Can someone with poor audition become a nurse?

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Hi everyone!

My friend has lost a great amount of hearing on her left ear. She says she hears a buzzing sound all the time and sometimes she cannot understand some of the things people say to her. The thing is that she wants to be a nurse more than anything. We are about to start nursing school together in a few months and I know she is worried about this. So, can someone who can't hear well become a nurse? Will this be a problem for her in school? She says she hears well with her other ear, but will that be enough?

Thanks for any comment!

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Specializes in Rural Health.

I used to work with a nurse that had lost some of his hearing, I believe he had to order a special stethoscope because of it. He is the DON at the nursing home where we worked together now.

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Specializes in Pediatric Hem/Onc.

I have decreased hearing in both ears, and one is more noticeable than the other (that side also has intermittent tinnitus.) I can't hear whispering sometimes (which sucks on night shift and someone is telling me something in a room lol) and I have to use my own stethoscope instead of the disposable ones my unit uses. For infection control purposes, I simply clean with hospital approved wipes between patients.

It's totally doable :) My hearing loss may be 20-30% at the most on my bad side so I only need a Littman Classic and I'm good.

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Specializes in Pediatric Home Care, Dr Office/Clinic.

I think it's doable. She just needs to be really careful and make sure she definitely isn't shy to tell people to repeat things if she doesn't hear it right/all the first time around.

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Specializes in ICU.

She absolutely can. I've been a nurse for years, and I wear bilat hearing aides. I work in the acute care setting, and it's never been a problem that i'm aware of. I just use my own stethoscope instead of the disposable ones. Tell your friend "good luck" :)

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Specializes in OB (with a history of cardiac).

The one lactation RN who was also one of my postpartum RN's is mostly deaf, I know she wears hearing aids in both ears and you can tell with her speech. But she's a great nurse none the less!

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Oh Wow! These are great news! I cannot wait to tell her. She's been really worried about this. She also is afraid of telling anyone that she has this problem because she thinks the school may reject her as a nursing student. We are still in the process of acceptance, but I'm sure that they will accept her because her grades are outstanding. However, we are afraid that after they learn she has this problem they won't let her in the program. Do you think they could reject her if they knew?

Sorry for the many questions, but she is my best friend and I really want to help her.

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Specializes in Emergency Department.

I wear bilateral HAs and I was also quite concerned about being a nurse. I think that's why I prefer the ER setting vs med/surg, as I don't use the stethoscope very often. When I do, I have to take my HAs out to use the stethoscope, but I manage.

Though I don't like answering phones, I also cope with it. Yes, there are things I could never do like OR nursing as it really helps to see people's lips move to help me understand them.

The bottom line is, I AM a nurse, and I AM hard of hearing, and I do wear hearing aids.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.

Has your friend seen a specialist for her hearing issues?

Perhaps there's a remedy out there, or at least some remedial action to be taken, such as hearing aids?

I think a nursing school interviewer would be less troubled by the actual hearing loss than by a lack of investigation into an apparent medical condition that is symptomatic.

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Unilateral HA wearer here. No problems.

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I worked with one nurse that had impaired hearing...trust me...it was good she couldn't hear her co-workers :eek:

She was really good at running her mouth, though. Just like hearing nurses- folks accommodate for their weaknesses.

(and her hearing had nothing to do with their comments :uhoh3:)

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Specializes in Hospice, Palliative Care, Public Health.

My guess is that she will do fine, but might have limited ability in some specialties. For instance, my hearing is pretty good, but I noticed that in the OR, where everyone's mouths are covered and theres a lot of background noises with machines etc, even I had trouble hearing. That became just one of a number of reasons why OR was not for me. :)

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