Hi, everyone! I'm 26 years old, I was a nursing assistant for about 6 years right out of high school. I'm currently doing general classes in community college with the intent of getting into an LPN program to start. I've wanted to be a physician or a nurse for a long time because I'm a nurturer with extraordinary compassion that doesn't allow me to feel fulfilled unless I'm making a difference in the world. I also have a strong interest in the human body because it's so complex and I LOVE complex! I need to be mentally-stimulated at all times, I value knowledge and I want to continue learning for the rest of my life! I like to exercise my problem-solving skills as well as counsel and nurture people.

I do have a problem though and it's a major concern when I contemplate deeply about a future in nursing. This is what brought me to this forum..... I am physically-limited due to suffering with Fibromyalgia syndrome and some sort of autoimmune disease(s) which has (have) not been able to be pinpointed yet. I am a classic case of autoimmune disease though and I suffer immensely everyday, with everything getting worse with each passing year. Perhaps I could get to the root of these issues and be treated in the future; however, I'm struggling in this economy with finding a steady job and I have no health insurance coverage whatsoever. I have no medical care aside from family physician visits for antibiotics to clear up reoccurring infections (which never seem to go away anyway), but I'm in serious need of specialist doctors instead. So in the future, when I'm more settled and able to receive medical care, could my symptoms and conditions be treated? Possibly. Could I function normally then? Possibly. But do I know if this will ever be the case at this point? Certainly not. At this point, I need a wheelchair for long distance walking and a rolling walker for my worst days (for if I need to walk a lot out in public, etc.); other than that, I CAN walk normally and without aid, it just comes with a tremendous amount of pain in my muscles, ligaments and joints. Sometimes I have some balance issues, but those come and go. Almost every system of my body appears to be affected at this point though.

I think it's smarter for me to start out as an LPN if I were to pursue this career because I NEED a steady professional job -- I need to get on my feet -- and LPN will allow me to work sooner. It will only take me 2 or 3 semesters to complete once I get a couple more pre-reqs out of the way! I also would like to see that I can land a job that I can physically handle BEFORE I go further in my education (for RN).

Anyway, am I on the right track to just go for it because it's my passion!? Or is it pointless to become a nurse if you're physically-limited, if you can't walk around or stand for long periods of time; if you may need to have a walking aid? Perhaps I will be better in the future once I get adequate medical care, but what if I'm not? Are there less physical jobs for nurses? Are there non-nursing jobs for those with nursing degrees? Do you know any nurses or students who do just fine even though they have some type of disability? Would I have to face discrimination in workplaces?

I was always interested in working in an ICU at a hospital, but do you think hospital positions will be impossible for me to endure? I definitely think that there are less physical settings in which medical professionals can be employed, such as urgent care centers or doctor offices, including specialist doctor offices, etc. Am I correct? Are there any more similar settings? Also, do you think it would be ridiculous to have to wear a mask at work all of the time if I'm around sick people, to shield me from getting sick from the germs? (Again, my immune system doesn't function well). This is my calling and I DON'T want to stray away from it, but at this point I'm suffering immensely in pain and I'm not sure if I will get BETTER in the future or if I will stay about the same or even decline. It's scary. Please tell me that I may still make a great nurse regardless! But be honest. I REALLY appreciate it! I want to be a nurse! Help!

XOXO,
Eden