Who Let the Dogs Out in Nursing?

Dogs have long been considered man’s best friend. Sometimes “yes” and sometimes “no”. This article discusses the differences between service, therapy and support dogs and provides examples of dogs at work in nursing practice settings.

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Who Let the Dogs Out in Nursing?

Anyone who knows me knows I LOVE dogs (especially black labs)! My daughter, Lauren, is 28 and diagnosed on the autism spectrum. She has a service dog from Canine Companions for Independence. Mr. Toy (Toyon is his real name) has helped Lauren in many ways and quickly became the love and joy of our family.

But all dogs (wearing a vest) are not the same!

Service dogs work tirelessly to assist people with a variety of disabilities and healthcare challenges. Service dogs assist people with paralysis, hearing loss, vision loss and PTSD. They alert people who suffer from epilepsy or diabetes and help to deescalate behavioral challenges for people on the autism spectrum.

Service dogs are considered a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act- if the service dog's work or task is directly related to the person's disability. The dog's handler is trained and responsible for the dog's care and behavior.

"Under the ADA, State and local governments, businesses, and nonprofit organizations that serve the public generally must allow service animals to accompany people with disabilities in all areas of the facility where the public is normally allowed to go. For example, in a hospital, it would be inappropriate to exclude a service animal from areas such as patient rooms, clinics, cafeterias, or examination rooms. However, it may be appropriate to exclude a service animal from operating rooms or burn units where the animal's presence may compromise a sterile environment." (ADA, 2010)

Service dogs

A service dog is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability. Tasks performed can include, among other things, pulling a wheelchair, retrieving dropped items, alerting a person to a sound, reminding a person to take medication, or pressing an elevator button.

Service dogs at work

A pediatric nurse practitioner works with her service dog at a children's hospital in Colorado. Staff and patients have come to know and love her dog as much as she does! (Canine Companions for Independence).

A hospital administrator, who suffered a spinal cord injury, works with his service dog making rounds throughout the hospital. Pollyanna, an almost-white yellow Lab has been trained to turn on lights, open and close doors, go for help, warn about obstacles and retrieve keys or dropped items (Associated Press, 2015).

A nurse with vision loss due to retinitis pigmentosa works as a diabetic nurse educator. She graduated with a master's in nursing education. She recalls" I don't know whose smile is bigger in the graduation photo--my guide dog's or mine....the entire audience gave us a standing ovation as we crossed the stage to receive our degree" (Maheady, 2006, p.46).

A nursing student who suffers from dysautonomia (which causes her to fall) relies on her service dog to maintain her balance, get help and help her up. The student recently graduated with her BSN. (Happy Hudson).

Therapy dogs

Emotional support, comfort, and therapy dogs are not considered service animals under Title II and Title III of the ADA. The work or tasks performed by a service animal must be directly related to the individual's disability.

Emotional support, comfort or therapy dogs are often used as part of a medical treatment plan, but they are not considered service animals under the ADA. Support dogs can provide companionship, relieve loneliness, and sometimes help with depression, anxiety, and certain phobias, but do not have special training to perform tasks that assist people with disabilities.

Pet therapy programs staffed with volunteers bring dogs to pediatric oncology units to provide support and comfort to patients. In other programs, volunteers bring therapy dogs to residential/ mental health treatment centers.

A nurse in Illinois and her therapy partner, Tori, the Labradoodle, bring joy and comfort to patients going through chemotherapy (Larson, 2011). They can't walk down the hall without drawing a crowd!

In a nursing home, a poodle goes door to door visiting patients while her owner works as a medication assistant. "Nala" jumps on beds and laps to offer kisses. The residents love her (Swartz, 2015).

Some service dogs crossover roles

A nurse with multiple sclerosis uses a scooter and has a service dog "Georgia". They both volunteer at a local hospital's rehabilitation center. Georgia comforts patients and works with the physical therapist to assist and motivate patients involved in therapy sessions. Georgia crosses over in her roles...she is a service dog to the nurse, but she also "volunteers" as a therapy dog with patients in the rehabilitation center.

Dogs have proven (with proper training) to be an asset to independence for many people with disabilities. In addition, they can facilitate wellness, provide comfort and unconditional love. Dogs can connect with people in special ways.

So...the dogs are "out"!

Are service dogs working where you are employed? If so, in what type of setting? Hospital floor? Rehabilitation center? Community center for children with disabilities? Health Department? Long term care facility? Hospice?

Love to have you share your thoughts and experiences related to this topic.

References

ADA, (2010). Accessed July 14, 2015 ADA.gov homepage

Associated Press (2015). Service dog forges friendship with paralyzed man. Accessed July 14, 2015

Canine lifeguards doggie paddle to the rescue Companions for Independence (n.d.) Accessed on July 14, 2015

Hudson Valley (n.d.) Happy graduation for nursing student. Accessed on July 14, 2015 Happy Hudson Valley | Our news is good news,

Larson, J. (2011). Pet Therapy Programs Benefit Patients Physically and Emotionally. Accessed on July 14, 2015 NurseZone.

Maheady, D. (2006). Leave No Nurse Behind: Nurses working with disAbilities. New York: iUniverse.

Swartz, A. (2015). Poodle goes door to door at nursing home. Every day. All by herself. Accessed July 14, 2015

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Donna Maheady

About Donna Maheady

Pediatrics is my love and passion. I am a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner and have being practicing and teaching nursing for over 38 years. I am the founder of a nonprofit organization for nurses with disabilities, www.ExceptionalNurse.com, author of three books and numerous articles about nurses with disabilities as well as other topics.

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Specializes in Peds, Med-Surg, Disaster Nsg, Parish Nsg.

Thanks for this great article. What a good reminder for us that our 4-legged friends can really be a major source of help to those in need, including nurses.

I look forward to hearing from our members about examples of service dogs where they work.

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Specializes in pediatrics, occupational health.

Awesome! Love the article!

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Specializes in Pediatrics, developmental disabilities.

Thanks Julie! Have you ever worked with a service dog? Are dogs included in patient care where you work?

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Specializes in Pediatrics, developmental disabilities.

I look forward to hearing from more members also! Thanks for commenting.

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I work in a combo skilled/long-term care facility. We have a facility "pet", who is not a therapy dog, but the residents love her. She does have her preferred staff that she will go home with to take a break. Staff also bring in their dogs on occasion, as well as family members...it is allowed (and sometimes encouraged) that as long as they are well behaved, and are UTD on immunizations. It creates an at home and warm environment.

Yes, we have had some problems, but the benefit seen, in residents and staff, are far greater.

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Specializes in pediatrics, occupational health.
Thanks Julie! Have you ever worked with a service dog? Are dogs included in patient care where you work?

We have volunteers that will bring dogs into the hospital for the kids. My niece served in the war and has PTDS, she has a service dog to help her cope. I think it is neat how this is gotten so much attention! I remember when I was a little girl and would go visit people at the nursing home, someone would bring bunnies up for the residents to pet, and it seemed to make them really happy! Amazing what animals can do for people!

...I don't know what PTDS is, but I have CDO (OCD) and am dyslexic (no lie), so maybe it makes sense to some people!

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Specializes in Pediatrics, developmental disabilities.

Thanks for sharing! I love your canine, accepting spirit!

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Specializes in pediatric neurology and neurosurgery.

We have several therapy dogs that visit our unit every week. I don't know what's better: the look on the dogs' faces when they see the kids, or the look on the kids' faces when they see the dogs!

Some of my patients bring their seizure dogs with them.

Sent from my iPhone using allnurses

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Specializes in Pediatrics, developmental disabilities.

I love it! Win-win! Awesome:yes:

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Specializes in ICU.

I think service dogs are a great resource for many to use. Years ago, when it seemed impossible to get my seizures under control, I thought of maybe having to get one. Fortunately I found the right doctor who could get me the right meds and I have been seizure free for almost 5 years now.

My thoughts are and I may get flamed for saying this, but if a nurse is in a place where they need a therapy dog, they should not be a nurse. I only say that because I don't feel they are healthy enough. This is coming from someone who hit the lowest of low with her health in 2009. I would have never considered being healthy enough period, much less in the nursing capacity.

Patients are relying on nurses to take care of them, to be responsible for their lives. They expect a nurse to kind of pick up slack and do things that they can't. In epilepsy a dog can alert the individual that a seizure is coming in the immediate future. What if that nurse is trying to toilet a patient with a broken hip? There is usually enough time for the epileptic to get to safety. Not enough to find another nurse to take their patient load and get to safety. Even during my auras I was partially out of it. My auras alerted other people I was about to have a seizure and to try and protect my head if I was in danger. I would never attempt it if I didn't feel safe. I'm being weened off my meds now. It's a great feeling.

I'm sure emotional support dogs help those with debilitating mental illnesses. I also suffered from PTSD from a sexual assault many years ago. I attended lots of therapy which helped me a lot. I'm in a good place 16 years later. But, if you are still at the point where you need one of these dogs, it's not time to either return to nursing or to become a nurse. The patients need their nurses to be there in difficult times. Nursing is not just about passing meds.

Dogs can be a great uplifter to all kinds of patients, and a volunteer bringing one in I'm sure helps people not on mentally but medically also. But if a nurse needs one on the job, I question whether he or she is ready to tackle the job in front of them.

Please understand I am not questioning those who need them. I met a guy who had one to detect heart attacks, I was amazed. I've met police and fire dogs, and those who have helped those with differing disabilities. Every one has accomished the job they were set forth to do. But I do not think if someone needs one on the job as a nurse, should they be a nurse. I hope I do not tread on any feelings here.

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Not everyone works doing that type of patient care, though. I don't think working on a critical floor of a hospital would be appropriate to have a therapy dog - but a NP in clinic would probably be all right, or a school nurse maybe. Anyway, we have "Dog Day" where the staff bring in their dogs at the rehab center I work in, the residents absolutely love it and the nonverbal residents light right up. There is a volunteer team that brings therapy dogs every few months but it's very sporadic - and the residents seem to enjoy meeting our dogs more, even though they're not always as well behaved and can get a little rambunctious (maybe that's why.)

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