Bad eyesight and nursing

Nurses General Nursing

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Hello all,

I am a graduate nurse who will be starting work in an ER in 2 weeks. I just had my work physical and got a call from HR re: my eyesight. HR asked if I had any problems/limitations. HR wanted to figure out if my vision problem can be "accomodated for" or not.

I have congenital high myopia in my left eye which is not correctable. Vision in the right eye is 20/20 with correction. I haven't had any problems working as a CNA or in nursing school (I have given injections, meds, hooked up IVs, etc.). No one (instructors, etc.) noticed any problems I haven't caused any harm to patients (wrong med because I couldn't read, for example) I have a limitation on my driver's license (outside mirrors) but that's it. I don't think I'm clumsier than anyone else but I'm not particularly mechanically inclined either ;)

Does anyone forsee any problems for me in clinical nursing because of my eyesight? Most things are close work and I do have some depth perception. I think HR was concerned about IV starts.

Thank you so much....yet another thing to worry about as a new grad.

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I honestly don't know. If you haven't had problems in the past, I'd think you wouldn't now.

I did work for a year or so with monovision-using one contact so I didn't wear bifocals. I don't know if that's a similar issue or not, but I had no problems with sticking people.

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Specializes in rehab; med/surg; l&d; peds/home care.

i agree that you would know of a problem by now, especially having made it through nursing school. did you start any iv's yet or just hooked up to existing one's? hmmm. i never knew of anyone with bad eyesight not being able to work as a nurse. i myself have horrible eyesight and i did have remolding of my corneas about a year ago due to an incompetent eye doc. i did miss some work until i adjusted. i had new scripts for glasses every week. that cost a lot of $$$.

but i would think if you could have the depth perception to drive and all, you'd have no problem working as a nurse. i wish the best for you! let us know what happens, ok?

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Specializes in ICU, Research, Corrections.
Hello all,

Does anyone forsee any problems for me in clinical nursing because of my eyesight? Most things are close work and I do have some depth perception. I think HR was concerned about IV starts.

Thank you so much....yet another thing to worry about as a new grad.

Congrats on getting your job! During my senior preceptorship I was having problems with my eyes due to a temporary vision change secondary to DKA. I had the most problems drawing up morphine in those skinny vials. It was much easier if I could bubble some air into the vial prior to drawing it up to see where the fluid ended. You might want to give that a try.

I don't think you will have a problem with IV starts as long as you can visualize the bevel of the needle. Infusion pumps should be no problem either.

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Thank you both so much for your replies. They are much appreciated. To tell you the truth, I never thought of my eyesight until HR called and then I panicked and am very worried now about working in the ED (just because of those IVs--they don't let us start them in school). Now I'll probably screw up because I'm obsessed with my bad eye!

I will let you know how it goes. Thanks!

ps-thank you ALL for your replies

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Doing the IV thing takes practice when you start anyway. If you can do other things like drawing meds you should be fine.

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