question for any Disabled nurses or nursing students

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Im in process of applying to local universitys to study mental health nursing,

My forms are awaiting to be sent due to money probs Lol

I have a hearing impairement and wear hearing aids, I also have ataxia (slight weakness in balance and co-ordination) this rarely affects me.

My question is when you applied to study were there any questions raised over this and if so did it affect you application.

Im asking because out of the two my hearing was questioned at my last interview and they rejected my application because they couldnt be sure id hear on a ward. Since then i gained volunteer work as an advocate on a psychiatric ward at a local hospital and have had no problems.

In all honesty I thought the ataxia would have been questioned more but seems no one really knows unless I say. At the time i felt id been discrimanated against and didnt know what to do. I tried to complain to the uni but was worried it would affect any future applications so i didnt do anything. I have since gained some experience in mental health advocacy as im around clients on a 2 day basis each week.

I was also a volunteer ward assistant in 2004-2005

I have applied four times in 2 years as im dedicated and after each interview im given advice to follow and by next interview they say its irrelivant. I cant do care work at the moment as im in the sticks and transport is terrible which is another thing outta window. At 3rd interview they said i HAD to get care experience

ARGHHHH. I also have to do an access planning course to Prove I can study as havnt studied in nearly 3 years this is going to be one busy year. I looked into diploma in care but was told im too old. I thought about NVQ care but need job in care before can start.

I have the relivant GCSEs but cant afford to study at college which is one of reasons i am trying to get on a Diploma in Mental health as dont want to get into huge amounts of debts just so i can gain access to Uni.

What do I do? any advice would be grateful

A worried potential nursing student

Sweet pea lou

Keeps fingers crossed:saint:

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Specializes in critical care: trauma/oncology/burns.

Dear Sweet Pea Lou (love the name, smile)

Hi. I have been a Registered Professional Nurse for 30 years, and I am considered moderate to severe hearing loss. Also wear bilateral BTE aides. There is an excellent website that you might want to check out: www.exceptionalnurse.com

Having said that, my best advise is.....Don't bring it up. Let them address it. The only thing that a hard of hearing or Deaf/deaf person can't do is HEAR. Goddess knows, when i did mention my "hearing loss" all the interviewer seemed concerned about was my IQ (or lack of, in their eyes. you know, disabled = stupid or such nonsense)

I read lips/speech read and know American Sign Language (ASL) and Pidgin Signed English (PSE) fluently. I think my "saving grace" is that my speech is pretty good. Most people, when they meet me, think I am a bit of a snob, that is until they realise that they must face me when they speak to me.

When I got my second job out of nursing school, I didn't mention my "problem hearing" until after my three month evaluations. Then, when i came out of the deaf closet all hell broke loose. The nurse manager tried to have me fired. But, we have the American's with Disability Act, so that kind of saved my orifice. Now my file speaks for itself.

I wish I could say it will get better for you, but I am not in your shoes. Find out what, if any, laws will protect you (like our ADA)

Where in the UK are you, if you don't mind my asking (smile). I have tons of family in Ireland, travel back and forth, and am saving up my $$ to retire to either Kerry, Mayo or Sligo.

Please let us/me know how you are doing. Please, if I can do any type of research for you, or just be there for you emotionally, do not hesitate to contact me (PM if you wish)

Oh, if only we could make up some of the bloody rules of the world, no? BTW I also use a special electronic stethoscope. It cost a wee bit but it helps me. I have never heard heart sounds, but breathe sounds and bowel sounds I can "get"

All my Respect,

athena

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Thank you so much for replying to my post athena.

I am moderate to severe too and i wear digital hearing aids Love i these ones as they are wonderful.

Ive been through same thing disabilities equal lack of IQ what a load of nonesense :lol2: .

Ive been registerd hearing impaired for nearly 17 years lol and read lips but unfortunately i was never given sign language lessons. Im in the same boat I consider my speach to be very good for someone who wears hearings and the all to familiar story of being misunderstood for being a snob when its a case of not hearing someone when speak to you from behind. :lol2: i have a wonderful boss at my advocacy unit who i s fantastic she forgets to look at me and often apologises for forgetting its a chuckle to see when they do remember.

My hearing is one of first things that i mention at interviews to make sure that they understand to face me just incase. I was always told to disclose it or i could get fired for not telling of my disabilities when id rather not say incase it affects things.

Im in Essex at the moments ive lived here nearly 13 years and im origionally from surrey . We do have laws for disabled.

Al is going great at moment my applications been sent off hehe .

Electronic stethoscopes (sp?) they sounds amazing.

You sure said it there athena

It wonderful to speak to ypu i hope we stay incontacts as never met any othber hearing impaired nurses or people lol

Take care

Sweetpea lou

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Specializes in critical care: trauma/oncology/burns.

Dear Sweat Pea Lou:

Thank you for responding back to me. If you prefer I could PM you....

You know, after I submitted my initial response to you and read your response to me, I realized that Yeah, you are right. I guess it is not right to not be totally honest. But I think that only you know when it is the right time to disclose. So many others do not understand hearing loss and automatically assume stuff and nonsense. I had wanted to go to classes to learn to be a emergency medical technician, but I was initially refused admittance because of my hearing loss! That kind of p**ed me off, so i waited a year and reapplied to a different program and did not tell anyone of my hearing loss. Passed all my exams, received the highest mark in the class and passed my state exam, as well. I am a certified EMT. It might have been good for the cause if I had made an issue and demanded to be accepted into the program, but I guess we must pick and choose our fights. I believe in educating others about people with disabilities, but sometimes one can become wary of always having to educated others and to be a self advocate. Sigh.

I went for a interview to be a organ transplant coordinator - the nurse that is called when a potential brain dead patient might have organs that could be harvested for others on the national waiting list. I was wearing my hearing aides and I tend to sign, so I explained about my hearing loss but said it in such a manner that the two who were interviewing me made no big deal about it. It could also be that they were being terribly politically correct, who knows? Anyway, I got the job but Alas! In order to be on call one had to have a automobile, and I do not own a motor vehicle, except for my bicycle, smile. So, lost that job opportunity.

I also have a friend who had been on social security disability. She received benefits as she was deemed unable to work, at that time in her life. She found out that if she mentioned that she had or was receiving disability monies people were hesitant to hire her. I guess they might have seen her as a liability. Sigh, she felt like receiving the disability was like being on the dole.

Well Sweat Pea, if you would like information on different companies that manufacture electronic stethoscopes, let me know. As I might have mentioned (either I am getting old or am suffering from C.R.S. syndrome i.e., Can't Remember Shite syndrome. I hope I did not offend you) they can cost a wee bit of money but they certainly help me.

I do not consider myself to be "disabled", just a person with a hearing loss. I used to be very angry to wards "hearies" but that kind of attitude got kind of stale and old. Besides, I made people afraid of me! Imagine that! Hahahaha....

England. I have always wanted to visit England, but did not while my Mum was alive (Irish and all. People from her generation kind of kept a bit of the hate alive). So am saving up my money.

Take care of yourself. Please, if you would like, keep in touch. Let me know how things are going on for you.

Blessed Be,

athena

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I am a disabled nurse who has just qualified. I have learning disablities. I phoned all the nursing schools only one would look at me I gave them a year to answer if they could deal with my learning needs they said yes. At interview I was questioned about my dyslexia but not the other I was prepared for this and let them know I had ways of coping and I was ready. I was accepted, but within a few months of being on the course the head of the nursing program started to be a problem. It took threatening law suits before she backed down. I finished and now have a dream job. Do not give up. Join a union. Unison was ready to back me and I would highly recommend them. Become familar with the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA), that is the law that prevents discrimanation for disabled people. Contact the Disabiltiy rights comission. Under the freedom of information act you have the right to see what the people who interviewed you said about your interview. Also when you are turned down you need to find out what you did not do well enough in. They should give definate criteria that you did not meet and must justify this. I know the University of Greenwich has accepted hearing impaired students as the outstanding student award for my cohort was given to someone hearing impaired. Good Luck and don't let it get you down keep me up to date as to your progress

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It has been really sad reading what you three have experienced. Considering we are taught to provide 'holistic and autonomous care', it dosn't seem like staff get the same respect.

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Specializes in RN, BSN, CHDN.
I am a disabled nurse who has just qualified. I have learning disablities. I phoned all the nursing schools only one would look at me I gave them a year to answer if they could deal with my learning needs they said yes. At interview I was questioned about my dyslexia but not the other I was prepared for this and let them know I had ways of coping and I was ready. I was accepted, but within a few months of being on the course the head of the nursing program started to be a problem. It took threatening law suits before she backed down. I finished and now have a dream job. Do not give up. Join a union. Unison was ready to back me and I would highly recommend them. Become familar with the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA), that is the law that prevents discrimanation for disabled people. Contact the Disabiltiy rights comission. Under the freedom of information act you have the right to see what the people who interviewed you said about your interview. Also when you are turned down you need to find out what you did not do well enough in. They should give definate criteria that you did not meet and must justify this. I know the University of Greenwich has accepted hearing impaired students as the outstanding student award for my cohort was given to someone hearing impaired. Good Luck and don't let it get you down keep me up to date as to your progress

What a fanastic post, should give inspiration to many. Well done.

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Hello all. thought I would jump in here versus "lurking" more. As Athena wrote ExceptionalNurse.com is awesome!!!!!! I know, I have just been a chapter in the latest morificecript out of that site: Leave No Nurse Behind: Nurses Working With DisAbilities. One of the chapters might interest you, it was written by a deaf nures/attorney. We havae all shared our journeys to stay worikng after injury at work, illness, deafness, spina bifida...many brave men and women contributed to this book. It was compiled by Donna Carol Maheady, RN PhD and is available online at barnes and noble website. Keep your chin up, don't tell-let them figure ot out. you are a NURSE not a disAbility. Good luck!!!

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Just been reading your post's You Go all the way girl and dont give up, Im sure you will get a place ill keep my eye out too see how yopu got on in the future GOOD LUCK

LYNDSEY:nurse:

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