Can I do nursing?

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Hi,

I am 18 years old and currently a senior in high school and I have been accepted to my dream school for the Fall semester. Currently I am undecided because of the possibility that I will not get admitted into nursing school. First off I want to clarify my condition. I have spina bifida, specifically myelomeningocele. I am in a wheelchair and have no feeling in my legs from the knees down. However, I do not have a shunt or any learning/mental impairments. I have great upper body strength and normal fine motor control. I do everything by myself and for myself. I am a VERY independent person. Basically, my only problem is that I am not able to walk. Anyways to my point... To the nurses out there, do you think that nursing is a possibility for me? I intend to speak to people at some nursing schools in my area about this, but my vocational rehab counselor keeps telling me I cannot do it, along with several other people. I am the type of person who does not just flat out take no for an answer and I intend to try to pursue my dream until I am absolutely positive I will not be able to do it. I am currently CPR certified and my only concern about nursing that I can think of is lifting and transferring patients. Can any nurses out there please give me their opinions on my situation? Sorry about the long entry!

Yikes. I am surprised by many, if not all but one, of the responses saying that it would not be possible. ANYTHING is possible. I would say contact that nursing program at the school you've selected and see what they say. I bet there is a way for you to do what you want Good luck!

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That is what I plan to do, I just have to find the right person to contact! The responses are mostly what I have expected, but all I can do is try my hardest! Thanks for the encouragement! (:

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Well, post a follow up on this thread to let us know this all plays out for you. I'm quite curious about your experiences in this endeavor. Good luck.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

A friendly suggestion is to shadow a bedside nurse for an entire 8-hour or 12-hour shift to get a feel for the pace, the movements needed, and so forth. Good luck to you!

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Thanks! I am currently in the process of getting that set up! I appreciate the suggestion.

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Thanks, I will.

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Hey Everyone! I promised to post an update of my progress, so here it is!

Not long after I posted this, I met with faculty at the nursing school that I will be applying to in about a year from now. We talked about my abilities and the requirements of nursing. She provided me with a list of technical skills needed, which I already had. I told her my biggest concern was going to be the ability to lift patients. She assured me that would not be an issue because all the hospitals in my area have patient lifts. We also talked about CPR, which she was concerned about. I believe it may be difficult to get certified by nursing standards, but I am currently certified with the American Heart Association. I am confident that I will be able to do it. She encouraged me to apply as a pre-nursing major at the school of my choice. She said that, yes it would be difficult, but that does not mean it cannot be done. I have also shadowed several nurses in addition to speaking to the faculty member. They each gave me their opinions and were very encouraging. I am receiving a power chair in about a month in addition to my manual chair. This chair has something called power seat elevate, which allows me to raise to the height of someone who can stand. I have been accepted as a pre-nursing major at the University have always dreamed of attending and I apply for nursing school in one year. Thanks to everyone for your encouragement! I will update again when I can.

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

Kudos to you for your persistence and seeking out the advice of a nursing program faculty member. The fact that you passed the AHA CPR credential means a lot as AHA is the standard for the majority of most nursing schools and nursing jobs. It's heartwarming to read such a positive post from a bright, driven young student. Congratulations on your acceptance to a pre-nursing program! I think it is awesome that you are already aware of what accommodations you have available to use to assist you to meet program standards. :bow::yelclap:

As a nurse who works with medically complex pediatric patients you are a shining example of what can be accomplished.

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Thank you very much. It means a lot!

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Specializes in Acute Care Psych, DNP Student.

wheelchair fails to deter paraplegic from nurse's life | the honolulu advertiser | hawaii's newspaper

from his wheelchair, barry mckeown has connected iv bags for accident victims, monitored heart rates in the intensive care unit, counseled geriatric patients-saving the life of one with emergency cpr- comforted sick children and given inspiration to innumerable patients facing personal tragedies.

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[td=align: left][color=#333333]barry mckeown of kane'ohe practices inserting an iv needle into a mannequin arm at hawai'i pacific university. eugene tanner * the honolulu advertiser[/td]

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he has raced his wheelchair down the halls of kaiser permanente with a 7-year-old opponent in a wheelchair of his own. and on jan. 7, when mckeown rolls up the ramp to the stage at the waikiki shell as part of a hawai'i pacific university graduating class of 600, he will likely become the first paraplegic in hawai'i, and quite possibly the nation, to receive a bachelor's degree in nursing.

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I have actually read this. Thank you!

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