Working from home as a nurse

[ATrueBlue]

So I'm currently on maternity and was hoping to go back to work in the next month or so but due to a health condition I developed in pregnancy I'll not be able to return to my job for a while yet. I'm a RMN, however due to the health problems I've been having (tmjd) I'm not able to do a job that requires much talking, which doesn't really fit into my line of work as you can imagine. Are there any jobs that can be done remotely and don't require extensive talking? I have looked online and see many posts for disability assesors but I don't think I could do that for ethical reasons. I would be happy doing non related nursing jobs too but again there's not much out there that doesn't require experience or communicating on the phone all day. I appreciate it's a bit of a weird conundrum but any fellow tmjd suffers out there will understand!

I don't have tmjd OP but bumping in the hope that someone can help.

How are your typing skills? What about medical transcription? (I think that's what it's called) I had a friend years ago that used to do it from home and it didn't require much talking. She would receive the medical audio notes and type them up and send them back. I think the main requirements where knowledge of medical terminology and quick typing skills.

Good luck!

The disability assessors conduct hour long interviews so might be too much talking anyway. Can you ask your employer about redeployment options?

They might protect your pay for a year if you have to go down a band.

Oh thank you so much for the bump @yellowsubmarines! My typing skills would probably be above average but not fantastic. Something like transcription would be ideal but I'm not sure how much competition there would be for that type of role. I will certainly look into it though

Have you thought about medical research? Data entry/medical queries, that sort of thing. You'd need to do GCP training (online) and a bit of reading about it, but there are NHS, University and industry roles available for nurses.

What about working in young people services. There is a big push for early mental health work and some is done via 'text' as it's teenagers preferred medium. First line referral and advice. I'd look into what initiatives are going on in your area.

Online teaching. Might involve some speaking but also lots of marking, emails etc.

I've seen roles where you read through medical reports and make an assessment. Not specifically for a disability assessment, but more working for the NMC. Sorry, I can't find a link, but it was only a few shifts a month.

Look for roles in the local council or public health england.

Is the rest of your body reasonably fit and able? Massage therapy? You might get some exemptions in the course due to previous anatomy knowledge. Its something you could continue part time once you return to your regular job too. Either working from home or in their home or a clinic.

Do you live near a uni offering medical/allied health/nursing courses? Proof reading? There are many short courses to get a qualification.

@GoWalkabout I didn't realise the assessments were so long! There is a company that state you will have a maximum of three clients a day, but I think 3 hours talking would be too much, particularly if it was 5 days a week. My current job is a dementia nurse (which I absolutely love) but going down a band would mean working as a senior care assistant. I would gladly work as a carer, but there would probably be even more talking involved in that as the carers tend to be more patient facing, whereas a fair bit of my job requires doing paperwork. I still have to talk a fair bit though.
I hadn't considered medical research @FightingFiles, as I'm not sure I would have the qualifications for that. I would have thought it maybe required a masters, but it's definitely another thing to look into.
@Theworldisfullofgs something like that would be ideal! I have experience in CAMHS also. I've heard about the texting services before and they do seem like a great initiative.
@Cattitudes, I've no teaching experience at all unfortunately, otherwise it would be a perfect idea.

Definitely don't need a master's initially, or even at all. I've been in research 4 years, currently band 7 and just started MSc last year.

@Elouera yes I'm well apart from the tmjd. I can speak, but limit interactions as much as possible as get quite sore. I googled the assessor type role for the NMC but couldn't find much. I will keep looking though Proof reading would be great, that was actually something else I had been thinking about, but I would think the competition would be quite high.

Talk to occy health and your ward manager about what you can do within your trust/ward that's non clinical and more admin while your issue is being sorted. Admin, managing students and the rota that sort of thing.

There are lots of new initiatives and demand for this in response to the pandemic. They are usually run by community services.

I'm an RMN and work at home. I work in the management structures and focus on governance related issues, patient safety etc. I can go days without talking to someone! Everything is done by emails.
Something in audit or research might suit you?
As a pp noted, online therapy, do you have Kooth where you live? Although if it's online you may not need to live near! Only potential issue with that is whether you're technically employed as a nurse or not and if that would effect revalidation.
Quality Improvement teams perhaps?
Have you been able to speak with your trust as they should also be able to support you.
Hope you find something that suits you and you enjoy 😊

@negomi90

Talk to occy health and your ward manager about what you can do within your trust/ward that's non clinical and more admin while your issue is being sorted. Admin, managing students and the rota that sort of thing.

Exactly this. You'll be more useful than you seem to think, easier than a new alternative.

Good luck, hope things improve soon

@FightingFiles were you a band 5 when you started in research? Congratulations on starting your masters! I'm hoping o speak with my manager today @negomi90
Fingers crossed they will be able to find ne an alternative role. It just seems like a bit of a "weird" reason to request a limited speaking role. I don't know anyone in RL that has bad tmjd so I'm always having to explain it.your job sounds brilliant @Catipepo I actually got an email from from a job search site yesterday stating that kooth were looking for online counsellors, but unfortunately it seems you need a degree in counselling/psychotherapy as opposed to nursing. It's a shame, because I would have really enjoyed that type of work. My revalidation is in September and I've thankfully completed all my hours/training for the past 3 years. Im hoping to return to nursing once I have the jaw issues sorted (need physio first) but desperate need something in the meantime to help pay for all the treatment I need. I'm employed in the private sector so there may be less flexibility than the trust, but I'm hoping my boss will be able to find me something. Thank you for the kind words.
Thank you also @Pythonesque. Honestly never realised how much I took my jaw for granted before all this!!

Yes, started as a band 5. There is quite a bit of talking in a b5 research nurse role though, as you are talking to patients about trials. But if you could do data entry/queries or file management only, that might work.

Good luck. It sounds like a rubbish problem to have.