Can I be a nurse with a colostomy?

ItsThatJenGirl, CNA · Jun 12, 2016

I imagine that's a question for your doctor.

Good luck :)

Pursenurse77 · Jun 12, 2016

I am not a nurse....so you can take what I say with a grain of salt. I honest cannot see why it would be a problem?? I would go above the doctor and ask the people that be that make decisions on who can become a nurse and who cannot (the BON right??) the worst you can do is ask someone, who does not make the decision, give you the wrong information. I would also find out who is in charge of your disability rights and try and contact them to see what they have to say.

Amistad, RN · Jun 12, 2016

That absolutely should not disqualify you from being a nurse.

NevadaFighter, BSN, RN · Jun 12, 2016

I don't really see how it would...or why you would even have to let anyone know that you have one. The only problem I could potentially see is that if you were working on a particular busy unit where patients were often confused and grabbing at things. I've seen patients practically pull a girl's hair out before and they have tried taking things out of my pockets. I think the solution to that would to wear some sort of a tight undershirt to bind it down a bit. It would also help with it not getting caught on anything. You can look at it like this...I often have to stop whatever I'm doing so I can run to the bathroom, and you at least won't have that to worry about, at least with making a BM. Good luck!

cecile9155, BSN, RN · Jun 12, 2016

Yes. A nurse at my facility had one for a while.

CrunchRN, ADN, RN · Jun 12, 2016

Absolutely.

meanmaryjean, DNP, RN · Jun 19, 2016

Back in the day, the only way to become a certified ostomy nurse was to HAVE an ostomy. My daughter is a WOCN, and had an ostomy at age 11.

According to your recent posts, you have a variety of medical conditions.

Alicia777, MSN, NP · Jun 19, 2016

Of course! I would think the physical demands would match what you're doing as an aide right now

BellaBlackwell · Jun 19, 2016

Back in the day, the only way to become a certified ostomy nurse was to HAVE an ostomy. My daughter is a WOCN, and had an ostomy at age 11.
According to your recent posts, you have a variety of medical conditions.

Thats awesome that your daughter decided to become a nurse despite her health challenges. That's kind of like me. I do have my share of health issues, and they will make nursing challenging, but definitely not impossible. And these health issues actually are what sparked my interest in nursing. My family struggles with health as well. I do advanced wound care for my grandpa in between wound center appointments and home health nurse visits, and I'm currently writing this post from the recliner in the corner of my mom's PCU room where she battles cardiomyopathy and I visit her and battle a headache, IBS, and chronic fatigue flare.

I was in this same wing of this hospital a few years ago when I heard the code blue called for my grandma and had to keep calm in front of my dad and grandpa who had no idea what was going on.

I want to use what I've been through to help other people get through the challenges they face and provide good compassionate care no matter how hard to figure out the patient is or how much of a frequent flyer they are.

After all, everyone that walks through the doors of a healthcare facility, unless they're there for a checkup, is hurting in one way or another, and needs our help!

jaycam, RN · Jun 19, 2016

Some of us find inspiration in our own health issues. We've seen the good, the bad, and the ugly. We know enough to have empathy. If you have it managed, I don't see why it would be anymore of an issue than any other chronic yet stable medical diagnosis.

loriangel14, RN · Jun 20, 2016

You have no obligation to tell anyone you have one and it won't stop you from being a nurse. Best of luck .