Spinal Nurse Career Guide and Counseling

Question: Is it possible to work as a Registered Nurse after a spinal fusion? I need a spinal fusion for double major scoliosis!! Going to be quite a long fusion. I am very healthy in all other areas and heal quite rapidly. One other question for the fused people out there, do you feel all stiff with the metal implants in your spine? Is it obvious that you have the implants in, like sitting up really rigid? Thanks to all who answer :)

Answer: Hello there, i have had a 5 hour surgery to my spine,had it fused from top to bottom and have rods,i too had severe double curves and was like a z shape, and yes i feel stiff after it, and cant bend lift or twist at the waist at all now, but i was told i can have the implants removed but they also told me i would still be very stiff as fusing is what causes the stiffness so i refused, as i thought it pointless to go through more surgery only to be the same afterwards, and my implants can be seen through the skin at the top like a bump a bit like a marble under the skin really,but i don't sit rigid i can stoop a bit and i mean a bit too! i am unsure if you can be a nurse after but when i was in hospital one of the ambulance drivers who took me home told me he had been through the fusion surgery as well, and i was surprised at this as he was lifting stretchers and stuff, and i was warned at the hospital not to bend and be too rough but of course i felt so well i didn't take the advice big mistake! as my implant came away from the spine and ripped through the skin, at hospital they put it back inside me and attached it back to the bone while i was fully awake with no painkillers at all as they said it was to urgent to wait for painkillers to work,and it really hurt! so you must be care full afterwards.

Question: Can I still work as a Nurse in america even if I had a history of spinal surgery? I suffered a prolapsed intervertebral discs on the level of L4-L5 and L5-S1 respectively.I am a student nurse then.I have undergone hemilaminectomy with discectomy. I have fully recovered then and until now.It left me with a 3 inch surgical scar at my lower back. Will it be a disqualification for me?

Answer: No it will not disqualify you. Most nurses need clearance for employment from a physician anyway, and as long as you can do the required work of a nurse you will not have any problems with it. Most medical professionals sign a form saying that they "do not have any health conditions that would interfere with the fulfillment of duties." As long as you can honestly answer that you can do the job of a nurse, I welcome you to America.

Question: I have spinal stenosis would it be good to wear a back brace to work? Iam an nurse aide? would this hurt me more.? Iam still hurting but trying to keep my job. Waiting for your reply.

Answer: bet you won't wear it for very long. why don't you apply for disability, go to HR and ask for short term disability, but have MD records/xrays etc to back your complaint. Unless you're going to get well and recover, or get worse, should consider another line of work if you have to work. CNA's work very hard, always on their feet, constantly tired, lots of bending/twisting, lifting. I know, I used to do it for a year, then became a nurse, but now medically retired due to another illness.

Question: is it illegal for a nurse in a spinal injuries hospital to have a sexual relationship? with a man who's broken his back and been paralysed ?

Answer: It's illegal to have a sexual relationship with anyone who doesn't consent freely. If the other party is capable of free consent there may still be a criminal liability under local law, A professional charged with the person's care is also breaching codes of professional conduct be taking advantage of a position of trust in this way. Not only is the nurse in this case liable for instant dismissal, but his/her conduct makes it unlikely that anyone would be happy to offer employment in a position of trust.

Question: do nurses in spinal injuries hospitals deliberatly wiggle their bottoms and walk ahead of men who are? paralysed after breaking their backs to encourage them to push hard in their wheelchairs?

Answer: you found out.

Question: Can a antistegolist control how high a spinal block goes up? Im going on my 3rd c-section in a week.And my question is,is for an Antistegolist.Can you control how high you make the numbness go up(SPINAL BLOCK) Because i have heard it can go clear up to the chest and you loose your sense of breathing and the nurses have to bag you and help you breath.Is this true is it dangerous?Will i stop breathing or does it just feel like you can't breath when in fact you can?

Answer: The anesthesiologists are highly trained professionals! In all my years of working in hospitals I've never heard of them messing up so I think you're in good hands... complications are the exception rather than the rule... I understand your nervousness... They will almost ALWAYS give you a one-on-one interview with the anesthesiologist or anesthetist before any surgery so you'll have a chance to talk directly with them. Don't be worried.... I've had the spinals and they take great care in doing things correctly... no matter how long it takes... So don't be worried, OK??? Good luck and CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!

Question: ANY DOCS NURSES WHAT CAN cuase your spinal bones to just fracture from no trama and pain? what can cuases them to just deteriarte and fracture!???and have a burning pain?

Answer: osteoporosis cancer osteopenia various bone diseases

Question: What are the odds of another Spinal Headache? I had a spinal headache after the birth of my first child (via c-section). I think it was due to the nurses sitting me up to soon after the c-section. I am having a scheduled c-section on September 30th, Is it likely that I will have another spinal headache due to the previous one?

Answer: Wow, I had this very same concern! I was terrified, not by the idea of having another c-section, but of having another spinal headache. That part was the WORST part of the entire ordeal! I can happily tell you, though, that I didn't have even a slight headache after my second c-section. I did speak to the doctor before my surgery and he put my mind at ease completely. He told me that the spinal headache probably happened due to incorrect application (My first spinal didn't even work so I had to be given a general!). So, the chances of this happening again to you are very slim to none. : ) GOOD LUCK!

Question: How much does a RN make, working in the area of Spinal Cord Stimulation? I'm looking into going into nursing, and I would like to work with being a Spinal Cord Stimulator clinican. At https://www.ans-medical.com/careers/currentopenings/index.cfm under clinical specalist explains pretty much what they do. I was wondering if anybody on here was one, and what they made? Does anybody know about what they make per year?

Answer: go to this web site , once you are there type in the area you would want to work in like a city. http://www.indeed.com/salary?q1=spinal+cord+stimulator&l1=

Question: If you're in hospital for three weeks recovering from spinal fusion, do the nurses have to take you to the? toilet and even wipe you? I must say I would find this rather embarrasing.

Answer: I was in hospital for three Months, for two months of that, stuck flat on my back. When you have to go, you go. You shouldn't be embarrased the Nurses are great and it doesn't faze them at all.

Question: How is lubrication used for urinary catheterisation in case of spinal epidural in men? Is it given in every case? How is it given? How long do the nurse waits after cleaning the glans, to insert the catheter? Is the patient naked or covered thoroghly except the penis? Are family/ attendants allowed to be present?

Answer: 1) Sterile water-based lubricant used on the catheter before insertion - it is generously lubricated to ease passage. 2) The catheter is lubed as I said in #1 3) The catheter is insterted almost immediately after everything is cleaned and lubricated 4) The patient is usually covered unless there are other procedures going on such as would happen in an emergency room situation 5) Family members/fiends would be allowed ONLY in the most unusual circumstances. I catheterized over 500 men and NEVER had a friend or family member present. Other medical staff can be present to observe and learn and occasionally to assisst.

Question: How is lubrication used for urinary catheterisation for spinal epidural? Is it given in every case? How is it given? How long do the nurse waits after cleaning the glans, to insert the catheter? Is the patient naked or covered thoroghly except the penis? Are family/ attendants allowed to be present?

Answer: From my experience, yes, a catheter is inserted every time someone has an epidural block. The reason this is done is because once you are given the epidural you have no feeling from your belly button to your toes, so you can't feel when you have to urinate. Could be a pretty messy situation if not catheterized. How is a catheter given? It is usually inserted after the epidural, so you don't feel anything. You can insert the catheter immediately after sterilizing the glans. The patient will be nude from the waist down, usually the blanket covering the thighs to the toes, and a sterile drape goes over the penis, with a hole in the center for the penis to poke through. No one but medical personnel will be in the room for any procedures but sometimes hospital policy will permit someone in with you if you so wish. Hope this helps.

Question: Do you really have to lie completly flat on your back for 12 hours after your c-section if you have a spinal? I heard this. I do not understnd how one could nurse if this was the case. Plus, I guess you can not sit up to visit with family that first day, either. I had hoped to allow my other kids to visit but not if I cannot even sit up to hug them or introduce them to the baby.

Answer: i had a spinal 20 years ago...maybe they're different today because i had to lie completely flat for 8 hours. i wanted to sit up, but if i even so much as raised my head an inch...the headache was excruciating!! "spinal headache" is what my ob/gyn called it. i agree with CRYSTAL...i've had migraines and lower back problems ever since!

Question: What medication is in a Spinal? I'm a student nurse. I was doing my Labor and Delivery rotation. During a cesarean section procedure the anesthesiologist used a "spinal" rather than an epidural. I could not find any documentation about what kind of med, dosage, side effect, normal adult dosages, nursing interventions etc. If i could find out what the medication injected is called, brand or generic, i could look up the other information. I want to assume that it is morphine sulphate, but better to ask than assume.

Answer: For Cesarean delivery, the spinal almost certainly was 0.75% bupivicaine in 8.25% dextrose. Some of us add fentanyl ( I don't because it causes too much itching and really doesn't add much to the block), and some add very small amounts of preservative free morphine (aka Duramorph) for post-op analgesia. The dosage is related to patient height, weight, and the preference of the anesthesiologist, but is usually 1.5 - 2 cc (11.25 - 15 mg). If fentanyl is used, 10-20 micrograms is the usual dose. Duramorph is usually 200 micrograms. Side effects of the spinal include hypotension (which can cause nausea and lightheadedness if it's low enough) due to a chemical sympathectomy, and nausea and/or pruritis is opiates are used. There are relatively few side effects with spinal anesthesia. Nursing interventions are not applicable until after the surgery, as we care for the patient from the time the spinal is placed until she is in recovery. After that, the patient needs to be monitored until the spinal wears off.

Question: Do I really need to refrain from eating or drinking anything for 8 hours before a spinal injection? The nurses wouldn't explain when I asked. It's a 15 minute procedure that doesn't use general anesthesia. Is there any actual reason that I need to avoid food and water for 8 hours? To clarify, I am not 'going under' or whatever. The only anesthetic that will be used is a local to numb a small area of my back. The spinal injection is a corticosteroid to reduce localized inflammation. There is no need to rail at me to follow doctor's orders. I have a condition that makes me prone to sharp drops in blood pressure if I'm dehydrated or have low blood sugar. I'm asking this question for clarification since neither the doctor or nurses would tell me why I need to starve myself before this procedure, and I would like to know if it's actually necessary in light of the above concern. I realize I may not have made this clear enough: I would like an explanation to my question, i.e. medical facts and reasoning, preferably in detail. I was NOT asking for anyone to tell me what to do in this situation. I am an intelligent adult and can make my own medical decisions after reading the relevant medical information. I asked this question because I am not able to find the relevant medical information anywhere, so actual help would be appreciated. Ok, since no one on this whole board was able to answer the question with an actual explanation, I took this to mean that there isn't one. I did eat and drink before the injection and it went absolutely fine. So, for the record, for anyone else who may be reading this because they're looking for information: it's perfectly fine to eat and drink before a medical procedure that only uses a local anesthetic, no matter what the nurses say. They are apparently more concerned with the hospital's rules and liability than with their patients' welfare. The previous time I had this procedure I listened to them, and had an episode of severe drop in blood pressure during it. Both the nurses and doctor all admitted this was mainly because I was dehydrated and had low blood sugar, yet this time they again insisted I fast for 8 hours. I'm not putting down medical professionals and I'm sure it's not that way everywhere, but it certainly is at the hospital I go to.

Answer: Come on now ! 8 hrs is not starving yourself. Follow the advice, they're not just messing with your mind ! Usually they give early morning appointments for such things.

Question: When men have broken their backs and been paralysed they are sent for treatment at specialist spinal units? do the nurses deliberatly walk in ahead of them so seeing their bottoms wiggling will encourage them to push hard and follow in their wheelchairs?

Answer: ROFL, absolutely, when I fractured my skull, nurses showed extra cleavage, walked in front of me, and deliberately reached over me for things, mashed head up against breast, and gave me hugs. It was ridiculous but I loved it, lol! Also my grandfather broke his back several years back and nurses same way with him, except a little lighter, since he was older and they were younger. But since I was their age they flirted with me all the time, but I didn't say nothing and went along with it, lol, I thought it was funny actually.