I'm blind in right eye

Pill Hoarding Hussy · May 28, 2005

advice: don't worry about it. i'm blind in my left eye, and i get by fine. you can perform all of the required actions of your job, so don't stress about that. and as far a eye patches and such nonsense goes, don't do it. your patients won't care about your eye if you have a kind heart and take good care of them. they will remember you as a nice nurse, not one with a funny eye. and if you work well and are nice to your co-workers, they'll appreciate you for who you are. try not to worry. :)

I'm blind in my right eye.
I need some honest input from others who may have the same issues or know of people with the same issues.
I'm almost finished with my prerequisites and have a 4.0 but I have two main concerns about entering the nursing program/clinics:
My number one concern is that even though I've been blind in my right eye since I was 7 (I'm now 44), I still have a difficult time looking other people (who I don't know well) directly in the eye because I feel that my eyes make them uncomfortable and I'm concerned about that with patients. Don't get me wrong, I'm friendly, outgoing and sometimes I even forget about it until I see someones reaction to my eyes (people will get a puzzled look on their face like they're thinking, "what's with her eyes?" or "I don't want to stare at her eyes"). How do I deal with this? The last thing I want to do is make a patient uncomfortable or have them not trust me because I don't look them in the eye.
I've thought about wearing an eye patch---even ones with funny, overexaggerated eyes on them or something to make people laugh. Do you think that would be ok? What do you think?
I've asked people close to me about this but they always say, "oh, don't worry about it, I don't even notice it "---of course they don't, they know me too well, they're used to it. So I'm not sure that they are giving me a real honest opinion or not.
My second concern is that, and this might make you laugh--its ok, I laugh about it too!--but I am worried that I'll bump into people, like in a busy ER room. I do bump into people sometimes in crowded places because I don't see them coming up on my right side.
Anyway, that's it! Any input would be appreciated.
Cindy

P_RN, ADN, RN · May 28, 2005

I've had 2 episodes of optic neuropathy.....creeping blindness that blindsides you in a very short time. Mine manifested as a 90% black room with my left eye and OK vision with the right. My take on it was if I bumbed into someone on the bad side is they aren't blind and they should have stepped aside or helped direct me around obstacles.

PS I worked right through both eoisodes. My working family took great care of me and made concessions.

Trauma Columnist · May 28, 2005

I too have no functional vision in my right eye and my left eye is crossed! I do not engage in much direct eye contact either and have been interviewing for positions. Now that I have seen this post, I wonder if this factors in to my not getting the positions I'm inteviewing for. Will have to research this one. Thanks.

KPOP · May 29, 2005

HI THERE.

SO YOU ARE BLIND

THAT IS SO SAD

BUT AT LEAST YOU ARE GETTING 4.0 IN SCHOOL SO THAT MUST BE GOOD

WHAT MAKES YOU WANT TO BE A NURSE WITH BLINDNESS IS THE RIGHT EYE?

YOU CAN BE AN EYE TECHNICIAN

OR EVEN A MICROBIOLOGIST

OR EVEN A TEACHER

THEN YOU DO NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT PATIENT TO LOOK IN YOUR EYE

BUT IF YOU LIKE AND HAVE FAITH IN GOD AND IN JESUS CHRIST YOU CAN PRINT THIS AND IF YOU BELIEVE IN GOD AND IN JESUS CHRIST AND PRAY AFTER YOU PUT THE TYPING PAPER IN THE AFFECTED AREA AND HOPEFULLY THAT YOU WILL SEE

http://aolsearch.aol.com/aol/search?query=CAUSE%20OF%20RIGHT%20EYE%20BLINDNESS

http://aolsearch.aol.com/aol/search?query=RIGHT%20EYE%20SURGERY%20WHEN%20PERSON%20IS%20BLIND

YOU CAN READ THE BIBLE ALSO

JESUS CHRIST HEALED THE BLIND

JESUS CHRIST SPIT ON THE GROUND AND MADE A MUD AND APPLY IT ON THE BLIND'S MAN'S EYE

THE MAN COULD SEE

THAT IS CALLED A MIRACLE

GOOD LUCK

MABUHAY!

KATHY

KPOP

sandypinktruck · May 29, 2005

Cindy,

I would rather have and work with a nurse who might have a vision limitation, but has a good heart and intelligence, than some of the fully sighted who are callous and prejudiced in their opinions of people.

I started nursing school when I was 42, and did it as a single mom of 5. I heard from many people that said I couldnt do it. I told them that with my true friends support I would and I could. Sometimes the negative people in our life drive us to prove how wrong they are.

You can do this Cindy!! You are doing great in school, and I know that isnt the easiest thing to do with all of our responsibilities as an adult.

My encouragement for you would be is to keep up the great work. You will be a great nurse. E-mail me anytime you need a hug.

(((((hugs)))))

Sandy

rainswhisper,RN · May 30, 2005

Thank you for your responses--they've been very helpful and encouraging. :loveya:

Cindy

Littlewonder · May 30, 2005

Hey Cindy,

I am not blind at all but my eyes do cross and I do bump into things alot!!! I just have to be extra careful around sterile fields and make a lot of wisecracks when I am "driving" beds through the hall. If you can drive, you can certainly nurse! Even if you can't drive - everyone has a disability of some kind, whether it is physical, mental, or emotional. We all need each other for support and we need to support each other. By the way, congrats on the 4.0!!!

Oh, I almost forgot to add, because I have more trouble with my vision, I am actually better at a lot of IV sticks because I don't rely on sight to "get my vein!" I use the feel and so can get some of the deeper veins where the IV is better anchored. :)

mom and nurse · May 30, 2005

advice: don't worry about it. i'm blind in my left eye, and i get by fine. you can perform all of the required actions of your job, so don't stress about that. and as far a eye patches and such nonsense goes, don't do it. your patients won't care about your eye if you have a kind heart and take good care of them. they will remember you as a nice nurse, not one with a funny eye. and if you work well and are nice to your co-workers, they'll appreciate you for who you are. try not to worry. :)

Well said!! Cynthiajulia, I agree with Pill Hoarding Hussy :) Take things one day at a time and try not to worry.....

Trixiebell · May 31, 2005

hi cindy

i'm not a nurse but just wanted to offer some encouragment...i've been blind in my left eye most of my life...i work in a busy hospital (med student and cna) and i do bump into people and have a funny habit of walking into door frames...anyboyd who has worked with me before is used to it and it has never caused me any problem in any field i've worked in (just a lot of stubbed toes), i'm just extra careful when dealing with sterile areas etc...

i have the same thing with people looking at my eyes, when i'm tired my left eye drifts off to the very edge and if it catches the light is glows (implanted lens)...if i notice people trying not to look or getting uncomfortable i joke about it and they realise that i won't be offended...the thing is because it only happens when i'm tired i spend most of the time worrying i have something on my face before i realise what they are staring at :chuckle

we have nurses here on crutches, in wheelchairs, with one eye, deaf...you name it, someone is managing to be a great nurse despite (and i suspect because of) it...

hope that helps

elle