Looking for some advice.

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Hey everyone,

Well, i'll give you some background information first. I'm in my final year of high school and have already been appected to university here in my home town for the pre-social work program. Honestly i don't like the idea of being a social worker and i don't think i will enjoy it and i've always had a serect dream of becoming a nurse. here's where it gets sticky. I don't have to the chemistry to direct entry into the nursing program (I had planned to do it in my first year of university and get the evinquient) and I have a disability, now to be honest it's really not that bad, i can move quickly and am very capable of getting around and lifting and i can walk, stand for long periods of time and i learn quick. When i see the nursing students at the local hospital doing there rounds and disuessing cases it makes me sad inside cause i feel like i should be doing that and it's where I belong, i've always wanted to help people and that seems like a great way to do it. I really want to get the nerve and tell me people i want to do nursing but i'm scared and to make things worse my family members tell me i'm unable to do such things as become a nurse (my real dream) because of my disabilty. So here's my questions:

Can people with disabilities become nurses?

Is this something i should do?

Any extra advice would be greatly apperiated.

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I think when you have a disability, the only thing that holds you back is the limits you set on yourself. If nursing is where you think you belong then you should do it. Do not do something that your heart is not really into. As long as you are able to do the job, there is no reason why. And just imagine what an inspiration you could be to someone else with a disability after you complete your program et graduate. I say, "GO FOR IT!" Good luck with whatever you decide!

Leslie

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Hi Dreamerlady,

So many disabled people are raised in a "can't" environment. Don't let the "can'ts" get you down. People who set goals and work hard usually succeed. And yes this includes people with disabilities. Work hard to turn your "can'ts" into "cans". You will succeed in any field with a change of attitude. Get the attitude to prove those negative people wrong--get into the I CAN DO IT mode and go to nursing school.

Good Luck

Fuzzy

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Specializes in Critical Care, Home Health.

I worked with a nursing student a few times that has a disability. He only has the upper portion of one of his arms. It was amazing to watch him work. Foley's, IV's, dsg changes, luer lock IV tubing. He was fast too, not the fastest, but who knows with more time.

You can do it!

Go for it!

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Specializes in ED.
Hi Dreamerlady,

So many disabled people are raised in a "can't" environment. Don't let the "can'ts" get you down. People who set goals and work hard usually succeed. And yes this includes people with disabilities. Work hard to turn your "can'ts" into "cans". You will succeed in any field with a change of attitude. Get the attitude to prove those negative people wrong--get into the I CAN DO IT mode and go to nursing school.

Good Luck

Fuzzy

There are alot of able bodied people who are also raised in a "can't" environment also (my Grandmother is a big one lol).

I have found that when people tell you that you can't do something its because they would fear doing the same thing if they were in your shoes. It has no reflection on your actual abilities. I went to nursing school with three babies (started schooling when they were babies and all in diapers still) and got alot of "you can't finish", "you'll be too stressed out", "you'll never have time to study", "you'll never be able to handle the death and dying patients and you'll be crying all the time, why do it". I just kind of laughed when ever someone said something like that, it made schooling and nursing a challenge.

I would say if you are being realistic with your disability (I don't know what your disability is) then go for it. There are so many different fields of nursing that one can get into, there would be something that fits you if this is what you want to do.

Good luck to you!

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

Meet with representatives from a few schools of nursing and talk with them. Find out what it will take for you to qualify for their programs. Find out what support each school offers for students with your particular disability. Then make an informed decision.

There are many people with a variety of disabilities in nursing. You didn't describe the nature of your particular disability -- so, we can't say how hard it will be for you to be successful in nursing. However, I can say that you will never know until you actually investigate the specifics at the schools of interest to you and give it a try.

Also, you might want to take a look at a website called "exceptional nurse" or something like that. It is a webstite for nurses with disabilities.

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We had someone in my nursing class who had several physical problems (she was one of the fortunate thalidomide people that did not lose limbs) but that did not keep her from completing the program with flying colors.

Another person was losing her vision and knew at some point in the future she would be blind, she also finished and is involved with working with the blind and the visually disabled. You CAN do it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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It's nice to hear from people who say I actually can do it, it's been such a dream and I really plan too, My disability is Cerbal Palsy. I want thank you for your great words of advice, however i do have one more question

The University that i am appected requires you to have high school chemsitry and biology (I have both of the biologlies needed) should i take the uni chem(which is the samething) next year and then apply into the school for the following year?

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Don't let your disability stop you from attaining your goals. I have a hearing disability and I have been a nurse for nearly 19 years. When your family tells you you can't do something, tell them, "I know you are afraid I will fail and be hurt, but how do you know I can't do it?"

Follow your dream, girl!!!

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Specializes in Psych, Med/Surg, Home Health, Oncology.

Hi

Over 40 yrs ago I was in school with a remarkable young woman. She had one normal arm & was born without a second arm. She had a hook.

We were surprised at first & it took very little time for us to completely forget it!! Not only was she one of the Best in our class academically but also in the Clinical areas.

She was near the top of our class at graduation & 40 yrs later is still working!!

As others have said, you can do whatever you put your mind to!!

Good Luck;

Let us know what you decide

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Specializes in Education, Acute, Med/Surg, Tele, etc.

I actually have a question for you!

What is it TRUELY about nursing that makes you wish to do it more than social work?

Would you rather put in Nasogastric tubes, IV's, take orders from MD's all day, write write and write some more, clean up a patient who is incontenent 4-6 times during your shift when you have 2 painful patients and a total admit on their way up? Give out medication, give shots, give enemas or suppositories, chase down MD's that wrote incomplete orders you can't follow (but they expect you to), deal with angry families, jump on a code within seconds and keep your cool, work overtime or take on extra patients because you are short staffed on your floor...I can go on...

THe reason I bring this up is because nursing is NOT glamorous and isn't just a field that 'helps people' like so many people think. It is hard work, you never feel like you get your job done at the end of the day, you run run run, you get yelled at..and on occasions spit at, hit, peed or vomited on...and this my friend is something you MUST consider as well as the good points of nursing....

When making a choice you must weigh the good with the bad, and I will tell you, social work is a GODSEND for a nurse! Without it we would be sending people out to the streets or worse! I can see where it may be thankless at times (just like our jobs), but it would thrill me if I sent someone to a proper place for care knowing they may get a chance to change or be properly cared for! That would make me very happy...even if it is a ton of work! I value my social and discharge planners very very very much!

And most of my social work/discharge planners once wanted to be RN (some changed fields after being one!)...they wanted to help, but felt limited in their roles as a nurse and didn't want to get that far into the medical aspects...

So again...my question to you...what REALLY is it about nursing that makes you wish to do it besides social work?

Think about it well...not to be a downer at all...just a fact that you have to take the good with the bad, and well...I never got this advice and wished I had (no one told me the uglier side of nursing...well not just nursing...direct patient care of any kind really...and if I really had known, I would have made a different choice!).

Nursing is an awesome career choice, but not one to go into blindly! Get the facts before getting into it too far! ;)....

As far as the disablity...well that is a limitation you can overcome in most cases...depends on your will to do it! :)

Good luck with your choice!

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You have the right attitude and desire to be a nurse. (In my opinion, that IS what makes a great nurse) You CAN do it! I have been a nurse for 20 years and have worked:smilecoffeecup: with some really great people, some with disabilities. There are so many different areas you can work as a nurse also. If your disabilty hinders you to work in one area, than you have many, many other options. Go for it!!!!

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