I can't tell colors too well, can I be a nurse?

[casey133]

Hi all, I am starting college in 01/09 and am thinking hard about going into nursing. Without correction I am legally blind and even with correction I have trouble seeing some colors. Let me explain by "some" I can pick out very strong colors, such as yellow, black, etc. I would have trouble telling the difference between brown and red for example, green and orange, etc. Two things I am really worried about are: 1. What if I have trouble finding/seeing a vein to give an IV? Can I "feel" for it if I can't see it? Will this always work? 2. I will have a hard time telling if a persons skin is a slight shade of anything unless it's really bad. Will this be a problem? Thanks for any help and feel free to ask any question you need to give better advice. Thanks for any help at all!

[mondkmondk]

I don't know if this will help in any way, but I'm virtually color-blind. I cannot distinguish reds from pinks and navy blues from black. Whenever I did my blood draws I had to make sure the tops were red by asking someone etc. Thankfully, most of the tubes are purple, blue, spotted, etc.

I have done I.V.'s with palpation instead of trusting my eyes...but if I can't see or feel the vein, I just ask for help or have someone else do it for me. This shouldn't stand in your way of being a nurse....good luck to you!

Blessings, Michelle