Deaf Nurses

doodlebuttRN · Feb 10, 2014

I am a hard-of-hearing RN, have worn over-the-ear aides since the age of 7. My mother is deaf. I find that as long as I make my co-workers/mgmt aware, they are almost always super supportive. One problem (this actually happens rather frequently, especially in big facilities with lots of staff- there was a guy I worked with for a couple years who did not know I am HOH, and he would say "hello" to me every day, and, not hearing him, I didn't respond. One day he asked me why I was ignoring him, and I explained and apologized. He told me (jokingly) that he had just thought I was a *****. We had a laugh, and continued to work together with no problems. Generally people are understanding.

One time though, when I was a new grad, the unit secretary of the tele unit I was working on called my name across the nurse's station. I was at the pyxis and didn't hear. I guess she called out to me a couple times, and eventually got fed up by my non-response (to her I was obviously ignoring her) and said, "What is she- ****ing deaf?!" loudly. I heard the tone of her voice over the general unit noise and lifted my head in time to see eveyone looking at me (and at her). It was explained, and she apologized. She was very upset, crying actually. I felt embarrased and just wanted to stay below radar. I was very new, intimidated, and did not want any drama. My boss was amazing and we all talked about it.

Other than that I have had few problems. I invested in an amplified stethoscope (a Littman- pricey, but totally worth it) and have had a satisfying and successful career so far. I believe that being deaf or HOH is generally a hurdle for others, not for me. And rarely even then. Maybe I have been lucky so far, but I know that it can be done. I would discuss some things with your audiologist, for example:

- a stethoscope compatible with your cochlear implants; I have to take my "ears" (as we call them in my family) out whenever I need to use my stethoscope which can be a pain, but is by no means an insurmountable obstacle.

- telephones: I don't know how you are with phones, but working in any facility you will obviously have to use them, and frequently. There are small devices that can fit in your pocket that attach to the receiver of a regular phone to amplify, and can be removed and attached easily. I am pretty sure that they vary by the type of phone, so if you are thinking of a particular facility, keep this in mind, and discuss it with your manager or whoever. They may be willing to help defray the cost (or pay completely- under the ADA, they may be required to).

I can't think of anything else at the moment, but I will try to think of more things that my help.

I hope this was helpful. Please remember that you are as deserving of respect as ANY hearing nurse you work with, and as you learn and grow as a nurse, I'm sure you will pick up little tricks and ways to get around the difficulties that come with being profoundly deaf in a medical/nursing environment. I wish you the best of luck!! Please PM if I can be of any further help at all. And don't be afraid to ask a doctor, nurse, or anyone else to repeat themselves; or to say (only if you feel comfortable, of course...) "Hi, my name is boston333, I will be your nurse today. I am hard of hearing, and I may ask you to repeat yourself, etc..." I find that saying something to this effect has often helped me build rapport with patients.

Nurses come in all shapes and sizes, and with all kinds of differences. You may encounter a deaf patient, who will be eternally grateful to have you there to interpret when a facility interpreter isn't available. You may be able to offer counsel and encouragement to deaf patients in their times of need. After all, that is important aspect of being a nurse.

I really really hope this was helpful. Good Luck!!!!!

ark88 · Jul 28, 2014

I received the cochlear implant at 5 years old and currently use the Nucleus 22 Freedom. I am profoundly deaf in both ears but was only implanted in the right ear. I too, like you, was raised in mainstream schools but had Cued Speech as my back up.

I just graduated from a registered nursing program in North Carolina and have been working at my local Level 2 trauma hospital in their med surg academy. I would highly recommend working as a CNA in a hospital to see if it is something that you would like to do and can handle stress wise prior to committing to a nursing program. I worked at the hospital for 6 months prior to figuring out that I wanted to go back to school to be an RN. Because I was already an established employee they allowed for me to go PRN (relief) through my RN schooling and reinterviewed me for the academy when I graduated. Hospital jobs are hard to come by nowadays (I'm sure it will change in the future per usual) so it is always good to get your foot in the door and get experience.

As far as stethoscopes go, practice practice practice! I use the Cardionics E Scope II and I LOVE IT. I use headphones that go over the microphone or a patch cord for this. Always ensure versatility just incase something happens to your headphones OR patch cord! =) I did not use transliterators or any accommodations throughout nursing school or during my CNA work experience... nor do I have any of that in my job now. For ME, I felt that it would be more of a nuisance than anything having a transliterator follow me around when rounding with patients. Plus, I hadn't had a transliterator (Cued Speech) since the 4th grade... so it just wouldn't have made sense for me.

The only downside to having an interpreter/ transliterator is that bosses when interviewing may question how you will be able to properly assess a patient if you are not able to understand them verbally such as listening to lung/heart/gastric sounds. You will need to be prepared to show how you will overcome this. I had to show my stethoscope in my interview and told them of how I accommodated it for contact rooms so I would be able to still care for contact patients thus increasing my employability. However, if it is something you need I would strongly suggest going to the director of the nursing program and talking to them yourself about transliteraters.

Good luck! =)

beckerz002 · Sep 4, 2015

Hello! I am a soon-to-be nursing student at Duke University. I am deaf with one cochlear implant on my left ear. Can somebody elaborate on about making phone calls in the workplace? Do nurses tend to make/receive phone calls often? I can speak and hear relatively well, but I use an interpreter relay service (Sorenson) for phone calls at home. It saves my time from asking the person on phone to repeat several times. :)

Anybody knows any articles, etc, about deaf nurses I can read to get some insights to what it is like to work as a deaf nurse?

shaylaselma · Feb 9, 2016

I am a third year nursing student in Vancouver, Canada. I am Deaf and I have two sign language interpreters with me full-time. We've had to work very hard as a team, but so far we have done really well together.

beckerz002 · Feb 9, 2016

Oh, that is so cool! I am in the program now with several different interpreters. The faculty here is amazing and is willing to help me to become a successful nurse.

silentwolves, ADN, BSN, RN · Mar 1, 2016

Hey!! I'm kind of stuck in the middle... I was born mostly deaf in my right ear. I developed fairly normally so it wasn't noticed until I was 7!!! I can't use any hearing aides of any type according to my doctors. The nerve endings never fully connected, so I can hear tones, but can't understand words if using a telephone or headset. I also have a very hard time hearing in crowded areas, and just generally understanding people at times. At work, if somebody yells out, I often can't tell what direction it's coming from...

in school I was able to adjust most of the time, by making sure I sat upfront. I too have had people think I'm a b**** for ignoring them. When I explain I'm hard of hearing they understand. I am very upfront and am sure to tell coworkers about my hearing, and that I like to be on the right side if we are walking and talking, or why I tilt my head one way.. A lot of people forget though too... I had a coworker get very upset with me, and I reminded her I am deaf, and she said I never told her...(I know i did, I kept a list when I first started in case I forgot anybody).

My nursing school had an amplified stethoscope that I tried, but it was harder to hear. I felt it was picking up too much other noise... The friction on the skin, other sounds in the room. My anxiety got the best of me, and I lost my first job in a hospital, on a respiratory floor of all places!! I now work in a nursing home on a rehab floor, so lung and breath sounds aren't of utmost importance. In an emergency, I can ask coworkers to double check if I think I hear something...

ive thought about leaving nursing all together though, as it is tough, but not just due to the hearing loss. I do wish I could wear a huge sign some days that says I'm HOH...

hope you you find your way!!

I live in Roxhester, NY, home to NTID(national technical institute for the deaf), so there is a very large population of HOH people here... If you're willing to relocate, you could look for higher populated areas...?

beckerz002 · Mar 1, 2016

@sientwolves: I am using the amplified stethoscope that is connected with my cochlear implant, and so far it is working great for me. Have you looked into viscope visual stethoscope? Here is the flyer I found on http://www.cardionics.com: http://www.cardionics.com/pdfs/New%20PDFs/ViScope%20Flyer.pdf

I have not looked into it very much, but I hope you can research a bit about different types of stethoscope that is available out there for the deaf or HOH. I probably will do more research myself. I would like to have a backup stethoscope in case my cochlear implant fails one day (hopefully not!).

brownbook · Mar 1, 2016

I'm HOH one ear since childhood, and find my hearing overall getting worse with old age! I never had any significant problems in my job. It has kind of served me well since I early on got into the habit of repeating back to the Dr. any verbal orders. I know verbal orders are a big no no, these are specific, unique, situations like a GI lab, or moderate sedation, where the Dr. can't stop everything and write it down.

I've always been cognizant with patients of looking at them when I talk and raising my voice a little. Once a patient kind of rudely (I thought, my feelings were hurt ), said to me, "I'm not deaf...you don't have to speak so loudly!" I was taken aback, and did apologize, but did say that I was HOH so did have a tendency to talk loudly! :)

Thurman612 · Nov 10, 2016

Thankful that i found this thread. I am also HOH!

I recently dropped a nursing program because my hearing andv aniexty got the best of me. I got tired of looking like an idiot everyday. I had to give speeches and what not . people always stare at me when they first hear me talk. It is so frustrating. So i like to tell people upfrontl. I volunteer at a hospital and ive ran into a few problems. The phones of course. Most nurses walk around with those cell phones for when a patient prsses call light. I can't hear those ringing and half time i can't hear speaker. When in a contact room wear gowns and masks are required, those are worst!!!!!! I can't read lips of hear!!! My anxiety makes my hearing so much worse. I feel completely deaf when im freaking out. So ive been running away! Dropped the program and now just depressed. Ive always wanted to be a nurse! Why can't i just walk in there and be normal ??????

Im reapplying and applyibg to two other schools. Im really trying to get myself together. Anyone else have this problem with hearung and aniexty??? What about the masks???

TheSocialMediaCoach · Nov 11, 2016

brownbook My first Nursing job was in the GI lab. I did not feel like my ears picked up everything that they should.

TheSocialMediaCoach · Nov 11, 2016

beckerz002 There are many heart murmurs that are very difficult for the seasoned professional to pick up:Determining Severity of Heart Murmurs - Children's National Health System. The answer may lie with machine learning or other clinical decision support.