Brain tumor dx

leslie :-D · Sep 18, 2007

first and foremost, congratulations in coming as far as you have.

while i'm very sorry for all your struggles, i very much admire your determination and vision.

if you don't mind me asking, how do you compensate for your cognitive deficits?

once i can understand 'how' you do 'what', then hopefully will be able to answer you re: critical care nsg.....or, just nsg.

leslie

Soup Turtle · Sep 18, 2007

I'm just a student, but I think it would be a good idea to let your employer know what's going on. It sounds as if you've got a long (and sometimes very tough) road ahead of you...you'll need support and understanding.

It sounds like you're very determined and just might be able to make this work. I wish you the best.:balloons:

woody62, RN · Sep 18, 2007

I guess my question is this: is it possible to be a good nurse in critical care (what I really want) if I have cognitive deficits? I am aware of these deficits and have found ways around them and I know that you don't have to tell your employer about any disability unless it affects your ability to do the job (right?) yet my biggest fear is that I hurt someone in the process of trying to be in a field that I really want. I don't want to be greedy and I don't want to give anything up that I don't have to.
Who knows perhaps I'll never have to worry about these questions(maybe I'll hit the lottery or something!) but any advice would be greatly appreciated.

What is the level of our cognitive deficits, if you don't mind me asking? I suffered three major head injures, in 1972, 1980 and 1989. After the third one, I suffered cognitive impairments and got assistance in dealing with them. I returned to graduate courses, in 1996-98, at the University of South Florida. And later on, at Russell Sage College, in upstate New York. I had some problems with remembering things and had to learn an entire new way of dealing with my course work. I taped all of my lectures, as well as took notes. I outline it chapter and highlighted the areas the professor had stressed. My biggest problem was my test because they were all essay. But I managed to deal with them. Keep working on your deficits and you will improve over time. I don't think that you will be bared from working in ICU, but I would mention the problem once I was hired. They will keep an extra eye on you, but you should do all right.

Good luck with your chemo.

Woody:balloons:

sharona97, BSN, RN · Sep 20, 2007

I'll keep you in my prayers. You have come a long way!

cmo421 · Sep 20, 2007

I'm not a nurse yet, but as long as I pass this last semester I will have my ADN in December and be ready to sit for boards. Only 11 weeks left!
I was dx'd with a brain tumor in 2002. Anaplastic Astrocytoma grade III, had surgery and chemo and went through a lot to be as cognitive and able as I am at this date. In May of this year I had a regular MRI and ever since have been dealing with a recurrence and am currently doing chemo and holding off on surgery until I get out of school. My biggest problem right now is nausea during chemo week, fatigue *all the time* (but who isn't fatigued from nursing school?!), and I have noticed that my word finding ability is starting to deteriorate again along with some short-term memory problems.
I've been to this date an A student. Yet, this semester I'm finding it harder and harder to concentrate on studies and have been getting B's on my tests. In clinical I am able to hold it pretty well together aside from chemo week when I'm just washed out, yet I still do what I have to do and no one has really commented on a decline in clinical skills. The chair of the program knows what I am going through along with my three best buddies in the program, and my clinical instructor. My clinical instructor had graded me for three weeks before I told her about my issues (and I wouldn't have told her aside from the fact I was having a super bad day and was in the bathroom a lot) so I feel that her assessment of saying that clinically I was very competent and able to do the job was sincere.
I guess my question is this: is it possible to be a good nurse in critical care (what I really want) if I have cognitive deficits? I am aware of these deficits and have found ways around them and I know that you don't have to tell your employer about any disability unless it affects your ability to do the job (right?) yet my biggest fear is that I hurt someone in the process of trying to be in a field that I really want. I don't want to be greedy and I don't want to give anything up that I don't have to.
Who knows perhaps I'll never have to worry about these questions(maybe I'll hit the lottery or something!) but any advice would be greatly appreciated.

May I say that you have alot of courage and strength. I am sure that when you have recovered you will know what your limitations are(if any) and will work with them. Honesty is always best and it makes everyones life easier. Shoot for whatever you want, you will have alot to share and give to those you care for. Good Luck and be sure to keep us posted!

sunnydaydream · Dec 7, 2007

I haven't got back here in awhile, but i wanted to thank you all for the support and encouragement.

I had four interviews these past weeks and when I left I truly had no idea how they went, but I was honest about what was going on and about the deficits that can and cannot be seen. I also told them that I would probably never be able to work full time, but I wanted a job and to experience what a nurse does and I couldn't guarantee that I would be a long term employee.

Well... I must have done okay because all four units offered me a job. After a lot of thought and talking to a lot of people including my docs I have decided to continue on this path and obtain a job. I picked the bone marrow transplant unit. Do I think that this will be hard and something that I may fail at? Yes, but one can only try and see where it takes her. I think though that I am just as competent as any other person graduating in my class and I know my limits and inabilities to keep me from injuring either a patient or myself.

It's a big step, but I'd rather do that than lay down and die without trying to accomplish something to the end.

At any rate I wish you and yours a wonderful holiday!

Diary/Dairy, RN · Dec 7, 2007

Glad to hear that you are doing well and will be able to work! You are a trooper!

Agnus · Dec 7, 2007

Very impressive. You sound like a terrific person and nurse. Congratulations!

niali · Jan 7, 2008

You will inspire me to do my best......I really admire you.

TeleRN44 · Feb 16, 2008

First off, congratulations on making it through school and second, I too admire your determination in following your dream.

I was diagnosed in 2003 with a brain tumor that destroyed a portion of my skull and was attatched to my brain stem and spinal cord. I underwent a subtotal resection and 40 proton beam radiation treatments.

While I am currently disease free, I suffer from the combined effects of surgery and radiation. Let's just say you can't poke around near the cranial nerves and not mess things up a bit. The radiation, given at the highest dose they could dole out due to the residual tumor, has killed off my anterior pituitary.

I found out about the the tumor the day after taking my LVN boards. However, I've continued to work towards my goal of RN despite the hurdles. I'd be graduating this summer from the ADN program I got into (LVN to RN bridge) but we're military and moved last summer. I'm busy reapplying now in our new state. Yeah!!! :rolleyes:

The issue of deficits isn't an issue if you're up front, in my experience. My employers have been more than understanding about whatever issues I had going on...co-workers too. I have intermittent diplopia, slight hearing loss in both ears, I fatigue easily and then there are the ever present follow up appointments with specialists. The medications I have to take (topamax, in particular) make me feel like I'm pushing thoughts through a strainer...but I get by.

But I come to work, I do my job and I'm trying...which makes me feel like I'm working towards something. I'm also showing my kids that when things don't work out the way we've planned or something bad happens...it doesn't mean game over, KWIM?

Good luck with the new job and you're in my thoughts and prayers!

FranEMTnurse, CNA, LPN, EMT-I · Feb 18, 2008

First off, congratulations on making it through school and second, I too admire your determination in following your dream.
I was diagnosed in 2003 with a brain tumor that destroyed a portion of my skull and was attatched to my brain stem and spinal cord. I underwent a subtotal resection and 40 proton beam radiation treatments.
While I am currently disease free, I suffer from the combined effects of surgery and radiation. Let's just say you can't poke around near the cranial nerves and not mess things up a bit. The radiation, given at the highest dose they could dole out due to the residual tumor, has killed off my anterior pituitary.
I found out about the the tumor the day after taking my LVN boards. However, I've continued to work towards my goal of RN despite the hurdles. I'd be graduating this summer from the ADN program I got into (LVN to RN bridge) but we're military and moved last summer. I'm busy reapplying now in our new state. Yeah!!!
The issue of deficits isn't an issue if you're up front, in my experience. My employers have been more than understanding about whatever issues I had going on...co-workers too. I have intermittent diplopia, slight hearing loss in both ears, I fatigue easily and then there are the ever present follow up appointments with specialists. The medications I have to take (topamax, in particular) make me feel like I'm pushing thoughts through a strainer...but I get by.
But I come to work, I do my job and I'm trying...which makes me feel like I'm working towards something. I'm also showing my kids that when things don't work out the way we've planned or something bad happens...it doesn't mean game over, KWIM?
Good luck with the new job and you're in my thoughts and prayers!

very inspiring!!!!