Especialty for a hoh nurse?

Nurses Disabilities

Published

iprinter.gif Print iemail_go.gif Email unsubscribed.png Follow

Registered User information.gif page_edit.gif email.gif add.png search.gif

Age: 30

Join Date: Nov 2008

Posts: 30

Hello everyone!

My question is this...What is a good specialization for a hard of hearing nurse like me to think of? Something that,when wearing a hearing aid,will function normally, and if possible no more using of stethoscope.I am just thinking of a line that has less stress on my impairment to go on my nursing profession.I was thinking of a surgical, but their use of a mask might just aggravate my problem even if I will be wearing an aid.Any inputs?

I cannot think of other line this time.

Any ideas here will be greatly appreciated.

Psych nursing is the only thing I can think of right now that doesn't use a stethoscope, other than OR. But its doesn't utilize the same nursing skills as, say, a medical/surgical floor. What is the reason for not wanting to use a stethoscope? Do you not like having to take the aids out to use it? Or have you just not found an amplified one that you like?

Maybe looking into home health or non-clinical nursing? I'm currently looking at those options as I was an experienced ER nurse in a loud, busy trauma hospital that lost his hearing due to recent illness.

Finding a job that will put you in an environment where you can succeed is the hardest part I think. I had someone suggest OR to me as well. I went down to my hospital's OR to check it out and realized their air filtration/AC system was extremely loud and when combined with the masks made communication more difficult.

I'm still on medical leave right now, but starting to consider non-hospital jobs where I will have more control of my environment. In quiet settings, my particular hearing loss is not a huge challenge. One on one, in those settings I can function very well.

So, home health, maybe an employee health setting, or out-patient settings. Places where I can control the environment/noise level will be a driving factor to me when I start looking for a job.

That and I'm starting to end look at going back to school. I have my ADN, thinking of going back for BSN and maybe going into research or MSN and teaching.

+ Add a Comment