How can I get over the physical pain my job causes me?

[Anonymous]

I work 5-6 12hr shifts a week as a CNA at a short staffed 2 star facility. On a regular basis we are 3 cnas for 71 residents. I am burned out but I need the money for bills…. What do I do? I physically cannot lift my patients at the moment due to the amount of pain my body is in. What would you suggest? 😩

[xJeremyx]

Time to get a medical diagnosis. It is unfortunately more than common for nurses and nursing assistants to suffer from back problems, especially now that the healthcare system is so strained.

If you are diagnosed with serious back issues, it might be time for a career switch. Listen to your body. If you keep doing this in the long term it will only injure you more.

Otherwise, you might want to request a switch in department. Geriatrics is often the worst for lifting and supporting patients (cue all the fall risk notes!). Does your workplace cater to other patient groups, such as paediatrics or outpatient care? Those may be better options.

Also, gather feedback from the other staff members. Do they face similar ergonomic issues? If yes, its high time to get your nurse-in-charge to serve a complaint up to management and HR for hazardous work conditions (ergonomic hazards) complicated by the lack of load-bearing equipment to assist you in handling immobile patients.

If manpower is really and issue and they desperately need you, get them to assign you to a female-occupied ward, and make sure you are assigned only to patients who you can reasonably assist without your physical pain acting up. Unless all the staff has the same problem as you, then thats another problem.

I assume you do use the correct postures for supporting patients that avoid injury to you?

[xJeremyx]

Do you have friends and family who can offer temporary financial support as well?

[Levin]

Well, obviously, you require rest. Your body will fix itself with rest. It's just indicating that you're overdoing it.

If you're saying you're working 60-72 hours a week, that is ludicrous. Personally, I would not do more than 48 hours per week, and even that I would only do temporarily.

You clearly need to either reduce your hours, find another job, or do something about your bills. Move in with someone or share bills or whatever, not knowing your personal circumstances.

Oh, and hopefully you don't spend your money on shit, ego purposes, like car finance. Just drive a bag of shite, if you can't afford it.

[jennifer_bloom]

When I first started working at my old job, my feet hurt after 40 minutes but after 4 months, my feet hurt after 4 hours. You will get used to this and I heard people say they took over the counter drugs to deal with the pain they felt in their bodies while adjusting to their new jobs. Visit a doctor and ask for pain medications.

[ProudWoman]

Eat better (0 processed foods)

Sleep better (0 electromagnetic pollution)

Breathe better (0 air pollution)

See how much easier work becomes.

[Summeroflove]

I think you need to see a doctor and maybe a workplace injury lawyer is the injury was at work

[slatyb]

Is there no where else you could work?

[In_Trance]

Get a different job

[Asker]

Nowhere else is going to pay me $22.50 and $33.75 in OT that isn’t doing the same exact work. All I have experience in is healthcare.

[In_Trance]

Omg... there's never been a better time to get a job. Nobody wants to work and everyone is short handed

[Anonymous]

Start prostitution

[Asker]

Hard pass

[Opinion Owner]

Good luck than