Hearing impaired RN wants to work but------

In following the obvious argument that is going on I have to throw my own two cents in here. All too often HOH or deaf people tend to get the impression that they have to prove something to everyone else and take it personal when a question is asked out of awe. Something we have to remember is that not everyone who asks you these questions has the capacity to understand what it is like, hence the questioning. I take it as flattery, that what I do impresses someone enough that they wonder how I manage. How can that ever become bothersome? The mistake that seems to be made is the assumption that you are being looked down upon. Truth be told we do have a disability you know. Why do you think there is so much media coverage on people like the single mother who has no arms? How many times do you think she is asked how she does it. Hearing is a thing people tend to take for granted, they dont know the tricks we do, they havent had to learns them, so it truly does become an amazment to them, the way you can compensate your hearing in an operating room situation. Sometimes the question is simply dumbfound curiousity, nothing to take personal....

While I appreciate the time you took to respond, I will say this....The writer who called several people ***** about answering questions was obviously looking to vent and does not seem to grasp the concept that some people do not like being called ***** when they never were.

do I need to "quote" how you and llg responded to the question? both of you took offense and by taking offense, it came off as p.issy. How would you describe your response? and "p.issy" was the word I used in my original response, nothing harsher than that.

Hi,
I have been reading this thread- I am severely hearing impaired and wear bilat bte digital aids. I am going in to my second year of nursing to be an RN. The question of hearing when people are wearing masks is a fair question and one that I ask myself- because I don't know yet what my limitations will be when I graduate.
I was excited to see the question asked- hoping for some good responses that would suggest I might actually be allowed to work in a med-surg unit- or work in the ED- because I assumed those two places would be off limits to me.
I do take my aids out to use my steth with pts in clinicals, but I would be concerned about needing to use my steth in a hurry and the seconds it takes to remove them- and also the risk of losing them- and also not being able to hear instructions while the aids are out. I would think I would need a lot of experience to be able to rely on body language and such in the medical setting- this being the only good suggestion I have read through this thread after the question of masks was made. (unless I missed something).
I do have a second scope with cables but haven't been to the audiologist to have my aids adjusted for the tones for it.
I also am fearful of the telephones in the facilities because of the hearing difficulties, and when I have had to answer a call, I become very frustrated, as a pt shouldn't have to repeat themselves and I am embarrassed to have to tell a co-worked I can't understand what they are saying.
I would like to see the feuding end and maybe have some real answers to these issues- I was not at ALL offended by the question of the masks- and ask the same question myself.

Ok, first off, congrats on not letting limitations keep you from something you want to do. It took me several years to learn that I was the same person as before my hearing loss, just with a little alteration.

I presently work in the ER. Of course, I have a familiarity with ER prior to losing my hearing, so when the choice came between two job offers, ER or Home Health, you can see which one I took. But, prior to starting back, I had to put myself through several scenarios on how to address obstacles related to my hearing. And all have a way around them, without jeopardizing pt care, yourself or your coworkers.

Now, it obviously helps to have nurses/coworkers who are understanding and will work with your limitations. And I do have that, in spades. Concerning the pts, "don't want to repeat themselves" comment.....bullstuff! If you are honest about your limitations up front when presenting yourself, they understand and are happy to repeat themselves. In the short period of 3wks, working at the bedside, I have occasionally had to have them repeat themselves, without incident.

Addressing the phone issue: I have come across a wonderful way to call report to the floors, and again, with a quick explanation of how the phone/computer issue will help me in giving a better report, I have yet to encounter any problems.

Is there anyway you can just utilize one ear with your stethoscope? I know when I lost the hearing in my left ear first, my remaining good ear was sufficient enough to use the stethoscope in a adequate manner. If you can, then that should also solve the issue of not missing something that is said by the pt or another nurse/doctor. It isn't imperiative that you use both earpieces to hear correctly with auscultation.

Ok, rambled enough, hope I answered all of your questions. If you are interested in the website I utilize for calling report, just let me know.