return to work

[karmaandkismet 0]

I was wondering how long people stayed out of work after the procedure. I'm an RN that works busy 12 hour shifts. I want to plan for the appropriate time off afterwards.

[Katy517 1]

I'm in a definite minority and am 2+ weeks and still not back, but had surgical complications that account for the extended time. My understanding is that most go back within a few days.

[Emmie1 0]

I took off 2 weeks but I wish I took 3. I'm also a nurse working 12 shifts. I recovered fine but I could have dipped into my extended sick time. I had practically no pain. Good luck.

[meandtheboys 8]

I had surgery on Wed and went back to work on Tuesday. I was tired, but I have a desk job where I sit in my office most of the day. I was sore, but it was fine. I think work really helped me keep my mind off of food. Good luck!!

[Manda87 3]

I'm a CNA. I work 8 hour shifts, but I'm on my feet the whole time plus I'm pulling, pushing, lifting, etc people the whole time. I decided to take 4 weeks off. I work in a nursing home, so if you were an RN at my nursing home, you'd only have to take off a week since the nurses just sit on their butts the whole time. lol :thumbup:

[NurseShay 24]

Haha @ Manda... I was a CNA for 4yrs and have been a nurse for 2 so I know exactly how you feel but believe me nurses in SNF have a lot of work to do that may not be evident to you! Snf's are endless paperwork! Karma&kismat its doubtful you do 12's in a SNF so if you're working a hospital the physical work is likely to be more & I don't think you'd want to go back to work beforee a week off. But I also don't think laprascopic surgeries really require 3 or 4 wks either its a minimally invasive procedure. If it required 3wks of bed rest it probably wouldn't be out patient right? First take the recommendation of your surgeon/doctor. Then decide if you have a low or high tolerence for pain bc that'll help determine when you'll be off the narcs & can even think of going back to work light duty or at all. If you're a charge nurse & sit doing a lot of paperwork rather than bedside you'd probably be ok after a week otherwise give it 2 weeks. And if you have hernia repair expect a little more downtime to heal. I personally work subacute unit & I was back to work in 1 week working 10's. By the 2nd week post op I had very little discomfort due to the gas & virtually no pain.

[Humming Bird 275]

If I were an RN and worked those shifts I would take 3 weeks. I am a Dental Hygienist and took 1 week. My job is much more physically demanding than most people think, but the 12 hour shifts would be very bad. The first week back I was so weak and exausted. Pain really had nothing to do with it for me.

[ajaworski 0]

I'm having mine done on Thursday and plan on going back to work on the following Monday. I've had my appendix removed and stayed out for a whole week, but I really could have gone back to work after 3 days if I wanted but I milked it pretty good. This should be way easier than the appendix surgery.

[whobuddy711 1]

Im an RN. My surgeon gave me 4 weeks off.Was ready at 3 weeks but the 4 was great.:thumbup:

[Humming Bird 275]

I'm having mine done on Thursday and plan on going back to work on the following Monday. I've had my appendix removed and stayed out for a whole week, but I really could have gone back to work after 3 days if I wanted but I milked it pretty good. This should be way easier than the appendix surgery.

I think you may be wrong on that one. I have had 4 suregries and the time I needed to take off was longer with this one. Of course everyone is different and our jobs are different. Best of luck to you.

[Manda87 3]

Haha @ Manda... I was a CNA for 4yrs and have been a nurse for 2 so I know exactly how you feel but believe me nurses in SNF have a lot of work to do that may not be evident to you!

True. However, they just sit - read a book, search on Facebook, google Viagra and giggle at the side effects, read the newspaper, eat, gossip. Once in a while they'll do a med pass, but most of the time it's sitting doing nothing productive. However, I know nurses in hospitals work their butts off. Hospital nurses have very stressful jobs.

All of this is from my experience though. :thumbup:

[karmaandkismet 0]

I was originally and LPN and worked as one while I was getting my RN. During that time, I worked in a nursing home. While I know that the physical demands placed on the CNAs was VERY demanding, I don't remember having a whole lot of down time. It seemed as though by the time I got done with a med pass it was time for another one. Then there was checking the patency of NG tubes, digging out impactions, dealing with combative patients, doing peritoneal dialysis, and chasing down the alzheimer's patients who were trying to escape. I used to place little post it notes on my med cart and study as I pushed my cart down the hall.

Being a hospital nurse is more physically demanding and quicker paced than when I worked in the nursing home. Everybody busts their butt (nurses and CNAs alike) where I work.

[Callous 0]

I was just banded on 4/28 but I checked greater than two weeks. I actually plan on three weeks. I work in Alaska and live in Washington state. I just want to make sure I can take the plane trip and be on some soft foods. I work in a remote area on the North Slope.

[WaitLoser 0]

I am being banded on a Thursday (May 27th) and plan on returning to work on the follow Wednesday. My job is mostly desk work though.:bored:

Just got moved to Friday (May 28th) so I might go back to work on Friday (June 4th) or return on Monday (June 7th).

Edited May 6, 2010 by WaitLoser
Surgery date changed.

[TheresaB75 0]

I am an RN as well. I intially planned 1 week off. I had alot more shoulder pain than I expected so I am taking an extra week. My doctor is realeasing me back to work next week with restrictions on how much I can lift and no pushing, pulling, bending or squatting alot. I am now finding out that my hospital may not allow me back with ANY restrictions. So that is something else to consider. I did apply for FMLA for my surgery to be on the safe side. Not sure if that has anything to do with it. Another nurse I know that works in my hospital took 6 weeks, knowing she could not guarentee to not do anything on the list of restrictions.

Edited May 12, 2010 by TheresaB75
typo