I was looking for any floor nurses that have been sleeved. I am a nurse and I will bed sleeved in July. I was wondering how much time you took off from work and once back still work being able to adapt to the pt needs. Any input will be greatly appreciated.

How much time can you take?

My doctor pit me on 20lb lifting restrictions for 6 weeks. I'm an ED nurse and we do a lot of lifting so I was off the whole time.

I think there's more lifting in MS, unless y'all have a wonderful full staff of CNAs that can do all your lifting (did you chuckle at this??)

I didn't regain normal energy levels until 3 months post op. I know taking 3 months off from work is not realistic. I feel for all the nurses who get sleeved because it will be really hard to be on your feet and help others when all you want to do is sit down and sleep.

I took 4 weeks off, which was the maximum time my surgeon would give.

My surgeon said I could take off two weeks with lifting restrictions. I have a wonderful team I work with that would help. I am thinking of taking three weeks off though.

I work L&D, took 6 weeks. Surgeon said was the minimum he would allow because he knows how us nurses are and I'd be doing things I shouldn't. Lol. But I too needed a minimum of 3 to get good energy back. Take your time off and be good to you for a change

I am an ER nurse. My Dr released me to return back work after 2 weeks with a promise to not lift push or pull as much as possible. Which I feel is easier in the ER than med/surg. I would have taken 6 weeks but my place of employment told me they couldn't give me the time off since it was an elective surgery. So back to work I go on Monday

i am taking off 4 wks, which is what my surgeon recommended. I am a private practice RN. I don't do much patient lifting (just helping out of chairs, etc) but i DO lift lots of machines, boxes of charts, etc. I know there won't be any modification of my job once I get back so I want to take as much time as possible to be totally ready!

I'm am oncology nurse and there is slot of heavy lifting, so my Dr gave me 6 weeks off. I'm so glad he did. It is so hard to get my fluids in on the days I work, so I try to get as much hydration in my days off. Take as much time as you can.

I really appreciate all the input. I am going to talk to my manager this morning. Is there a thread for nurses already?

I feel 4-6 weeks is reasonable for hospital nurse. There are always patients and stretchers and equipment that needs pushing , pulling or lifting. You want to minimize the chance for an incisional hernia as much as possible.

Maybe your charge nurse can assign you to a patient group who are all "Walkie- Talkiie"? Oh wait- that's doesn't exist!

Edited June 6, 201412 yr by JanetPRN

I am a labor and delivery RN. I took the 6 weeks they gave me and got it extended to 8. At 6 weeks I just felt that my energy level was still up and down. By 8 weeks I was ready to get back into the game 100%. I had pain for the first 3 weeks. I am not the person who used the Vicodin once! I used it for 3 weeks plus. The binder that they gave me really helped. I wore it all the time for the first 3 to 4 weeks. I had a lot of pain at the bigger inc site that most of the work is done through. But really the energy level thing was the hardest part. I work 12 shifts overnight so I did not want to go back too soon and then feel bad and have to call out.

I work oncology med surg and my doc gave me a minimum of 6 weeks and said it could be more if I didn't feel ready. Doesn't want to risk a hernia, etc with lifting, pushing, pulling, etc.

Hope you can get more time.