Prospective nursing student with spina bifida. Can I do it?

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Hi,

I am 18 years old and currently a senior in high school and I have been accepted to my dream school for the Fall semester. Currently I am undecided because of the possibility that I will not get admitted into nursing school. First off I want to clarify my condition. I have spina bifida, specifically myelomeningocele. I am in a wheelchair and have no feeling in my legs from the knees down. However, I do not have a shunt or any learning/mental impairments. I have great upper body strength and normal fine motor control. I do everything by myself and for myself. I am a VERY independent person. Basically, my only problem is that I am not able to walk. Anyways to my point... To the nurses out there, do you think that nursing is a possibility for me? I intend to speak to people at some nursing schools in my area about this, but my vocational rehab counselor keeps telling me I cannot do it, along with several other people. I am the type of person who does not just flat out take no for an answer and I intend to try to pursue my dream until I am absolutely positive I will not be able to do it. I am currently CPR certified and my only concern about nursing that I can think of is lifting and transferring patients. Can any nurses out there please give me their opinions on my situation? Sorry about the long entry!

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I absolutely think you can be a nurse, others have done it, look at this thread on paraplegia and nursing, in particular read hipcrips post on page 3, the articles he provided can serve as inspiration as you pursue your dream to become a nurse. Print the articles off and make copies for your vocational rehab counselor and anyone else you think will benefit from reading them.

https://allnurses.com/general-nursing-discussion/paraplegia-and-nursing-460333-page3.html#post4163692

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Specializes in OR.

I also think that you can do it! Good on you and the best of luck in your career!

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Hi Kaitlyn,

You can totally do it!!!

Also there are many scholarship opportunities that you can look into to - Spina Bifida Association has some available as well as the 180 Medical Scholarship Program.

Best of luck in your studies!

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Thanks everyone!

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