Discrimination in nursing school?

FlyingScot, RN · Sep 16, 2015

It isn't discrimination if you don't meet the requirements of the job. Your medical restriction might very well throw a monkey wrench into your schooling. They are unlikely going to want to take on the liability of you getting injured. In addition, and I could be very wrong, but most case management positions require you to be an RN at minimum, many are asking for BSN and you will need to have experience. Like I said, I may be wrong on some points but I don't think I am. Sorry if this isn't what you had hoped to hear.

KatieMI, BSN, MSN, RN · Sep 16, 2015

Not being fit for work requirements is not discrimination. You signed up for LPN school, and job description for LPNs usually include heavy physical tasks.

There are case managers who are not RNs and not even licensed medical professionals for that matter (those I spoke with were social workers). But, RN or not, you will have to work entry level job for a few years before getting there, as case managers got to know how the system works.

You have an option to try to find entry level LPN job which will not require heavy physical effort, like clerical or something like "wellness coordinator", but even there you might be asked to go hit the floor if your facility is short of staff. This also doesn'the solve your current problems with school. You may want to think about either switching to social work, or go to BSN program. BSN is much more accommodating for adults with physical disabilities.

FlyingScot, RN · Sep 16, 2015

This also doesn'the solve your current problems with school. You may want to think about either switching to social work, or go to BSN program. BSN is much more accommodating for adults with physical disabilities.

I agree with the majority of what you're saying but wanted to caution the OP about this. While the school might be willing to take on the risk they might have trouble getting the clinical sites to agree to taking a student with medical restrictions from a strictly legal/insurance reason.

This is quite different from having a hearing impairment or even a visual impairment. Nursing, by nature, is physical work. There aren't alot of reasonable accommodations to be made for someone who cannot lift which can be a big part of the job.

elkpark · Sep 16, 2015

Not being fit for work requirements is not discrimination. You signed up for LPN school, and job description for LPNs usually include heavy physical tasks.
There are case managers who are not RNs and not even licensed medical professionals for that matter (those I spoke with were social workers). But, RN or not, you will have to work entry level job for a few years before getting there, as case managers got to know how the system works.
You have an option to try to find entry level LPN job which will not require heavy physical effort, like clerical or something like "wellness coordinator", but even there you might be asked to go hit the floor if your facility is short of staff. This also doesn'the solve your current problems with school. You may want to think about either switching to social work, or go to BSN program. BSN is much more accommodating for adults with physical disabilities.

A) Social workers are "licensed medical professionals," if, by "medical," you mean healthcare occupations in general. If you mean "medical" specifically, as in "related to the practice of medicine," then RNs aren't "licensed medical professionals," either.

B) What do you mean by your comment about BSN (programs, I assume) being "much more accommodating" for those with disabilities? The basic physical requirements are the same for LPN, diploma, ADN, BSN, and, for that matter, entry level MSN programs, aren't they?

KatieMI, BSN, MSN, RN · Sep 16, 2015

elkpark,

there were several students in my BSN class, me including, who required "special considerations". Some people required limitations of physical activity including things like nothing heavier than 15 or so pounds to lift, not doing compressions during codes, not getting close to MRI machine, etc. We all were successfully accommodated, up to and including immediate change of clinical site/instructor if there were problems. More importantly, those who needed it, were able to get into nursing field accommodating their physical limitations like nursing IT or education right after school.

Maybe my place was an exclusion, but I doubt that a LPN program will go so far to accommodate a student with physical disabilities. In the same university (State) SW department there were at least two students in wheelchairs, apparently having no problems as well.

I know that SW are licensed, but I never knew they are considered "healthcare". If it is so, I would like to know how much of healthcare science they might know, because those I encountered were, in majority, unaware of basic facts, like that canned tomato soup and V8 juice cannot be qualified as a good way to "get her veggies" for a patient with pre-terminal heart failure.

JustBeachyNurse, LPN · Sep 16, 2015

Your school was definitely an exception to the rule as far as the extensive accommodations you and your classmates required.

FlyingScot, RN · Sep 16, 2015

elkpark,
there were several students in my BSN class, me including, who required "special considerations". Some people required limitations of physical activity including things like nothing heavier than 15 or so pounds to lift, not doing compressions during codes, not getting close to MRI machine, etc. We all were successfully accommodated, up to and including immediate change of clinical site/instructor if there were problems. More importantly, those who needed it, were able to get into nursing field accommodating their physical limitations like nursing IT or education right after school.

How on earth would that even be considered reasonable? What if they were the only person around? They'd just wait until someone else came?

Tumbler · Sep 16, 2015

Accommodations are supposed to allow a student access to the education. However, they are not required to allow a student to succeed in school or on the job. Due to a disability, I had accommodations for testing. I still had to take the same tests and perform at the same level as everyone else. Basically, I had to meet the same requirements. Some patients are large and heavy and learning safe transfer and lift techniques is part of the training. While there may be programs out there that will accommodate, I don't think you can call it discrimination if an LPN program doesn't.

KatieMI, BSN, MSN, RN · Sep 16, 2015

How on earth would that even be considered reasonable? What if they were the only person around? They'd just wait until someone else came?

They would get into corridor and yell for help or push code button. In hospital or another medical facility the chance to be the only one around is rather theoretical.

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Sep 16, 2015

Where I work, there is a very clear physical description of the various jobs within nursing, and if one does not meet the requirements, one does not get the job. Reasonable accommodation MAY be put into play, but ONLY if the needs of the unit and the care of the patients under those being accommodated are not negatively impacted.

Not able to lift more than 15 pounds? Not physically able to do compressions? Not going to get a job in my facility.

Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN · Sep 16, 2015

First of all, it's not discriminatory to have and enforce physical requirements.

I started a job while pregnant, and so I had to get clearance from my OB. Initially, she said no lifting over 25 lbs...well, my job requires RNs to be able to lift 50 lbs. My manager said they would not be able to accommodate that restriction, so I had to tell my OB to say my limit was 50 lbs. (It wasn't unsafe -- I lifted my 50+ lb children at home all the time, and I had no issues with my cervix or with preterm labor.)

Police officers have to be able to see, aim, and run, right? Flight attendants can't have uncontrolled motion sickness, right? Firefighters have to be able to carry unconscious people out of burning buildings, right? If they can't, they are unfit for duty. They are not victims of discrimination, and wanting something doesn't eliminate the need for standards.

Second of all, I can almost promise that you won't get a case management job without several years' experience. Case management jobs require a ton of knowledge that new grads simply don't have.