Especialty for a hoh nurse?

[charr-RN]

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Registered User

Age: 30

Join Date: Nov 2008

Posts: 30

Hello everyone!

My question is this...What is a good specialization for a hard of hearing nurse like me to think of? Something that,when wearing a hearing aid,will function normally, and if possible no more using of stethoscope.I am just thinking of a line that has less stress on my impairment to go on my nursing profession.I was thinking of a surgical, but their use of a mask might just aggravate my problem even if I will be wearing an aid.Any inputs?

I cannot think of other line this time.

Any ideas here will be greatly appreciated.

[ChloBear]

Psych nursing is the only thing I can think of right now that doesn't use a stethoscope, other than OR. But its doesn't utilize the same nursing skills as, say, a medical/surgical floor. What is the reason for not wanting to use a stethoscope? Do you not like having to take the aids out to use it? Or have you just not found an amplified one that you like?

[HOH-RN]

Maybe looking into home health or non-clinical nursing? I'm currently looking at those options as I was an experienced ER nurse in a loud, busy trauma hospital that lost his hearing due to recent illness.

Finding a job that will put you in an environment where you can succeed is the hardest part I think. I had someone suggest OR to me as well. I went down to my hospital's OR to check it out and realized their air filtration/AC system was extremely loud and when combined with the masks made communication more difficult.

I'm still on medical leave right now, but starting to consider non-hospital jobs where I will have more control of my environment. In quiet settings, my particular hearing loss is not a huge challenge. One on one, in those settings I can function very well.

So, home health, maybe an employee health setting, or out-patient settings. Places where I can control the environment/noise level will be a driving factor to me when I start looking for a job.

That and I'm starting to end look at going back to school. I have my ADN, thinking of going back for BSN and maybe going into research or MSN and teaching.