Classmate with hearing problem

[CorpsmanRN, BSN, RN]

I have a classmate who has stated that they have trouble hearing. Even though (s)he sits within the first 2 rows of the classroom, (s)he still has to ask "what was that? I didn't catch what you said". (S)he also tries to stay positioned where (s)he can read lips, but it's not always possible.

Some of my other classmates & I have tried to tell him/her that (s)he needs to get an audiogram to evaluate the level of hearing loss, but (s)he won't do it. (S)he just brushes it off and states 'ya, I know I have bad hearing'. (S)he has not been in the healthcare environment before (aside from clinicals), therefore doesn't seem to realize that (s)he is not always going to be in his/her needed hearing conditions. (S)he will not always have coworkers or patients who will speak loudly or will be facing him/her directly (to read lips). Another struggle for him/her is people with heavy foreign accents. We (classmates & I) worry that (s)he will hurt a patient because (s)he will not have correctly heard an order given or hear assessment sounds correctly. (S)he has an interest in Peds & ED. Especially in the ED, when things get "chaotic" & time is precious, a Dr. or other nurse isn't going to put up with someone consistently asking "what did you say?"

We don't think (s)he realizes that their hearing loss can be severe enough to need hearing aids & possibly those specialty stethoscopes with aids built in. (S)he is the type to feel like we are ganging up on him/her if we approach the issue (and yes, some of us have individually said something to him/her). It has been somewhat mentioned to our Director of Nursing, but they said they can't force him/her to get tested. One classmate suggested having everyone tested so that (s)he isn't singled out. In our application for the program, we had to get a "medical screening" by our physician with questions about medical conditions we may have. We wonder if hearing loss was mentioned on this person's screening.

So my questions are: Is there a way to require this person to get tested? Couldn't the program's DON ask her to get tested and bring in results? We are frustrated with him/her always saying "I didn't hear that get said in class" or constantly having the instructor repeat something already said because they didn't hear it the first time. (S)he has even given the same answer as another classmate sitting a few seats away because (s)he didn't hear them say it. You can tell (s)he's hard of hearing by the level in which (s)he speaks....loud! We always have to tell him/her to lower their voice.

Sorry for the novel, but we are due to start our preceptorship soon and will be graduating later this year. Any guidance on what to do or input on whether we are going about it in a good or bad way is greatly appreciated!. We'd hate to see this person ruin their nursing career over something that could have been taken care of. It's not like they'd be the only hard-of-hearing nurse out there. Thanks!!

[ukstudent]

I don't think that you and your classmates have anything to worry about. It is not your job to make sure that he/she is a safe nurse. If she/he passes school, passes the nclex and gets employed in todays economy, then it will be her/his managers job to evaluate if she/he is safe.

He/she might get a job that the hearing loss does not effect. And if they get a job that the hearing loss does effect and they don't do anything to fix it. They will probably lose the job. Still not your problem.

If it's the constant interruptions during class in order for information to be repeated, then that is something to be addressed with the teacher. The teacher could allow taping of the lecture and so reduce the interruptions. But seeing that you are about to do your preceptor-ship and graduate, I don't see the pressing need to correct this now.

[caliotter3]

If it were not this student causing interruptions, it would probably be someone else interrupting in a different manner. If you feel that strongly, tell the instructor that you do not appreciate the interruptions and let them deal with it. Otherwise, best to tend to your own concerns. This hard of hearing student is really not your concern.

[CorpsmanRN, BSN, RN]

Thanks! It's one of those 'do I say something or stay out of it' issues and we weren't sure which direction to take it. Sometimes these situations later become a 'why didn't say anything' scenario, we aren't sure if this was one of those times. Your suggestions are reasonable and definitely help. Thanks again!

[DolceVita, ADN, BSN, RN]

I do sometime wonder why an instructor, who is obviously observing this themselves (plus the disruption to others) wouldn't have had a discussion with the person. Maybe they did and were ignored too.

Hearing issues certainly don't, in themselves, make one a risk. Not getting the hearing assessed doesn't really put all the tools at this person's disposal -- that is a pity. Of course, I know how hard it is to start using a service for a disability -- especially one that is obvious to others. It can feel like having a big arrow pointing at your head saying "disabled person here".

I agree with what Caliotter3 said -- as far as the class interruptions it would just be someone else if he/she did not. We had someone who was pretty disruptive but it sure made those of us who used to ask questions etc. ad nauseam shut up (essentially we were just replaced).