Can't get hired due to hearing loss

athena55, BSN, RN · Jan 7, 2009

Quick question...Do you use hearing aids? Or did you get a Cochlear implant?

So WHY do you mention your hearing loss???? Or being on disability???? I see it as a Don't Ask, Don't Tell issue.

Let your resume, your experience speak VOLUMES for YOU.... Arrange an interview and show up and SHINE....

Now if you can prove that they denied you work r/t to your hearing or lack of....Contact the Department of Justice (DOJ)....www.usdoj.gov/

Again, Why on earth would you mention what could be perceived from ignorant others as a deficit???? The only thing you can't do is hear.....Nothing wrong with your brain! Gosh, it makes me so *******' angry!!

athena

llg, PhD, RN · Jan 7, 2009

Exactly what are you saying about your hearing? etc. How bad is your hearing? Did you just lose the hearing in one ear? ... Or have you lost hearing in both ears? etc. etc. etc. How much of an impairment is your hearing in the work environment?

I am totally deaf in one ear and have normal hearing in another. My hearing has a minimal impact on my job (which is not in direct patient care). What I chose to do was to NOT mention it until AFTER I had interviewd face-to-face and they could see that I could interact with people in a totally ordinary fashion. On the application section that mentioned disabilities, I claimed a "mild hearing and balance loss" that would have "minimal impact on my work." When I discussed it at the end of the face-to-face interview, I emphasized that I would not need special accommodations except for the fact that I didn't like to take notes at meetings because it's hard to write and listen at the same time.

What are the facts about your abilities and how are you presenting them?

derektrn97 · Jan 7, 2009

I am totally deaf. I had both hearing nerves severed or damaged when the Acoustic Neuroma's were removed. At the time of the second surgery in 2004, a Auditory Brainstem Implant was placed. The ABI is similar in funtion to the Cochlear, but I am only able to morph a unilateral tone with my lip reading skills to increase my success at lip reading. When I wear my device, I do hear "everything", so like a person with hearing aids or CI, all noise is picked up, and hard to distinguish male from female or direction. But, I am quite capable of picking out a phone/doorbell ringing, IV pump or similar repeatative noises. And as long as you are facing me, I avg about 80% accuracy with my lip reading.

ok, to answer the first response. I have changed my approach as of late, and with new interviewees. I also changed the information on my resume as that it wouldn't reflect my limitation. I did interview yesterday for an ER position in a small county hospital. I did quite well, I might add. I only needed maybe 3 questions repeated during the two interviews. I really felt good about it, and was beginning to think I had the job after being given the tour of the hospital....and the Payroll Dept Head in the same interview. But, they said there were 5 more people to interview and I would know something by the end of the week.

second response: most of what I have said should answer your primary questions. What am I saying? Well, thats what has put me in this position to start with. I thought full disclosure was a must, as to not look like I am hiding anything. At first, I was looking for something that was not direct patient care related, but didn't matter to them. They brought up the issue of not being able to take phone calls, or M.D's not able to converse with me, normally. So, I took all of the "deaf", "Audtitory Brainstem Implant" info out of my resume and just explained what I have been doing the past four years I have been away from nursing.

I will say, I jumped the gun on this current job application as when I finally was able to reach the Nurse Manager and she was very interested in knowing when I could start, I disclosed my limitations. But, I was called back and asked to come in and interview. I feel like I did quite well, as I mentioned above, and progressed onto the second interview with the dept manager. In that second interview, I mentioned again, that I had some limitations, but didn't go to deeply into what I could or could not do. I want to let my actions prove what I am capable of.

So, I hope this answered all the questions and thanks for your responses!

athena55, BSN, RN · Jan 8, 2009

good for you.... i will keep my fingers crossed that you get that job!

i went through the same thing as you did....proud of who i am....went through a period where i was so very mad at "hearies" but i am older and wiser now:d i am not late-deaf, born that way

and i try to let my actions speak so much more louder. as you know we must deal with ignorant, unknowledgeable "outsiders" on a daily basis.

now my attitude is "nose throw" (asl) like the lyrics go "life ain't worth a damn if you can't shout out i am what i am"

athena

llg, PhD, RN · Jan 9, 2009

I think the issue is and probably will be how they perceive your ability to hear in a rapidly changing emergency situation. How will you handle a code? What will happen when you are in the midst of 2 or 3 people all barking orders at the same time and the patient/family is there making noise as well? Are you likely to misunderstand a communication from someone with a heavy accent? etc. etc. etc.

I think these are the types of scenarios that people are imagining when they are deciding whether or not to hire you. Be prepared to proactively address their concerns as soon as you disclose your hearing issues. I think you should be prepared to show/reassure people that you will be able to function well in those types of situations -- not just the "normal conversation" that happens in an interview situation. If you won't be able to function well in those types of situations, then it is unlikely that you will get a job in a direct care role -- particularly in an acute care setting -- and you should start considering other types of nursing jobs where "high risk" communication won't be such a big issue.

That may not be what you wanted to hear, but I think that is what is happening. I wish you the best of luck in finding a position in which your hearing will not be a big issue.

derektrn97 · Jan 9, 2009

I think the issue is and probably will be how they perceive your ability to hear in a rapidly changing emergency situation. How will you handle a code? What will happen when you are in the midst of 2 or 3 people all barking orders at the same time and the patient/family is there making noise as well? Are you likely to misunderstand a communication from someone with a heavy accent? etc. etc. etc.
I think these are the types of scenarios that people are imagining when they are deciding whether or not to hire you. Be prepared to proactively address their concerns as soon as you disclose your hearing issues. I think you should be prepared to show/reassure people that you will be able to function well in those types of situations -- not just the "normal conversation" that happens in an interview situation. If you won't be able to function well in those types of situations, then it is unlikely that you will get a job in a direct care role -- particularly in an acute care setting -- and you should start considering other types of nursing jobs where "high risk" communication won't be such a big issue.
That may not be what you wanted to hear, but I think that is what is happening. I wish you the best of luck in finding a position in which your hearing will not be a big issue.

And I totally see and agree with what you have said.....but it hasn't limited itself to just direct care positions. I initially started looking at paperwork, or desk jobs. It was then that they refused to even interview me, without any explanation. How do I know what I am capable of unless I get in there and do something. So, that lead me to the "all or nothing" approach, especially after reading some of the stories on allnurses. It can be done, with a little modification here or there. As an old ASL instructor once told me, my ears are my eyes. I don't need to hear what a doctor is saying or nurses are saying in a code, if I am the one charting it. I can see what they are giving, I can read cardiac monitors, or Zoll packs.

I believe you addressed this in your post also, when you said "reassure them". And that's what I would like to do. But it is a common misperception among hearing people about what we hearing impaired nurses are capable or not capable of doing. I am not asking for someone to forget that I have limited hearing, just don't judge me based on what you read. I have no problem not doing bedside nursing, but all I can offer is where my experience is at. As I had mentioned before, obviously it's a doable thing, I personally worked with an ER physician who was very hard of hearing and wore bilateral ITE aids.

Thanks for responding!!