I'm also a nurse, and I was off on short term disability for 6 months 2 years ago. I was approve for long term disability, but I went back to work so I never did that. I'm working full time again now, and I have been for about 15 months. If I get sick again I'll have to reapply for disability. When I came back to work I was put on a mental health monitoring program for 3 years, which is humiliating, but I was able to go back to work. My situation is a little bit complicated, I don't think they monitor everyone. If I make it to the 3 year mark, which is in 14 months, I will no longer be monitored. The monitoring would only start again if I get hospitalized, which I will never do again. Anyways, my point is there are hoops to jump through, but you can return to work after a period of disability.