Will type 1 diabetes be looked down upon by employers

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Jul 28, 2008

Applications for employment do not ask what diseases or medical conditions you have. Final offers of employment are usually dependent on passing a physical examination which for nursing usually consists of being able to lift 25 pounds and pass a drug screen.

Denying work based upon discrimination is illegal. Didn't you learn this in social studies?

ADPIE10 · Jul 30, 2008

I am a Type 1 diabetic, healthy besides that. I have been a diabetic for 20 yrs. and I was wondering if it will be hard to get hired anywhere as a RN. Will that be looked down upon by employers? I really hope not.

A potential employer can't ask you medical questions.
You shouldn't be revealing your medical conditions to your employer unless it impacts your ability to perform your duties as described by the job description and additional information that an interview may reveal.
http://www.diabetes.org/advocacy-and-legalresources/discrimination/employment/jobrights.jsp

SusanKathleen, RN · Jul 30, 2008

Sweetie, as stated above, that is no one else's business. No need to reveal your personal medical info.

Mommyto2and2 · Jul 30, 2008

I am also a type 1 and have always found it helpful to offer up that information. True, health conditions are none of their business. On the other hand, it is something that shapes you, possibly, to be a better nurse. I am more compassionate and understanding when it comes to fear and diagnosis than I think I would be if I had no idea what its like.

Some people don't want to hear someone tell them that everything is going to be ok, they feel better when someone can tell them that they understand how they feel and mean it. When I was pregnant with my 2nd daughter, they actually went and found the lone nurse who was on an insulin pump and asked her to be my nurse. She was soooo helpful and understanding and her even her coworkers understood that.

How you handle you diabetes is a much bigger deal than having it. People don't want to work around someone who constantly has to sit down to eat because she has a low or is a total bear because she is high. They want someone who is going to get in there and work like a regular employee. THAT's whats important.

I wouldnt offer it up in the interview but I wouldnt be afraid to let people know about it either. It's a part of who you are and maybe it brought you to the world of nursing in the first place. Good luck:D

sunchild · Jul 30, 2008

Thank you so much for your understanding. this is the kind of answer I was looking for. I understand that it is illegal for employers to discriminate, but that does't mean they won't after I have hypoglycemic episode. All I'm saying is eventually they are going to find out,even if my diabetes is in control.

bsugaRN2b · Jul 31, 2008

See - this is an interesting question, because I want to go into diabetes nursing, and the job I'm interviewing for is a Diabetes/GI floor - and I'm a type 1 diabetic - so, would I be the exception to the rule, or should I stay quiet, hmmmm...

(Grinning) Though I suppose being quiet might be all for nothing thanks to the cute, cuddly blue insulin pump of mine on my waist, hehe...

sunchild · Jul 31, 2008

That's a tough one! I do feel that a positive side to 20 years of being diabetic is I have gained alot of knowledge about the medical field, and after being hospitalized several times throughout my life for a variety of things aside from diabetes, I decide that maybe my calling was to be a nurse or maybe even a cure researcher someday. Bottom line is life experience makes you a wiser, stonger person. Maybe you could also be a diabetic counselor or something. I would go with the advice from above, maybe not tell them at first and then when, they see what a great nurse you are. Let'em know!