case of discrimination (hearing impaired)?

bgxyrnf, MSN, RN · Jul 8, 2017

During her 1st clinical prac, the Clinical Facilitator thought that my wife cannot do manual blood pressure and made it a requirement that my wife does 4 manual blood pressure tests, checked by RNs (within 10mm Hg) otherwise she would fail.

That is unreasonable, IMO. First off, any BP is often not repeatable within 10mm on successive measurements, whether done manually or automatically. Further, two different people are likely not to get precisely the same pressures.

My wife failed the prac as an indirect consequence of this additional stress.

How do you draw that conclusion?

And even if stress is a contributor, I can assure you that there is quite a bit of stress in measuring the BP of an unresponsive patient with weak, thready pulses.

Stress is not a good excuse.

In my opinion this requirement is tantamount to a hearing test and constitutes blatant disability discrimination.

To me, it does constitute discrimination if it was required only of her but nobody else.

My wife has an over-average stethoscope (but not a digitally amplified one)

That should be sufficient unless her hearing loss is severe in which case she should absolutely have an amplified 'scope and it was a bit foolish not to be equipped with the best possible equipment prior to a high-stakes test.

JustBeachyNurse, LPN · Jul 9, 2017

Discrimination laws varies by country. Does Australia have an equivalent of the American's with Disabilities Act? Such issues would be handled by the university office of disabilities but before enrolling in class in the US the ADA and Section 504 of the Rehabilutation Act of 1973 require post-high school/university students to self-identify to the office of student disabilities to seek accommodations & support.

Stress is not an argument. If your wife voluntarily entered into a learning contract that may be binding regardless if she had additional requirements

Silverdragon102, BSN · Jul 9, 2017

Moved to the Nursing in Australia/New Zealand forum

debiklages, MSN, RN · Sep 6, 2017

In Australia, where I am currently practicing as well as in Canada where I worked for many years there are tests that nursing students and registered nurses need to pass. In order to practice as a registered nurse a student nurse needs to successfully complete clinical competencies. One of the competencies is vital signs.

There is a provision to "reasonably accommodate" a person who has identified that they have a disability but that does not override the duty of the educational institution to provide safe health care practitioners.

For example would you want a pilot to fly a plane if he had a hearing impairment that affected his ability to hear the air traffic control instructions.

If the nursing student has visual impairments or hearing impairments that can be corrected then there is no danger to practice safely. I too have a hearing impairment and have hearing aids. My impairment does not affect my ability to practice safely.