Nursing Home will not accept deaf students into their CNA course

Published

Nevermind disability law, I'd rather not learn from a biased group of audistic (prejudice against the deaf) of individuals. Well, Mrs. *****, I don't care if YOU don't think I can become a CNA, much less an RN. I will both and you can have a front row seat in the losers; circle to see me obtain both certifications / licenses.

Rant /

Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.

Thanks to Ilg(thoughtful and on point as always) and ParkerBeanCurd for the link. I also plan to check this out for one of my patients who is wheelchair bound but says that no airline will allow him to fly due to his inability to sit upright.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU, telemetry, LTAC.
Again, the OP is referring to a NURSING HOME & A NURSES AIDE POSITION. From your post you have not spent much time in LTC. Our regulations DO NOT allow us to "tie first and then call". Nor does our budget allow for sitters. Our alarms DO NOT have visual cues to go with them. This is the reality of long term care today and we can go on & on about the advancement of technologies, but a nurses aide in a nursing home (which are chronically understaffed to begin with) must have people that can hear alarms and patients screaming... because that is what our world is.

I have to agree with you that the nursing home is a whole different environment. Acute care generally has better staffing and therefore probably a better place for someone with a hearing problem to work. I'm in LTAC, we have a bit more money and staff than a nursing home, even if it feels like one sometimes.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

the reason why i brought up the whole hard of hearing question, is because we were just discussing the NCLEX exam and every year theyre including new things. last year you had to listen to breath sounds and then DESCRIBE what you heard. So I was just thinking ahead, thats really awesome that they have that technology out there (in regards to the steth with an lcd screen).

Nursing is sucha huge field, I know in my heart of hearts that there is something you could do, like nursing/law. It's just challenging I guess. Its challenging for someone like me, I have to put in X amount of hours every day, even with all my senses intact.

Good luck to you.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU, telemetry, LTAC.
the reason why i brought up the whole hard of hearing question, is because we were just discussing the NCLEX exam and every year theyre including new things. last year you had to listen to breath sounds and then DESCRIBE what you heard. So I was just thinking ahead, thats really awesome that they have that technology out there (in regards to the steth with an lcd screen).

Nursing is sucha huge field, I know in my heart of hearts that there is something you could do, like nursing/law. It's just challenging I guess. Its challenging for someone like me, I have to put in X amount of hours every day, even with all my senses intact.

Good luck to you.

Now as I understand it, if you need some type of adaptive device to do that part of the NCLEX, you let them know when you apply to take it, and they make some arrangement. What that arrangement might be, I have no idea, I was just grateful not to have to do that.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Army Medic.
Again, with the utmost respect... this is inflammatory & not helpful. I haven't read one reply that makes ANY attempt to make her seem "less of a person". In this "it's all about me" driven society we have to remember that in nursing it is not about "Me" it's about the person entrusted to our care and the ABILITY to care of the needs of that person. With that comes alot of responsibility and accountability.

If we re-read the title, this thread is all about a student for a CNA class in long term care. In LTC, a CNA does not need some fancy stethoscope. That is job function that can be reasonably done by the nurse. But, in LTC, residents aren't tucked in their beds at all times, they are out wandering about away from a call light. So what do they do when they need help... they scream out. There are also many residents with bed and w/c alarms. How many injuries are going to occur when the aide can't even hear them alarm. These are a very basic job function of a CNA and repeated numerous times throughout any given shift.

The ability to hear is a major requirement to be a CNA in a nursing home. If it were YOUR Mom in the facility wouldn't you feel the same way. "Sorry Mrs Smith. Yes your Mom did fall for the 6th time this week and yes she did have a fracture today, but you know Susie can't hear the alarms and the other aides are to far down the hall to get to your Mom before she falls. Yes Mrs. Smith, I do know a good attorney".

I think you misunderstood my post - and it wasn't meant to be inflammatory.

Whether the job of CNA fits well with a deaf person or not, I cannot say. I am not familiar with the job itself - or the conditions in a Nursing Home.

Personally I'm not deaf, so I make no presumptions about how a deaf person's life works. I do not know how having one sense taken away heightens other senses, or how people adapt to a world based around sound - because I can hear.

What I meant to say is - do not get mad over not being able to find a job in a certain field because you are deaf, you would not want to work around people who scrutinize you that way, either way.

Find a job in the medical field that suits your own specific needs. As disabled persons, that is one of the hurdles we face.

Yes it sucks, but that's life. I wanted to work strictly in trauma before I found out I have a narrow spine, and broke my hip. Now I would never even consider being a Paramedic or working on a trauma floor - simply because I know my limitations could put the life of some one else at risk.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency Dept. Trauma. Pediatrics.
Again, the OP is referring to a NURSING HOME & A NURSES AIDE POSITION. From your post you have not spent much time in LTC. Our regulations DO NOT allow us to "tie first and then call". Nor does our budget allow for sitters. Our alarms DO NOT have visual cues to go with them. This is the reality of long term care today and we can go on & on about the advancement of technologies, but a nurses aide in a nursing home (which are chronically understaffed to begin with) must have people that can hear alarms and patients screaming... because that is what our world is.

The nursing homes in this area have lights that light up outside the room when the call light goes off much like the hospital and a main like switchboard that is at the nursing station that goes off as well and shows which room number it is.

But the aides often worked more then one hall and if you can't hear, you would have to be in physical presence of the hall to see the light or at the station.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Medical Surgical Orthopedic.

I think it's possible and doesn't require unreasonable accommodation. I don't know any deaf nurses, but I did work with a deaf veterinarian for several years and she did really well. She needed a little help here and there, but she was always willing to help others and everything balanced out nicely. I'd be fine with a deaf nurse/CNA caring for me or my family. People have an amazing ability to adapt and excel when they are properly motivated.:redpinkhe:nurse:

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Ya know, I do not know were she went, but we have a deaf nurse working on telemetry and let me just tell you, she is the most kind hearted dedicated woman I have ever met. I have also worked in the lab with a deaf Med tech while I was a phlebotomist. Also, another amazing woman. Where you lack in one sense I truly believe one gains in many other areas. Do you have a hearing aid that allows you to hear what people are saying? If you do, the only thing I could even think of would be issues with hearing body sounds. But that can be worked with.

GOOD BETTER BEST, NEVER LET IT REST, UNTILL YOUR GOOD IS YOUR BETTER AND YOUR BETTER IS YOUR BEST!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency Dept. Trauma. Pediatrics.

I wouldn't have a problem with my family member having a deaf nurse for their care as long as there was a good means of communication to be had. Good lip reading for example. So that all my family members needs were able to be communicated. As long as the nurse could preform all tasks safely.

As far as the patient yelling out, unless this is the only person on the floor, I don't see how that is a problem. If there is truly an emergency and someone is screaming, I would assume SOMEONE will be able to hear the person screaming to alert for help. I have seen 2 RRT calls, 2 staff alert calls and 1 code during clinicals these past 6 weeks, all times it was not the patients actual nurse that set the alert and there was a MINIMUM of 10 people to the Pt. room within 2 mins. As soon as it's alerted the whole hospital is alerted and all available people come to assist. They're some concerns as a family member or CNA or Nurse I would have in this topic, but honestly, the screaming pt that is hurt would be my least concern. (not them being hurt themselves but the situation) If only the actual nurse is going to be the one to respond if a patient screams out in an obvious emergency, then I have a lot bigger fish to fry with the facility, if that makes sense. In the nursing home I spent my first semester clinicals at, their were always people around as well, so no one screaming would go unnoticed for someone to respond.

If the nurse of CNA was with another patient when this happened to begin with someone else would have to respond to the emergency regardless.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in M/S, MICU, CVICU, SICU, ER, Trauma, NICU.

This is the way I see it.

If I were a nursing instructor and you/he/she is going to be under my guidance and my responsibility, and MY LICENSE, I will ensure that YOU/HE/SHE will be able to do ALL of what is expected. NO MORE NO LESS. I will try to accomodate to the best I can, but if the patient is ever, ever compromised, and it is not doable.

Then it's not going to be done.

I have to think that patients must ALWAYS come first.

And moreover, this rule applies to anyone and everyone.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I'm surprised to see such blatant prejudice and ignorance on this supposedly professional forum.

There are specialties where a deaf nurse can function with little to no accomodations. There are technologies the state vocational rehabilitation will pay for to keep me employed in my profession.

To think that not being able to hear would place my patients in any more harm than with some of the whackos with all five of their senses practicing heakthcare is absurd.

People clearly need to be taught the true meaning of disability discrimination. But know this, if I ever come up to you seeking employment or education and you deny me them based on my disability, I have no problem taking you to court if it means paving a path for other disabled nurses.

Shame on you.

You'll find that what seperates me from the rest is that I press on when things are looking grim and I am scared, uncertain, and alone. Past impossibility, into the realms of achievement because I'm on a mission from God, and you can't take that honor away from me.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in pulm/cardiology pcu, surgical onc.
I'm surprised to see such blatant prejudice and ignorance on this supposedly professional forum.

There are specialties where a deaf nurse can function with little to no accomodations. There are technologies the state vocational rehabilitation will pay for to keep me employed in my profession.

To think that not being able to hear would place my patients in any more harm than with some of the whackos with all five of their senses practicing heakthcare is absurd.

People clearly need to be taught the true meaning of disability discrimination. But know this, if I ever come up to you seeking employment or education and you deny me them based on my disability, I have no problem taking you to court if it means paving a path for other disabled nurses.

Shame on you.

You'll find that what seperates me from the rest is that I press on when things are looking grim and I am scared, uncertain, and alone. Past impossibility, into the realms of achievement because I'm on a mission from God, and you can't take that honor away from me.

I honestly don't think any of the previous posts were meant to be discriminatory. A lot of the replys were from experienced nurses with valid concerns and realistic questions. Good luck, you will be successful with whatever path you choose.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion