[lilmaxine02]

hello im a new grad and have applyed to this great hospital in los angeles ...i was offered employment with a 4 months preceptorship i was so happy! a week later i was doing my physical exam everything went well ...until i got to the color blind test well i missed about three of the number color blotches..i have had NO problem with my vision before(as a child or during nursing school) and was even in the military and passed there very strict entrance exams....i got to see the dx. and he asked me a couple of questions and well he said "u can see ull be fine" and that was it. a week later i received a phone call from the employee health office removing my offer for the nicu dept. stating that it might be a risk for the pt's......first questions?
is this an american disabilty act violation?
im a great nurses! i even asked if i can c my own doctor and take the test again, or b assesed on my assesment skills on the floor before employment starts?... and they said "NO! theyres no point!""well let you contact HR and maybe place u in med-surg?"
what!!! i was shocked!
i was so angry, i made an appointment with optomology and had my eyes checked, i took the colorblind test over, and the DX stated that i have very mild color deficiency and it will NOT affect my everyday life or my job performance in AnYWAY! I HAVE THEN FORWARDED that paper TO HR......
WHAT SHOULD I DO NOW? SEARCH FOR ANOTHER EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY? OR Wait?
I LOVE THE NICU AND I COULD EASILY TELL BETWEEN AND ACYANOTIC CHILD AND A PINK BABY, FROM A DUCKY COLOR TO A PALE!
IM so confused please i need advice,
sincerely,
i can c it all nurse!

[CSM08MMS]

I'm not sure about an ADA act violation, but working in the NICU myself, I can see how being colorblind would put patients' safety at risk.

American with Disabilities Act

I'm so sorry to hear about this, I'm sure you must be devastated having your heart set on NICU. I am not familiar with the ADA act, but it may be a violation, I would recommend reading it carefully! You may also think about contacting someone in your state's HHS department that would know more.

Good luck with everything

[ukstudent]

I don't think it is a ADA violation. All they have to do is accommodate your disability, they did by offering you a job in med-surg. Your optomolgist does not know the specific requirements for working in a nicu, for this hospital, you do not fit the requirements. Job offers are always made with the condition of passing the health screen. Maybe another hospital will not have such strict requirements for nicu.

[dad2one]

I'm pretty certain that it is not an ADA violation anymore than it would be to bar someone who is blind from nursing. I can't say for certain with this job, but when I worked in the ED, failing the color-blindness test (even by one) DQ'ed you from working in the ED. The deal was, you have to be able to distinguish even minor variations in color for POC testing. In the ED, we dipped urine and you had to be able to distinguish minor variations to read the results. My guess is, there is probably something similar in your NICU. That really stinks that you can't work there, but I'd be really surprised if you had any recourse. Like someone else said, they are providing you with a similar position in another unit. The best advice I could give you if they won't let you take a second color-blindness test is to go to another NICU and ask if they have a color-blindness requirement and go from there. Sorry about the bad news. Good luck in the future!