Will I get kicked out for wearing hearing aids?

[Decisions7]

Hey all,

So I'm in my last semester pursuing an RN degree. I have made it through previous semesters and clinical experiences but I have often struggled with hearing in specific situations. I sometimes missed some information in report, and would have to get the rest of it in the patients chart. Also if a clinical instructor or patient was talking softly, I would often have to ask her to repeat herself. Thankfully last semester my instructor was a man, and for whatever reason I hear men better than women.

Over the winter holiday break I got hearing aids. I also upgraded to a cardiac stethoscope, which cost around $120. They don't work with the aids, so I will have to take the aids out to use the stethoscope. I haven't used it that much yet, just tested on a friend. I have never had a problem with hearing basic sounds such as heart, bowel, and lung. If there is a some very quiet diagnostic sound that a patient has I can't guarantee I'd be able to hear it. However, I will say that I still don't always put the stethoscope in the right places anyway, and I definitely have room for improvement.

Anyway, everything is so much better. I can hear further away in class, and It's great at work too. The problem is that clinical starts next week. I don't want to run into trouble. I truly think I will give better patient care with them on. Does anyone know if I could get kicked out for wearing hearing aids?

[kittynurse18]

There are sound amplifying stethescopes. Also, if you contact your school's disability services they may be able to help you.

No, you cannot be kicked out and your school is required to make reasonable accommodations (if you live in the US).

[NICU Guy, BSN, RN]

They have blue tooth capable hearing aids and there are blue tooth electronic stethoscopes. That would be the best solution without having to remove your hearing aids.

[Spadeforce]

No and they can't hinder your programs at all for having them. Unless they want a giant lawsuit and to lose lots of money

[JKL33]

Your school should have a department that coordinates disability/accessibility services. Contact them ASAP and they will be able to help you, including giving you appropriate information. I don't have personal experience with this but I'm guessing that besides evaluating which (if any) accommodations are appropriate, their involvement/process also serves to formalize the fact that you have a need (in other words, removes the opportunity for any university personnel to inappropriately discriminate based on your use of an appropriate assistive device).

Congrats on your recent acquisitions! ?

[angel0309, ADN, RN]

No, they most certainly can't kick you out for wearing hearing aids. That would be a form of discrimination. As long as you live in the US, you're 100% protected against things like that. I'd contact your schools disability services if I were you.

[Horseshoe, BSN, RN]

Yes, register with your school's office of disability services. As in, YESTERDAY.