Can I be a nurse with my 1 hand my pinky n ring finger doesn’t have full range of motion

Martin Martinez · Jul 27, 2021

Names Alexandria

K. Everly, BSN, RN · Jul 29, 2021

Hi Alexandria, I really don't see why not. Our skilled fingers are our thumb, pointer, and middle. As long as you still have good grip strength and a decent level of dexterity to hold viles and draw up medications with syringes, I don't see why you shouldn't continue toward your dreams.

As a first-generation college graduate who has also experienced homelessness, addiction, and trauma, I want to validate all you've been through and just let you know your lived experience will be a tremendous asset to your patients and the profession.

Emergent, RN · Jul 29, 2021

Yes you can, I have a worse problem than that with my left hand fingers after a traumatic hand injury. Your worst problem will be typing. I'm pretty much a Hotshot when it comes to starting IVs and doing other procedures. Concentrate on learning a new method of typing, I have a real hard time and it's stressful for me to type, but I am older than you and it's harder to retrain myself.

Martin Martinez · Jul 31, 2021

I really appreciate your responses so far.

Kitiger, RN · Jul 31, 2021

I had a friend who was born with one hand missing. She had a hook/pincer type of prosthesis. She worked as a nurse, and cared for their toddler.

You can do this. ?

speedynurse, ADN, BSN, RN, EMT-P · Aug 2, 2021

Yes. I don’t have full ROM of my right hand due to a nerve injury and may never have full ROM. I have learned to compensate with my left hand and even became proficient in Pediatric IVs. I do have trouble with chest compressions and typing, but not a big deal in the area of nursing I am in now.

Martin Martinez · Aug 4, 2021

‘Sufficient bilateral finger movement to manipulate medical equipment.’
or ‘manual dexterity (gross and fine movements) ie physical assessment or medication administration’

- on two nursing applications and I found this on holy family universities website

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Holy Family University’s Office of Disability Services provides reasonable accommodations to qualified students with a disability (physical, psychological, learning, ADHD, chronic health-related, etc.). Please note that accommodation plans will not be retroactively implemented.

Martin Martinez · Aug 4, 2021

I am becoming more and more overwhelmed with all these nursing applications and requirements also with not having anyone’s help or a mentor I’m getting a little frustrated it’s a lot of information and requirements and I feel like since my GPA is 2.79 which is not the best but again everything I’ve been through I am proud of myself. I am currently working on my essay to send to all the programs and I’m hoping that it’s going to give me a level up however I’m just getting really confused and again very overwhelmed over all the information and application requirements

Here is the prompt I’m using from Roxboroughs nursing application..

Martin Martinez · Aug 4, 2021

And my response so far: which again I will be sending to each program I apply to even if they don’t have a section for me too submit an essay I will send to the Director or admissions counselor anybody to get my story out there…. And it’s a work in progress I’m not finished.. however since I graduated and finished all my prerequisites I am now working on it again

When I was 13 I experienced a traumatic incident that led me to be put into the foster care system. I experienced trauma as a child however being on my own at 17 and my experience with the Sellers family changed my life. I was lucky enough to be put with a very diverse family with both parents having a darker skin tone then me and having adopted 3 sets of sisters and even having 3 biological children, two boys and a girl. The Sellers family had fostered over 100+ foster children and dedicated their lives to helping not only children but going out of their way to adopt older children. The Sellers family showed me unconditional love and compassion when I needed it the most, coming from a not so good situation. As a child and growing up I was always a very kind hearted girl, with a sense of amicability and a true love for people and especially working and caring for children was someone I really enjoyed. I have always been told how I have such a bubbly personality. I feel like the Sellers family only inspired me more to serve the Lord by loving, serving and praying for my even my enemies, strangers and of course, loved ones. When I lived with the Sellers family my older foster brother Brian would spend time with me mentoring and teaching me about this special word Agape meaning unconditional love and Gods unconditional love. Being an adult now, I not only live my life by the meaning of Agape however I try to do all things with love in my heart. In my opinion having sympathy and empathy are two of the most important qualities a person can have and especially in a nursing career. I honestly and genuinely believe that I posses these two special qualities. I am a very good listener and have excellent communication skills even during certain situations or scenarios when you may not be able to relate or understand what that individual is going through, being able to empathize and put yourself in their shoes while always keeping an open mind is extremely important and especially when taking care of patients. I am definitely a people person. I am genuinely caring and have a real passion for helping and caring for people and especially children.

My achievement is graduating at Community College of Philadelphia with an Associates of Arts in Health Care Studies May 2021. I received my permanent housing through an amazing program June 14, 2018. Soon after receiving my housing I registered for classes at CCP that fall of 2018. After my first semester getting acclimated I registered for Anatomy & Physiology 1 along with other classes even though I hadn’t taken a science since middle school. Although I attended 5 different high schools I ended up graduating from Coatesville High School and Center for Arts and Technology Brandywine Campus with Health Occupations. Regardless of my learning disability I ended up passing the AnP 1 with a C further to receive a B in Microbiology, Chemistry, Anatomy & Physiology 2, Statistics, and College level Math. I am officially the first participant in my housing program to graduate from college. I find giving back and serving others and the community to be so rewarding. In my personal experiences I have overcome many obstacles.

I genuinely believe my purpose in life is to serve others and do that through nursing. It’s my dream to complete my RN and pass the NCLEX so I can work in a children’s hospital and be able to give back to in need communities.