Hearing Impaired Nurse

[strength4unityRN]

Hi Everyone.
 I was born with a hearing loss of 25-30% & I wear hearing aids. I can hear without them but they do help me hear 'everything' alot better.

On my yearly work review I received good marks and that they were happy to have me on the unit but in the comment section it included my 'hearing impairment' 

Make sure I keep my bed alarms on, check IV pump alarms, patients doors are open, etc. So that my 'co- workers' aren't always being addressed by my co-workers. 

I do hear alarms & do address them. Now there have been alarms that I haven't heard but when brought to my attention I always address it. (bed alarms, pumps, etc) If I can't hear someone I ask them to repeat themselves to clarify what was said. I also tell people in person & over the phone I have a hearing loss. 

I have worked in the hospital for 20 years & worked in this particular hospital for a year. My hearing was never brought up in my in any of my reviews in previous places of employment.

When I was in the interview hiring process of this hospital I told them I had a hearing loss.

What do you think of my hearing loss being included in my eval? 

 

 

[kookiepumpkin]

Hi there, I get you! I was just told that I have moderate hearing loss and am niw facing getting hearing aids and trying to figure out which stethoscope will work. 
I joke around a lot to cover up my insecurities related to this issue. 
as for that comment in your annual review: I think it warrants a talk with your HR department. Many supervisors just climb through the ranks but are not too well informed about what is considered discrimination.

Many years ago I was going through chemo and had a note from my doc that at my discretion I could ask to not get an admission on top of my high acuity assignment. My manager told me that maybe I could not continue to work on that floor. HR asked for a meeting and very quickly stated that of course I had that right as it is the law to accommodate.  It wasn't an issue after that and most of the time I pulled my full weight. 

[TeleRN44]

I'm always flabbergasted when sympathy for nurses, especially those with some kind of illness or disability, all but evaporates. Be kind and sympathetic to our patients, their families and ancillary staff but nurses? Nope. 
 

I lost all but 20% percent of my hearing (suddenly) in my right ear post radiation for a brain tumor five years ago. Now, I'm slowly losing my hearing on the left side. At one job, I had one nurse who would noisily sigh and roll her eyes at me when I repeatedly and politely asked her to give report on my left side. After one particularly vicious bout of eye rolling and sighing, I reported her. Her nastiness had gone on for well over a year and I felt I'd been more than tolerant, I'd been a damn Persian rug. She received a verbal warning. She wasn't the only offender, just the most vocal. 
 

In a few months, I am scheduled to get a cochlear implant. 
 

I don't think they can mention your hearing loss in your appraisal. I would consult with someone legally (outside your facility) and not HR. HR is not your friend. If they cannot mention it, ask to have it redacted. Worth checking into...laws regarding the hearing impaired and employment have changed. Those with hearing loss (not just the deaf, but those wearing hearing aids/HOH) are now considered a protected class. 

Beat of luck to you. 

[TeleRN44]

I'm always flabbergasted when sympathy for nurses, especially those with some kind of illness or disability, all but evaporates. Be kind and sympathetic to our patients, their families and ancillary staff but nurses? Nope. 
 

I lost all but 20% percent of my hearing (suddenly) in my right ear post radiation for a brain tumor five years ago. Now, I'm slowly losing my hearing on the left side. At one job, I had one nurse who would noisily sigh and roll her eyes at me when I repeatedly and politely asked her to give report on my left side. After one particularly vicious bout of eye rolling and sighing, I reported her. Her nastiness had gone on for well over a year and I felt I'd been more than tolerant, I'd been a damn Persian rug. She received a verbal warning. She wasn't the only offender, just the most vocal. 
 

In a few months, I am scheduled to get a cochlear implant. 
 

I don't think they can mention your hearing loss in your appraisal. I would consult with someone legally (outside your facility) and not HR. HR is not your friend. If they cannot mention it, ask to have it redacted. Worth checking into...laws regarding the hearing impaired and employment have changed. Those with hearing loss (not just the deaf, but those wearing hearing aids/HOH) are now considered a protected class. 

Best of luck to you.