Nurses with learning disabilities?

Hi,

I am currently considering a change of careers into nursing, and applying to BSN/MS programs with a goal of ending up a Family Nurse Practitioner. I'm excited about the possibilities that following this path would offer.. but also a bit concerned about my ability to do the job effectively.

I am a Dyslexic, with pretty significant difficulty in handwriting, spelling, and sometimes with deciphering other peoples messy script. By and large I function well by using adaptive strategies to compensate for my weaknesses (especially by using computers). But I don't really know how possible this will be in a patient care environment.

It isn't really the coursework that I'm worried about, or maybe I should say I'm no more worried then everyone is when they think of the work and challenges of such demanding programs. I have done well in collage, and have significant graduate experience already outside of nursing. I know what I need to do to get through classes, I've been doing it all my life. Also, the Americans with disabilities act guarantees that accredited collages make reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities.

My real concern is with where I'm going to find myself after I graduate.

Are there any other nurses out there with learning disabilities. Nurse Practitioners? If so what has your experience been like? What difficulties have you found and what do you do to enable yourself to Nurse effectively.

For nurses without learning disabilities, how often do you need to produce hand written documentation in the course of your work? Could you use a computer instead if you needed to? How large a specialized vocabulary do you work with day to day, would a spelling "cheat sheet" be possible? Are there certain specialties in which I'm more likely to be able to work in the ways I need to?

I was surprised that I could not really find information on this subject online (nowadays I figure you can get info on just about anything with google) Luckily I did stumble on this little community, and I'm hoping some of you can help me out.

Thanks

NYNursingHopeful,

Hi. congratulations on your carreer choice and welcome. I had ADD when I was going through school. When I entered nursing school I initially had a lot of problems with study habits and tests. I flunked out the first semester because I was really unprepared for such concentrated study and never had developed good study habits in primary and secondary school. But this was something that I had always wanted to do, so after a couple of months I called the school and requested to come back with the next group of freshmen. (I was in a diploma program). They did invite me back because I had done well on my nursing pretests and was well liked by students and faculty. When I came back I met with one of my previous classmates and she helped me develop good study habits. It worked like a charm and I never had a failing grade, mostly a's and b's.

That being said, you already have a good start in that you have already gone to college classes and obviously have developed good study habits. And in reviewing your post, your spelling, grammar and punctuation are perfect. You will have no problem with your dyslexia. There are many famous people in history with dyslexia who went on and did great things. I think you will too.

Good luck to you.

Hi there were im glad you chose nursing and my advice would be to be very carefull when reading something like a med order and if you dont understand dont hesitate to call the doc him self or a pharmacist cause if you mess up and something happens to that patient ...well you will be in trouble and remember patient safety first.. dont put your self in a situation were it can cause harm to others ..

good luck!:balloons:

Hi there! I'm dyslexic and have ADD. I will be graduating next month! So to answerer a few of your questions from my own personal experience. A lot of hospitals have computer charting which for me helps tremendously. One of the ways I have adapted over the years is with the use of computers. For the units that don't have computer charting I have a laptop that I bring and type up my narrative notes and then I will hand write them if i need to (when I was tested last I write and read at a 2nd and 4th grade level (-: but I comprehend at a post masters degree) any way being able to type my thoughts out makes it easier and I'm a little faster that way.

Another thing that I purchased was a PDA. I use it to spell check things and look up stuff as well as type notes. As for reading doctors writing I agree with the previous post for the most part. Right now I work as a unit clerk and I didn't think I could at first cause I have to transcribe a lot of the doctors orders but I developed my own way of making sense of it I also rely on the nurses and will send some orders to the pharmacy to help with.

When I started the program I had the same fears about things and searched and searched for answerers but there really isn't alot. One of the things that I have realized is that being dyslexic may actually be more of a blessing than a disability. You will find that your area of strengths will be more than enough to compensate for the not so strong areas. Besides dyslexics tend to be right brained people and right brained people tend to see things as a whole. When it comes to nursing thats what they teach you in school is to see the patient as a whole. So basically dyslexics are natural nurses! (-:

Oh! As for spelling again. I keep a list of common words that I use almost every shift that I can never seem to remember how to spell. My suggestion is to get scrubs with large pockets. I keep all types of things in them.

I have ADD and Learning disabilities in Math and some Reading comprehension. I am getting ready to return to school after taking years off also.

While I am also nervous and scared about going back, I also know that I can do it with a lot of extra work. There is a book called, "Learning Outside the Lines" By Johathan Mooney and David Cole that is about 2 Ivy league graduates that have the same Disabilities that you have that graduated with honors! I would check out the book and keep it nearby. It is a constant cheers for me of encouragement!

Good luck and I look forward to hearing how things go!

I am a pre nursing student that also has learning disabilities in reading and writing. You guys talk about some tricks that you developed over time that helped with studying or coping with your work environment. Are there any specific tips that you could share that you have found benifical to you seceding?

I have a learning disability that plays out in reading comprehension, writing, and sensory integration. I knew school would be a challenge, it was, and I got through it alright. I too was far more concerned with ability to perform in the workforce.

Two years into it and it's been a mixed bag. Floor nursing leaves little wiggle room for many of my compensatory techniques that I have developed over the years. In previous jobs I could come in early or stay late, and I could move my work to a quiet space. There is no quiet space on the floor; in fact there is no space to call my own more than a few minutes at a time. Having said that I have developed new skills (organization tools and cheat sheets), and am tenacious about checking medications and orders. One of the big reasons I chose the hospital I work at is because they have computer charting and computer order entry.

All in all it is working ok, however I do look forward to a job in nursing where I have more flexibility and autonomy - not an easier job - just one that I have more control over as I have had in other jobs. If you are interested in becoming a NP I feel sure you will have a great deal more autonomy, and if you are anything like me, this should help.

Good luck to you in whatever you decide :)