Nurse Reporter Fall 2008 - Wyoming State Board of Nursing

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Disabled NursesNeed GritMarcia L. Dale, RN, EdD, FAANMarcia L. Dale, RN, EdD, FAANIn the last issue of Wyoming NurseReporter, there was a letter to the editorwritten by Trudy Craft, a nurse witha significant hearing problem. Shebrought to light that a disability doesnot end the contribution a nurse canmake to the profession. She is an exampleof a nurse who has found a nichefor her skills, in spite of being hearingimpaired. The question she raises is,why are disabled nurses not granted theopportunity to practice when a nursingshortage exists and will continue toonly get worse? A 2002 U.S. CensusBureau report stated that 56 percent ofpeople ages 21 to 64 who had a disabilitywere employed at some point duringthe year prior to the report, comparedto an 88 percent employment ratefor those with no disabilities (Spader,2007). This issue of The WyomingNurse Reporter addresses severalareas concerning disabilities.The number of nurses whoare disabled is not known,and these data are notavailable in Wyoming.Some nurses and/or students do not want to disclosetheir disability for fear of terminationor denial of admission to a school ofnursing. Others may be involved in alawsuit and are not at liberty to discusstheir disabilities. The term “be ableto perform the essential functions” ofa nurse is frequently used as a criterionfor acceptance into a position ofemployment or into a nursing programand is the criterion for whether or not aperson is disabled. The reasons for thisgroup of nurses not being utilized toaddress the nursing shortage are numerous,but the safety issue is the most predominant.Barriers are set up becauseof the essential functions identified byemploying agencies.The recent emphasis on veteransreturning from war with severe disabilitieshas shown how survivors adaptto their afflictions. It is amazing whatthey can accomplish through sheereffort. Nurses are no different. Theyare problem solvers who can overcometheir disability with innovation.However, because of the emphasis onpatient safety, regulations became morestringent. In 1990, the Americans withDisabilities Act was passed. This wasintended to make life more equal forpeople with disabilities. However, thelegal interpretation and the meaningof reasonable accommodations havebeen interpreted so differently thatadmission to schools and hiring byemployers has been inconsistent.Somestudents with disabilities have beenadmitted and graduated only to havedifficulty finding employment becausethe institution is unwilling to makeaccommodations.The disabilities that nurses havemay result from a birth defect, injuriesfrom lifting a patient, violence inflictedby patients, exposure to latex, hepatitis,HIV, a car accident, or on andon. These disabilities are no differentthan those found in the general public.However, what these nurses do havegoing for them is an understanding ofwhat it is like to navigate the healthcare system, how to adjust to a disability,the feelings and concerns of livingwith a disability, and the mind set ittakes to overcome the imposed limitations.Education and accommodationare the keys for disabled nurses to opennew doors.ReferencesSpader, C. (2007, January 1).disAbled nurses: Education andaccommodation are the keys toincorporating RNs with disabilities.NursingSpectrum NurseWeek. RetrievedJune 23, 2008, from http://include.nurse.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=200761225005Carol, R. (n.d.). Nurses with disabilities.Minority Nurse.com. RetrievedJune 23, 2008, from http://www.minoritynurse.com/features/nurse_emp/01-27-02h.html
THE STRENGTH TO HEALand focus on what matters most.If what matters most to you is the care of your patients, we’ve got an extra bonus for you. Asign-on bonus of $20,000 to $30,000. Or you can opt for a $10,000 bonus and up to $114,900to repay your education loans. Qualified nurses can continue their education and earn amaster’s or doctoral degree. You’ll serve our Soldiers, their Families and yourself.To learn more about the U.S. Army Health Care Team, call SFC Kristine Kettlewell at 303-873-0491, email kristine.kettlewell@usarec.army.mil, or visit healthcare.goarmy.com/info/ncra1.© 2007. Paid for by the United States Army. All rights reserved.The Beaches of CorpusChristi TXAll RNs & New Grads!Up to $7,500 Sign-on/Relo Pay up to $39.25 (w/Shift Diff)Ask about $11hr premium15% eves, 25% night Shift Diffs,Day Shifts Available!24hr Onsite DaycareClin Adv Pgm–to $500 monthExcellent Benefits Package!3k yr Tuition AssistanceNo State Income Taxes=more $San Antonio and Houston alsoavailableThe Beach – You Deserve ItContact Jeff Martin1-800-304-3095, x16jmartin@beck-field.comCONTINUING EDUCATION COURSES @ LEARNINGEXT.COMAcclimation of International Nurses intoUS Nursing Practice6.6 Contact Hours | $40Confronting ColleagueChemical Dependency3.3 Contact Hours | $20Delegating Effectively4.2 Contact Hours | $25Disciplinary Actions: What Every NurseShould Know4.8 Contact Hours | $29Diversity: Building Cultural Competence6.0 Contact Hours | $36UNLIMITED, 24-HOUR ACCESSTO ENGAGING NURSING CE CONTENT@ LEARNINGEXT.COMDocumentation: A Critical Aspect of Client Care5.4 Contact Hours | $32End-of-Life Care and Pain Management3.0 Contact Hours | $18Ethics of Nursing Practice4.8 Contact Hours | $29Medication Errors: Detection & Prevention6.9 Contact Hours | $41Nurse Practice Acts CE CoursesParticipants: AR, IA, ID, KY, MA, MN,MO, NC, ND, NM, NV, OH, VA, WV-PN/RN2.0 Contact Hours | $12Patient Privacy5.4 Contact Hours | $32Professional Accountability& Legal Liability for Nurses5.4 Contact Hours | $32Respecting Professional Boundaries3.9 Contact Hours | $23Sharpening Critical Thinking Skillsfor Competent Nursing Practice3.6 Contact Hours | $22E-LEARNING FOR THE NURSING COMMUNITYW y o m i n g N u r s e R e p o r t e r 13
Page 3 and 4: Wy o m i n gPublished by theWyoming
Page 5 and 6: Rose Rennell, RN, MS, COHN Employee
Page 7 and 8: From the President of the Wyoming S
Page 9 and 10: The following is an example of veri
Page 14 and 15: S c o p e o f Pr a c t i c e Is s u
Page 16 and 17: What is yourHandicap?Interview with
Page 22 and 23: For advertisinginformationcall or e
Page 24: Call to request a freeCD-Rom introd

Nurse Reporter Fall 2008 - Wyoming State Board of Nursing

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?