Visually impaired nurses

I would personally consider contacting your local disabilites retraining center. In NY it is VESID. I do not mean to retrain other than as a nurse. But they may be able to point you in directions with augmented computers and the like. What comes to mind is working in a field such as counseling. It can be done. But you need a lot of support and here is where formal programs can help.

I have been trying to connect with other nurses who have visual impairment like I do for a long time and found this awesome site and this forum.I know how you feel.I'm now early retired due to a progressively worsening Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is an inherited, degenerative eye disease that causes severe vision impairment and blindness.RP affected both my eyes.It has caused me my central and peripheral vision.I have it since childhood but of course I didn't realize until I was diagnosed yrs back.I managed and compensated so very well for a long time,went to nursing school and worked Medical-Surgical,ICU-CCU and then Telemetry unit for total of 30+ yrs.experience.It has gotten progressively worse over the last 6 yrs but just trying to ignore the symptoms and continue on working but I was struggling at work.I was on denial stage for a while.I was scared my career was over.Finally,I accepted and realized the fact that I can no longer be able to deliver safe and high and quality level of care.There's too much at stake that I took a leap of faith hoping that with God's blessings everything will be alright.It was a long and lengthy process,but with the support of my family and my doctors I finally retired last April'12..I can use the computer with adaptation devices and I'm now working on some retraining program and find and enjoy quality time with my family while I can....I just hope my little testimonial helps other nurses who are visually disabled/impaired and to let them know they're not alone...Thank you so very much...

We have a few nurses working as Data abstractors for Core Measures and quality. The title they have is "QUality analyst" or something like that. If you are able to use the computer with the adaptive devices, this could be a possibility, though...it might be very difficult to do this 40 hrs a week...

We also have a nurse in the ED who does call backs on pt cultures- to tell them they have the love bug etc. THey make sure the proper rx is called in if the pt was not treated in the ED and counsel the pt on safer sexual practices, which seems like it could be done at home as well.....

Very good Luck to you. My Dad;s vision is similarly bad...

I have 20/80 corrected and 20/200 without it might not be safe with that kind of vision. mine has me over coming difficulties and I don't tell other because I don't want them doubting my competency hope this helped :-)

I'm an LPN, female, 32 years old. I was born clinically blind in the left eye due to a congenital cataract that was difficult to operate on. My parents chose not to have the cataract operated on when I was 3 years old (when it was first discovered on an eye exam) because of the risks. I am nearsighted (-3.50) in right eye, but see 20/20 corrected with glasses or contacts. I see 20/400 in left eye with the cataract, but have some peripheral vision in that eye. I see 20/20 with both eyes open, but if I close my good eye, can't see with left. My left eye has never slowed me down, but I do worry my vision may deteriorate more over time with age. I do have terrible floaters in both eyes. I have worked part time on and off as an LPN since 2008. I am currently a stay at home mom.

I too have RP and have struggled with my job over the past 2 years I was relieved from my last position 6 weeks ago the emotional strain of my changing eyesight and new Dx of MS has been extremely difficult. I miss working and bringing home a paycheck. But can't find anything I am able to confidently do with my nursing degree. I cant handle being on the computer for extended periods of time due to eye strain and pain in my eyes and headaches

I am a Long Term care nurse of over 30 years...recently diagnosed with Glaucoma in the left eye and the optic nerve is badly affected where it makes my job very unnerving, due to computer work of over 7 hours at times, measuring and trying to read the Bingo cards, bottles my eye cant take too much even though I was part time....

...however I get no compassion from my colleagues at work and even though I had a note from my doctor to give to my DON to try to shift me to another position.such as maybe some computer with some paperwork..or something else in the facility she failed me completely..was no help at all..in fact I had called in sick last week two days due to eye pain headache and some bronchitis...and she proceeded to take me off my part time hours and shift me to per diem without even notifying me.....I have worked in this facility for almost 5 years experiencing a ripped meniscus and severe walking problems but NO DON would get me off the floor.....she had her cronnies and favorities.......I did my work...but physically I was being whittled down and my job offered no help at all.....NOW I don't even know if I can collect unemployment due to her shifting me without my knowledge to perdiem because of being out sick for two days..when she was well aware of my vision difficulty....I am hoping I can collect.....but I am still trying to see if I can work at home as a nurse.....and if there is any help out there I would be so grateful to hear from anyone with this type of disability....oh and my glaucoma doctor said I cannot collect medical disability insurance..... ..he said I have to be a pilot or a truck driver......IS THIS INSANE OR WHAT???? there has to be something out there to help me out a bit..I have no health insurance either......thanks to anyone who can help me out out there......

I was diagnosed with Stargardt Disease a year ago at age 37. It affects my central vision and is a progressive genetic condition. I have 20/80 corrected in the right eye and 20/60 in the left. So far I can still drive and practice safely with adaptation. I need direct lighting to read most things and my progressive glasses do help quite a bit. I use the magnifier on the computer and use the camera on my phone to zoom in on written materials as needed. I am a psych nurse.

I want to be a nurse but am scared. I have no vision in my left eye and my right eye after cataract surgery went from counting fingers at 6 inches to 20/80 corrected with the possibility to improve in the next 3 weeks. I might not improve bc of previous retina damage. I hesitate to do schooling if I won't get hired. I'm  interested in any area. I want ED but I'm open to any dept. Any advice or suggestions of depts?. Oh and as far as reading that will take magnification. Thanks

Holly- Frankly I think this would be a difficult career choice for you particularly since you are not yet finished with the clinical training. Once licensed there certainly might be options that require less acuity but even then it could be difficult. I think I replied in this section years ago after a very very successful cornea transplant. I had worked critical care but then stepped into developmental disabilities nursing and some aspects of psych nursing. I ultimately completed a doctorate which gave me even more options. But yes-even with Vision Rehab, it was hard given reading time necessary. I could easily have returned to critical care but I didn't. 
Now if the cataract eye gives you better vision ultimately-that's another story. There are plenty of nurses with vision in only one eye. I am wondering if your states disability tracing programs might help you fund, let's say, a masters in counseling degree or even a TVI degree. The TVI programs are so well suited for those who want to help kids who have visual issues. And many TVI educational students ( usually in special ED department in college) are vision ally impaired themselves. With all this said, here's hoping for better vision with the cataract eye. Be well.
 

Holly-I posted a reply to you but it looks like it didn't go in as a reply!

It went in as a reply. Thank you do much.