Color deficient nurses

[deja614]

First of all, "Hi!" :) I'm new to the board and this is my first post.

My husband and I are currently taking our pre-req's and we both hope to enter the ADN program next year.

However, DH is color blind. He can see colors, but has a hard time differentiating between red and green. I was wondering if this could have an impact on his future in nursing, and if so, how?

Are there any color blind nurses out there who can share some first hand knowledge?

Thanks!!

[Ted]

First off, I want to say, "Welcome"! Nice to meet you! :)

Secondly, good luck to you and your husband as you persue nursing as your career. It's a lot of work!!! But it's well worth the time and effort!

Finally. . . . You ask a good question. Of course you know that the color of blood is red. If one sees a greenish liquid squirting out of a deep pucture wound, I would hope that they apply pressure to help stop the bleeding. (Apologies. My wierd sense of humor at play. :imbar) I would hope that colleges and future places of employment would not be discriminatory against your husband's color blindness. Off hand, I don't know of any color blind nurses. But that's not to mean that they don't work at the hospital bed-side. But in all honesty, I can only think of one important instance of when being color-blind would be a handicap (and there may be more instances too). This one instance involves interpreting certain tests like urinalysis dip-sticks and occult blood cards for stool (and other specimens). On a Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) unit I used to work on, we used to check urine for pH and stool for blood using these tests. In order to do this, we all had to be checked for color-blindness. (It's important to see the blues and the greens for these particular tests.) I guess the nurse who was color-blind would not be able to perform these particular tests. Interesting question you ask and I'm looking forward to reading the responses.

Again, Welcome! :)

Ted

P. S. I've vacationed in the northern part or North Carolina. North Carolina is a beautiful state!!!

[pickledpepperRN]

We have a color blind nurse who is not allowed to do urine dipsticks. The competency validation requires being able to differentiate a number on paper with spots of color clearly I can see a '6' or if upside down a '9'.

He cannot so someone else must do the dipsticks for him. That task is specific and time limited. He is a fine nurse able to provide excellent care otherwise.

Sometimes he starts an IV for me so I am very glad to do the dipstick for his patient.

[palesarah]

my dad is a nurse, and is red/green color blind. It's never been a problem for him.

[Havin' A Party!, ASN, RN]

Colors (especially green) are kinda important in the health professions.

However, the disadvantage at issue has been around a long time... so I'm sure there've gotta be work-arounds in place.

Good luck to both of you!

[llg, PhD, RN]

My dad was a red-green color blind physician and it wasn't a big issue.

llg

[rjflyn, ASN, RN]

I was tested in the past at start of employment for several nurse jobs. I never made much of it so one of the last times I asked. The nurse doing the screen at that time said it was there policy that a color blind nurse could not pass medications in there facility. She went on to add since it was a pre-employment post offer screen some hospitals - Now im not sure if it is covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act, wont hire you.

Rj:rolleyes:

[deja614]

Thanks for the input everyone!! Very helpful information.