Question:
I work as a nursing assistant at a hospital when should I return to work.

I was just wondering how long I should wait till I return to work as a nursing assistant.I do lots of lifting and have heard that you can develop a hernia if you lift too much.On top of all of this I have a 4 year old and a 16 month old how do I tell them that Mommy cant lift them?    — Leanne S. (posted on October 2, 2001)

October 2, 2001
I am a nurse in a nursing home and being a nursing assistant is a very physical job. If you are having an open surgery most drs will tell you you cannot lift anything over ten lbs for at LEAST 8 weeks. However you will probably have to go on some kind of light duty for awhile after that time also. I am seven weeks post op and just tried turning someone the other night and boy did my upper abdomen hurt the rest of the night. Most nursing homes have a "light duty" program..where you will take care of residents not requiring lifting and such...they usually reduce your pay by ten percent during that time. As for your children, just show them your "owie" and explain if you lift them it could hurt it ...i went through this with my c-sections as all my children were very close together..they all seemed to understand and be very careful of mommies "owie"
   — paula B.