Paraplegia and nursing

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I have a paraplegic friend who would like to study nursing. Will he be denied the opportunity to study you think? He is paralyzed from the waist down.

Specializes in Alzheimer's, Geriatrics, Chem. Dep..
I have a paraplegic friend who would like to study nursing. Will he be denied the opportunity to study you think? He is paralyzed from the waist down.

PS: try this forum on Allnurses for support!

Also check out this link re standing wheelchairs, they have been around for 25 years. I have seen one on Private Practice (Dr. Fife has one) http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/disability_issues&id=7257849, and sure enough they are real (see the links at the bottom of the page, also)

http://www.reachoutmag.com/text/subscribers/magazine/Spring_Summer03/standing.html

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Specializes in PICU, Pediatrics, Pediatric Home Health.
"Think outside of the box...."

OK, if you will agree to do the same. We have become so accustomed in this country to crying "No fair!" or "Discrimination" that we often don't use common sense.

It is absolute common sense that a person without use of their legs would find a sedentary career much more rewarding and obtainable than a career that is based in large part on physically demanding and physically specific duties.

Are there nursing positions that do not require use of the legs? Of course there are. And the majority of those positions are available to those who have years of experience in basic nursing duties, thus qualifying them for the position.

I am not going to argue with you and agree to disagree... but there are MANY positions out of nursing school that do not require any bedside experience and could benefit a person who cannot use their legs.

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Specializes in LTC, Acute Care.

I worked in a SNF where the night nurse was paralyzed from the waist down and used only a manual wheelchair. There was only 1 nurse on that shift, but the shift also had a couple of aides. She was an intelligent, capable nurse by all means. The facility was 60+ residents. So, she was the only nurse on night shift in a nursing home for 60+ residents. I see nurses on here with no disability bellyaching about doing the same job she did every evening. Yeah, I know, understaffing runs rampant in LTCs and I certainly agree, but this thread is about a paraplegic's ability to do the job. I give a resounding yes that your friend can do the job regardless of this disability, because I've seen it.

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How does a nurse in a wheelchair do CPR on a patient, if needed especialy when she is by hereself? I also wonder if this going on NOW and if a nurse like that would be hired NOW. Things have changed so much with the turn in the economy and also with each year lawsuits increase. Heck businesses are even trying to get rid of the older staff to get reductions in their health insurance cost cant imagine what an obviusly disabled person does to that. Not saying its right but things have changed, the workplace is a cut throat place most everywhere now it seems.

When you think about it it is kinda sad that people actually have to live in a place that is another person't cut throat work envrionment. God help us, what have we become?

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these are the guidelines for my nursing school. i would look into another medical career like ultrasound or respiratory therapy. i do not think a paraplegic can complete the required clinical in order to become a nurse.

technical standards for students admitted to the nursing program

nursing at the technical level involves the provision of direct care for individuals and is characterized by the application of verified knowledge in the skillful performance of nursing functions. therefore, in order to be considered for admission or to be retained in the program after admission, all applicants should possess the following:

  1. sufficient visual acuity, such as is needed in the preparation and administration of medications, and for the observation necessary for patient assessment and nursing care.
  2. sufficient auditory perception to receive verbal communication from patients and members of the health care team and to assess health needs of people through the use of monitoring devices such as cardiac monitors, stethoscopes, iv infusion pumps, doptones, fire alarms, etc.
  3. sufficient gross and fine motor coordination to respond promptly and to implement the skills, including the manipulation of equipment, required in meeting health needs.
  4. sufficient communication skills (speech, hearing, writing) to interact with individuals and to communicate their needs promptly and effectively, as may be necessary in the individual’s interest.
  5. sufficient intellectual and emotional functions to plan and implement care for individuals.

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I am not going to argue with you and agree to disagree... but there are MANY positions out of nursing school that do not require any bedside experience and could benefit a person who cannot use their legs.

i agree with the opportunities outside of nsg school...

but how would a paraplegic get through nsg school, with the clinical components required?

leslie

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Specializes in Cardiac Telemetry, Emergency, SAFE.
I worked in a SNF where the night nurse was paralyzed from the waist down and used only a manual wheelchair. There was only 1 nurse on that shift, but the shift also had a couple of aides. She was an intelligent, capable nurse by all means. The facility was 60+ residents. So, she was the only nurse on night shift in a nursing home for 60+ residents. I see nurses on here with no disability bellyaching about doing the same job she did every evening. Yeah, I know, understaffing runs rampant in LTCs and I certainly agree, but this thread is about a paraplegic's ability to do the job. I give a resounding yes that your friend can do the job regardless of this disability, because I've seen it.

Do you know if she went through clinicals and school before or after her disability?

I have to agree with the posters that bring up the concern of schooling. The hospital rooms Ive been in? Barely large enough to accomodate ME, much less someone in a wheelchair trying to assess or plug in an IV pole behind a dresser.

If theyd be able to get through school somehow, then yes, theres nursing jobs for them somewhere.

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Specializes in LTC, Acute Care.
Do you know if she went through clinicals and school before or after her disability?

I have to agree with the posters that bring up the concern of schooling. The hospital rooms Ive been in? Barely large enough to accomodate ME, much less someone in a wheelchair trying to assess or plug in an IV pole behind a dresser.

If theyd be able to get through school somehow, then yes, theres nursing jobs for them somewhere.

If my memory serves me correctly, her MVA causing the paralysis happened when she was a teen.

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All they can do is ask and see where it takes them. I would tell them to call some local community colleges and make an appointment to meet with someone in nursing. Start there and get the ball rolling.

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Your friend will need to prepare to face the attitudinal barriers of the nursing school administrators, teachers and other nurses. Maybe your friend can make a list of the nursing students skills that he will be able to do with training, for example; he will be able to make beds, do physical assessments, manage IVs, give injections, change dressings, catheterize and yes even do CPR. There are going to be people who have never seen these skills done by someone with paraplegia who will think they cannot be done, but there are also others such as; OTs, PTs, and rehab nurses who will be open to helping him figure out how he can do many of the necessary skills. The number of skills that he will be able to do, will outweigh the skills he will not be able to do, and since students do not work alone and there will be many different careers options after graduation, I would encourage him to follow his dream and become a nurse.

dishes

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Specializes in CHN.
I have a paraplegic friend who would like to study nursing. Will he be denied the opportunity to study you think? He is paralyzed from the waist down.

Sad to say, but it is likely that he's going to be denied unless he would be able to walk again.

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Specializes in ER.

I have thought about this, I think someone asked a few years ago.

I definitely think there is a place in nursing for him, but it will take extra work and thought on the part of whatever nursing school accepts him. Right off the bat I think psych or NICU could easily accommodate a paraplegic RN, and probably occupational health, ER fast tracks/triage, doctor's offices.

I wonder if there is such a thing as a raised wheelchair that could place him at standing height in a seated position, then the OR would be a possibility. Given enough space to manuver, and a raised stable wheelchair, he could do bedside tasks. I can't visualize assisting with transfers from bed to chair, or stretcher to bed, but once he is in the situation new ideas will come up.

It would be pretty cool to work with this nurse and find out how things can be done differently. I hope he finds a school willing to take on the challenge.

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