Nurses with Sickle Cell Disease

Nurses Disabilities

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Hello, I am currently in nursing school for my BSN. Going to school can be challenging when I have a pain crisis. Everything is sooo much harder on me when I am in pain. I can barely think let alone try and study or take an exam. My school, for the most part, is understanding with make up exams and recorded lectures. I just get scared sometimes because I don't want to end up in the hospital for two weeks when I need to be in school. I don't like missing class, exams, etc.

I would like to hear from the nurses or nursing students about your stories with SCD and how you deal with it during school or at work. Thanks in advance :)

Hi Chasemelony, I came across your post and found it very interesting. I can truly relate to you since I am a Registered Nurse with Sickle Cell Disease & Beta Thalassemia. I don't know the outcome of your story but I really hope that you pulled through and achieved the nursing degree you so desired.

I was still in nursing school during the time you posted (Jan 2010) and thanks to the grace of God & Hydroxyurea (Hydrea), I made it through the program without a serious crisis. Up until I graduated, I decided to wean myself off the Hydrea since it was causing increased hair loss; bad mistake in my part. Since I hadn't had a crisis in a couple of years I thought I was strong enough to live without the drug, but I quickly proved myself wrong. I ended up in the hospital for 22 days sickling and losing my valuable hemoglobin; eventually having to be transfused since my hemoglobin dropped to 4. I made it out of the hospital, 88 pounds (usually 105 lbs at 4'11), looking and feeling awful but hanging on to my faith in God. The first 3 days after discharge were one of THE WORST, this is when I truly realized how weak I really felt; couldn't take the dog out, go up & down stairs, washing two dishes or even trying to cook an egg made me so fatigued, I couldn't stand up for longer than 3 minutes. But sure enough, The Lord picked me right back up (every time). Soon enough one week or two later I was back to walking a couple miles, jogging, studying for NCLEX (at that time), oh and of course back on Hydrea!

I've been a nurse for a year now in the same Orthopedic floor that I had worked on as a Patient Care Tech for 6 years. It has been a year full of learning, learning and more learning; most things I never learned in nursing school. I've had one crisis during this year but thankfully this time it was only a 3 day hospitalization and one week's rest at home before going back to work. Sickle Cell will not break me, I embrace it, my passion for nursing stems from living with this chronic disease. Since very little I held such admiration for nurses because they always rescued me when I was in pain, they were so special to me. I am now able to help patients in need of me and I wish the same for you! I hope you read this and reply, if not for you then I hope it serves a bit of inspiration to any other person living with Sickle Cell that may dream of being a nurse.

No experience personally w/SCD, but remember a patient in 1988 who was on the floor where I worked- young 20s...and the pain that poor young woman was in- I felt for her.

You're in my prayers :) (not meant to be offensive- as some don't like prayer- but it's my way of offering the best I can!).

Specializes in None yet.

Im in the middle of a huge decision. I wnt to the advisor at the school that I want to apply to and she told me that they would not allow me to miss too much clinicals but the crisis are random and uncontrollable ( usually last a week) is there anything I can do?

Im in the middle of a huge decision. I wnt to the advisor at the school that I want to apply to and she told me that they would not allow me to miss too much clinicals but the crisis are random and uncontrollable ( usually last a week) is there anything I can do?

I think your advisor already told you :( It's sad, but nursing school attendance policies are pretty well set in stone. You have to have the clinical time (lectures can be recorded)....but making up days in the hospital for clinicals are very limited. We got 2 days per semester, and they had to be 'made up'...or the class repeated.

Hi, I too have SCD. I have had many trials and set backs. I originally should have graduated in 2006, but because of my trials, I did not graduate until Dec 2010. I was told by several professors that I would never make it because of my illness. I even had one professor go as far as to tell me that I should drop out and just live on my disability checks. I was failed during one clinical because I was sick and missed 2 days, so I had to sit out a year. The following year, I went to clinical although I was sick and was failed because by doing that "I placed my patients in danger"..so I had to sit out another year..I was then told that because I failed 2 classes, I was no longer eligible to continue with the nursing program...Needless to say, I mentioned a lawyer, and was allowed to come back to school..At graduation a couple of those professors that told me I'd never make it, came to me saying how proud they we're..I looked at them and kept walking...oh, I almost forgot to mention, this same girl that would never be a nurse, passed the NCLEX on the first try! :)

It can be done..might take longer than expected..but it can be done..and now if only I can find a job!

Feb 8 by mmartin94"Hi I have sickle cell disease and I want to be a nurse. Do you have any advice for me, or tips?"Mmartin94: the website would not allow private messages so I'm posting my response on the blog, hope you don't mind! Hi mmartin94 :o) what worked for me was being on Hydroxurea/Hydrea treatment through the nursing program. Im not sure if you're familiar with this drug but it increased my hemoglobin levels and prevented crisis. Staying warm during lectures, hydrating, Lots of praying and determination! Good family support. I don't want to give false hope so I must say that I've been a highly functional Sickler since my 20's, hospitalized 1-2 times per year; I know that's not everyone's case and we all have different crisis frequencies. Whatever your case is, do what you love. It was a very hard program for a year & 1/2 full time, but I wanted it so bad, poured my heart into it and by the Grace of God I achieved my goal. Best of luck in pursuing your dreams :o)*

Congrats nurse028!!!! I'm so proud of you!

I know this thread is super old but I have sickle cell and I wanna be a Nurse!

Thanks for sharing that anything ia possible.

Specializes in None yet.

Hello SB,

It is possible.... I'm in my second semester now going to third.... It has challanges but it's not impossible....take it one day at a time and don't worry about something that hasn't happened yet... Some advisors will say no but you know yourself best...

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