nurse with tracheostomy

[SFPedNurse]

Hi, I recently found out that I would need a permanent tracheostomy. I have one more semester left of nursing school (rn) before I graduate, but I have taken a leave from school to work out all of this health stuff. I don't know when exactly I will get it, but I am trying to push it off as long as possible. I am still mobile and everything else is fine, but I would be hooked up to ventilation about 20 hrs of the day. My pulm said that I could actually be mobile with the vent.

Can a person with a tracheostomy actually work in the hospital? The whole cross contamination seems like it could be a huge liability to the patients. Is there something I could go into right from graduation that I could work as an rn with the tracheostomy?

Thanks

[Wuzzie]

Let me start by extending you my very best wishes as you navigate your health issues. I really admire you for getting this far into nursing school while dealing with this. I wish I could be more positive though about your chances of being able to actually function as a nurse. Although there are many people with disabilities who have had successful careers I just can't see how this is going to work out for you. There are stories of nurses with significant disabilities still working as nurses in some sort of capacity but nearly all of them were nurses prior to becoming disabled. Since you still have a semester to go I assume you have clinicals to finish as well. I can't imagine any of the clinical sites accepting the liability of having you as a student. I'm sure you are bright and hard working but requiring a ventilator is likely going to be a deal-killer. Even if you have no clinicals and only class work to finish there are precious few jobs that you would even be considered for and virtually all of them require bedside experience which I just don't think you will be able to get. Then there is the personal risk you would be taking. Being exposed to all kinds of pathogens and other dangers (mechanical failure, patients acting out) is a very real danger. I can't imagine being in your shoes. This must be devastating for you. Maybe someone more creative than I am will come along with an idea for you but right now I think you need to focus on adjusting to your new life. My very best to you.