New job....so incredibly nervous!

Nurses New Nurse

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Specializes in Psych/Mental Health.

I start a new job in the morning....in a little over 7 hours to be exact. So instead of sleeping and getting my rest I'm wide awake nervous and full of worry. I'm hard of hearing....I wear bilateral hearing aids and haven't disclosed my condition to my new employer. I found in the past that when I was open during the interview that 9 times out of 10 I wouldn't get a call back so I began covering up my aids and not saying a word until after I got hired. It's always a little nerve racking being the new kid on the block, but being the new kid and having a disability makes things even harder. I do pretty well for the most part, like so many hard of hearing individuals , my weakness is with soft voices and very thick accents. I'm nervous because I do not know what my new employer's reaction will be. I have work at places that were horrible after finding out about my hearing and I have most recently worked at a place that bent over backwards to help me in any way. I'm not sure which of the two this new place will be. So here I am wide awake when I should be asleep worried about something that really is beyond my control. I guess there is no real question in my post, I only needed to voice my concern. Crossing my fingers it all goes well tomorrow (or should I say later today)....wish me luck!!!!!

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Specializes in geriatric.

You will be great!!! Am I correct in assuming you have other senses that are probably more precise and a better intuition (or at least equal in a different form?) than your hearing peers. I worked with a nurse that had the same disability and she was an amazing nurse. Have confidence tomorrow and knock em dead (maybe not literally lol). If they cant see past your disability then it wasnt meant to be and its thier loss! Have a great day tomorrow.

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I hope it all goes well for you :)

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Just prove to them that it's not an issue :up: You got through school- that is a huge 'test'... if you can do your job, than it shouldn't be a problem. Good luck :)

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Specializes in Adult ICU.

I am hard of hearing too with bilateral hearing aids. I work as an ER tech and am a level 3 nursing student. I want to go into ICU.

I have found the best thing to do is at your first pre shift meet when you meet everyone tell them you are deaf and what you need from them such as looking at me so I can read your lips. Also tell every preceptor you have. If they do not know you are hard of hearing and you don't hear them , they may think you are rude or ignoring them when in reality you are not. It takes the guessing game away and is professional to tell your coworkers.

I have people who are judgemental of me and always will be. Then there are those who are amazing and don't judge. I migrate towards those who treat me with respect and am courteous to those who are not. Don't let others get you down. I have cried because of the hurtful things told to me. However I used it as my strength to become better. It motivates me.

My patients love that i am deaf and you'll be surprised how many people have deaf people in their family. We are invaluable. Be confident, hold your head up high and do not be afraid to ask someone to repeat something. If I don't understand someone I will ask another person to help me if they have a thick accent. I'd rather be embarrassed I asked 3 times what a person said then to do something wrong. I always always repeat back what I am told and double check MD orders when I work.

I wish you the best of luck in your career.

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Specializes in Psych/Mental Health.

Thank you for all the positive replies....so far it's going pretty good.

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