Hard of Hearing Nurses in Psych Setting

[jprn05]

Hi Everyone,

I feel like I have just experienced my first experience of being prejudiced against. I am hearing impaired, but do very well with bilateral hearing aids. I am a new licensed graduate with a strong interest and desire to work in the psychiatric field. My first interview went very well with a job offer placed on the table depending on references, and a physical performed by an internist who works with this psychiatric speciality hospital. My physical went fine, until I mentioned my hearing impairment. The internist told me to turn my back to him while he whispered words that I could not even hear. He told me that I was a safety risk to work in psychiatry that one of the clients could sneak up behind me and punch me and hurt me. He then said he would have to discuss this with the person who offered me the position in the first place. I was so angry and insulted. How many hearing people are snuck up on and robbed every day????? How many nurses are punched, pulled, kicked, and strained every day???? Am I just feeling sorry for myself, or is this internist being too careful. My audiologist said she felt he was completely out of line and uninformed on the competency of hearing impaired people with amplification. I'd like to know what others working in psych feel about this. Thanks All.

[Thunderwolf, MSN, RN]

Hmmm, the internist has a legit concern...however, it is only half true. In that case, folks who where glasses shouldn't be in psych either because a patient could remove them and render you helpless if you are blind like a bat. A legit concern, but it misses the big picture. If you wear hearing aids and your audiologist clears you, I say....what is the problem?

[sweetpealoubylou]

Im not a nurse but i am hoping to gain a place to study mental health nursing in the UK. Im also hearing impaired and wear digital aids in both ears.

Last year during an interview I was questioned over my hearing and refused a place on the nursing course on because of them being "unsure whether id hear on a clinical ward" I felt wrongly judged and at my last interview I put my point across that I am perfectly capable of hearing on a ward and in noisy environments. Fortunately they were more aware of hearing impairement amongst students. If they are so unsure what about asking for them to get a audiologist assessment for their benefit of the doubt. If they do say no you most certainly will have grounds to consult a lawer against discrimination. I find it incredulous that it is a well known fact that you DO NOT whisper behind hearing impaired people as our hearing aids do not have the ability to pick up these noises. There are 100s of nurses in the world who are quite capable and competent to work in a nursing environment with hearing aids. I now say if i cannot hear what is being said I will self advocate and explain I am hearing impaired, usually there are companies who will do awareness training for those who are unsure about the nature of hearing impairement.

What about asking them if they would call your last work placement and find out from them how you coped in a clinical environment. That way you will have a reference about your hearing. I now tend to ask references if they will comment on my hearing in their reference for my benefit.

Just throwing out ideas hope they help.

Lou

PS good luck hope everything comes through for you,

[CharlieRN]

Wolfie hit the nail on the head. The case of persons with glasses is exactly similar.

One of our unit supervisors uses hearing aids and I would never have become aware of it if she had not mentioned how she felt like the bionic woman when she put in her teeth, her hearing aids and put on her glasses, each day before work. None of her "artificial parts" impairs her ablity to do the job.

The nursing population is aging. The average employed nuse in the US is in their mid forties. If they want only the healthy, strong and totally intact for this work they will have to lay half of us off. There are not enough nurses to go around as it is.