Diabetic Alert Dog at work in Hospital

Nurses General Nursing

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I was just curious is anyone knew, or could find out if I get a job as an RN, and if I have a Diabetic Alert Dog for my type 1 diabetes, could my full access service dog go to work with me at a hospital? Thanks for any help!

Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.

No one was rude to you. Just because you got answers you didn't want to hear doesn't mean people were rude.

Specializes in Oncology.

I don't think people are being rude at all. They are giving you good information and common sense that comes from experience.

Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.

This is just a question in general directed at other nurses. In your facility, if a service dog were allowed to be on a unit, would a patient have the right to refuse the dog coming into his/her room? I'm thinking about people who are allergic to dogs or who are afraid of them.

What do you guys think?

Ok well thanks everyone. I think I will stick to asking my community hospitals. I will also have to wait till I get in and out of nursing school to figure out what I want to do in the first place.

Of course they can refuse a dog going into the room. I wouldn't plan on bringing a service dog into every room, they are trained to lay down and stay put.

Specializes in Oncology.

I just don't get the practicality of a dog. It seems to be a trendy thing with very little evidence to actually support it. I have type 1 DM also. If your blood sugars are still poorly controlled despite a Dexcom and intensive insulin management, I seriously question how you're going to get through nursing school and long, physically and mentally demanding shifts. I'm not trying to be rude. I'm trying to think realistically.

Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
Of course they can refuse a dog going into the room. I wouldn't plan on bringing a service dog into every room, they are trained to lay down and stay put.

I appreciate your feedback.

Do any nurses here know of their facility's policy regarding this issue?

Specializes in Maternal - Child Health.

I am sorry that the OP perceives simple, straightforward answers from those with knowledge of the hospital setting to be rude. Receiving answers that do not make one happy is not the same as rudeness, although in today's chronically offended society, precious few adults, let alone young people seem to understand that.

I would encourage the OP to research this question with an employment attorney. While it is true that the ADA requires employers to make reasonable accommodations to meet employees' disability needs, there clearly are circumstances in the hospital where an animal is not a reasonable accommodation. An employee whose job duties include accessing certain areas of the hospital will be required to leave the animal (unattended?) outside certain patient rooms and areas such as isolation rooms, pharmacy prep rooms, food prep areas, etc. While service dogs are generally permitted in most buildings, they are not given free range to be present in every area of those buildings. While you are free to bring your dog into a restaurant and keep it at your side, don't expect to visit the kitchen with him. The same holds true for certain employment situations.

Another consideration is that while an employer is required to make reasonable accommodations, patients are not. For example: a patient with an allergy to dog dander, or a patient with PTSD caused by a vicious dog attack can refuse to be cared for by a nurse who is accompanied by an animal regardless of that animal's status as a service dog.

Having worked in a number of settings where therapy and service animals are welcome, I am certain that it is possible to work as a nurse with a service dog by your side. But that will require you to be flexible to the very same degree that you ask your employer and patients to be.

Specializes in NICU, PICU, educator.

Well said. There are just areas in the hospital the dog would not be able to go. For example, the dog would not be allowed in the pods where the babies are. Your patients are in that pod, you only come out of the pod to eat and pee. The poor dog is left to lay outside of the pod for 7.25 hours. First, not fair to the dog, Second, he is not much help to you laying in the hall.

I get why you want one, but you have to look at the practicality of it.

and please, you have to get over the They were rude to me thing. Nursing is full of "rude" things and every time someone disagrees with you or answers in a fashion you don't like you just can't say "well that was rude".

Specializes in ORTHO, PCU, ED.

As a side note, I have a hard time with therapy dogs, which roam some hospitals. I know there's gobs of research, but it still seems germy to me.

Specializes in 15 years in ICU, 22 years in PACU.
and please, you have to get over the They were rude to me thing. Nursing is full of "rude" things and every time someone disagrees with you or answers in a fashion you don't like you just can't say "well that was rude".

Good gravy, people are just waaaay too sensitive when they have their own agenda. Just tell me what I want to hear and skip all that real advice stuff.

You will have plenty of exposure to rude when you become a nurse.

That's what I am thinking. I just applied to my local nursing program last week. I just got off the phone with my local hospital as well. She said she will look into it and give me a call back tomorrow. I was thinking maybe on certain floors. The only reason I am asking ahead of time, is because these dogs can get very expensive. I would have to fundraise a couple years prior to actually getting a dog.

I did find something online saying that a women had a diabetic alert dad in the hospital while she was working and the dog just became the norm, for the employees and patients. Some people are being quite rude on here. It is just a question I am asking. I have a dexcom, but a dog can catch a high or low blood sugar 20 minutes before my glucose monitor or my fancy dexcom. Which in the long run can help prevent serious life threatening complications! I vote dog over dexcom any day.

I don't think anyone has been rude to you. You asked a question and they answered. Maybe you're not hearing what you want to. That's usually the reason when people start saying that others are rude.

Patients can be allergic to dogs. What would you do if you have a patient that is? Put your needs over theirs?

Then there is the fact that dogs like to lick parts that are not that clean.

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