Looking into medical and colorblind

[truckinusa]

I have the option of starting nursing school for ADN in the fall, waiting on a waiting list for a year and a half for LPN, or possibly Radiology School(not sure if I can still get in). Can I do any of these being colorblind? I have looked at job openings and found one that said they accommodate colorblind RNs. Most say you can't be colorblind. Is there something else in the medical field I might want to look into? I have no idea what I should be pursuing. I am reasonably intelligent, 35 year old male, that wants to earn $500 a week or greater at some sort of career in the medical field. I'm stating my income desire because I don't think I can make it on $10hr. I can suffer at lower wages for a time if necessary. Don't want it to be permanent though. My aunt is a RN and says just keep your mouth shut about being colorblind. Is this something I would need to ask school counselors about?

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

The ability to distinguish colors is a requirement for accurate interpretation of many types of diagnostic inforamation - great examples have been provided by PPs. In addition, it is a critical factor in 'waived testing' and 'bedside testing' for laboratory (CLIA) standards as well as working around lasers (peri-op), etc. so if your job includes these, chances are you will be tested for color blindness as part of the employment process. There are many types of color blindness, and each case should probably be considered independently.

It's pretty obvious that competent nurses should be able to pick up on color-based assessment nuances such as early signs of cyanosis or hemoptysis - be able to distinguish petecchia from freckles - notice faint bruising that indicates deeper trauma, etc. However, there are probably many areas of nursing that don't include any of these tasks.

[slovers383]

It sounds to me that if a nurse was color deficiant and knew it, that he/she could just get a second opinion on an issue/color that they were unsure of. I know of 3 different colorblind doctors and this is what they do, they just get a second opinion to be sure. They are brilliant doctors and have never caused harm due do messing up a color. I will be entering a nursing program this fall to a school that three years ago used to have in there application that you could not be colorblind and enter the program. They have since eliminated that section because they said that it was actually discrimination. The N-CLEX exam to actually get your RN license does not require a color test. It would be the place of actual employment that may screen for color blindness. I wish everyone luck!