reacting for the patient. 3 weeks seems too soon to me too. You don't want to chance the need for a revision so soon. Talk to your Doc. jmho

There are members here who are Doctors and Nurses who respond periodically.

Thanks Nurse Brittini and to all the good Nurses and Doctors for all you do.

Grateful Heart

RN

by gertrude - 2015-10-14 03:10:43

I returned to work two weeks after implant, 4 weeks before I felt like I could do any heavy lifting, pushing or pulling and 6 weeks before I ever did any. The first 2 weeks are the most critical. By 4 weeks it should take an extreme pull of your device arm to dislodge a lead. Listen to your body, if you're still sore and don't feel up to it, take extra time. We spend so much time as nurses taking care of others, we have to remember to take care of ourselves to when we find ourselves on the "other side."

Best wishes.

tell your doctor

by wired-in - 2015-10-14 03:10:48

Hi
I was told by my doc that I could go back after four
weeks after they put in my pacemaker but don't rise
my arm over my head pickup pull or push any thing
for six weeks.So after three weeks I went and talked
to my doctor and said if I cant use my arm I cant work
and I am afraid if I feel better witch I do I my over do it
hurt myself (I am kind of that way) and she said that she
totally agreed with that .and told me six weeks that's the
max she can do .She also said I still cant over do it
for atleast four more weeks after that. I think that just like
everyone doctors are busy and don't think about the different jobs people do.
take it easy

Trust your gut!

by revcarol - 2015-10-14 03:10:49

Regardless of whatever job a person does, there are those "oh-oh" moments when you find you need another hand and no one is around. At that time, it''s too late, and not good for you or the person you need to help.
Trust your gut and weigh out what is reasonable and what and how long you are improved to take off time for. In the end, you can't take back the damage you do to your own body...
Be well and be safe. Carol

You know you're wired when...

Microwave ovens make you spark.

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