A Career I Dreamed Of
The day I graduated from the University
of Arizona in 1983 with a nursing degree was a personal triumph. I looked
forward to a career I dreamed of since childhood. I was certain I had found my
life’s passion in nursing. My future was full of promise and excitement. Then at
age 25, a vision exam turned everything upside down. The diagnosis was retinitis
pigmentosa and my future became uncertain.
Continued to Work After Diagnosis
A long journey followed as I struggled to
adjust to vision loss and redefine life and career. In the early stages of
visual changes, I continued working in a hospital. My husband and I started a
family. I tried not to think about the possibility of more vision loss. At age
30, with three children and a part-time job at the local hospital, I lost my
driver’s license. This was the first of many losses which would change my life
forever. Grief, depression, isolation, frustration and disappointment set in. My
life and career were not shaping up as I imagined.
For the next ten years, my vision
deteriorated slowly. I struggled to keep up at home and at work. There were
times when I doubted my abilities to be a good nurse and mother. My husband and
I pulled together and found creative ways to get around obstacles. Always
supportive, he affirmed and encouraged me to continue to pursue working as a
nurse. I gave up working in the hospital setting when the pace, lighting, and
technical duties limited my ability to function. It was difficult to let go and
even more difficult to find the next job. There was much to consider: personal
limitations, employers’ reactions and concerns, transportation problems,
co-workers’ attitudes and more. Out of sheer determination, I landed jobs in a
variety of settings from student health on a college campus to doctors’
offices.
Defending My Work and Advocating for My Career
Sometimes it required hiding my visual
impairment, which was very stressful. On one job, I was confronted,told I was
“too great of a liability,” and let go. Through such experiences, I learned to
defend my work, advocate for my rights, present my limitations to employers and
co-workers, and find resources that enabled me to perform the essential duties
of my job. At times I wanted to give up, but was always driven by my passion for
nursing and the belief that there was still a job out there for me. After all,
nursing is more than the ability to perform technical tasks. It is more often
about understanding patient needs, giving care and comfort, exercising skilled
judgment, and educating patients and their families. With low
vision, I could still do these things. The challenge was always in finding
the right job, presenting myself as a capable and conscientious practitioner,
and working out the transportation conundrum.
Employment as a School Nurse Becomes Challenging
In 1994 I was declared legally
blind. Undaunted, I landed a job as a school nurse when we relocated to
Georgia. This environment proved to be ideal and I enjoyed years of support and
collaboration with my principal, the staff, students and parents. But it was not
easy; it was never easy. The role was challenging, requiring lots of paperwork.
I was having problems withmobility and
reading printed words by then. So I sought rehabilitation
services. I received a low
vision evaluation, and training in assistive work technology and daily
skills. This was again a redefining and redesigning of self. For now, my vision
impairment was known to all.
The Importance of Training in Orientation and Mobility
Upon returning to school one year, I had
three serious falls in the first two weeks of school. I was tripping on
obstacles I did not see because they were in my blind spots. I sustained minor
physical injuries such as bruises and a sprained wrist. However, falls had
become a growing concern both to me and my employer. At that point I realized I
needed to take the initiative to keep myself safe in the workplace. Anorientation
and mobility instructor came to my school and trained me in using the white
cane and fall prevention. Before I began to "publicly" use the white cane at
school, I asked to speak to the staff about this change. I wanted to allay their
concerns, assure them I could still do my job and ease the transition for
myself. So, I spoke at a faculty meeting and explained the hows and whys of
using a cane for personal safety.
Low Vision Aids Help with Job
Though I have never “looked blind”, all
the new accoutrements and trappings proved it was so. I wore thick magnifying
glasses which the students called my “goo-goo goggles”. A large
video magnifier helped me read. I used hand held magnifiers and special
lights to assess skin rashes and other boo-boos. ZoomTextenabled me to manage
student files on the computer. I introduced the school to my first dog
guide, Sophie, who quickly became a beloved school mascot. I adopted a
straightforward way of explaining these tools and taught the school community
what it means to be visually impaired.
Adopted Self-Advocacy to Keep Working
I developed a no-nonsense approach to
problem-solving and self-advocacy to keep my job and do it well. I demonstrated
that people with disabilities are capable of contributing in meaningful ways. I
learned to be tenacious and resilient. And I was grateful for the opportunity to
practice nursing.
Retired Now but Still Involved
After 11 years as a school nurse, I
retired. I recently worked with a vision rehabilitation agency as an adjustment
to blindness counselor and diabetic educator, another attempt to hone my
professional skills. I started a local support
group to assist the visually impaired community in finding resources,
support and services. I enjoy teaching and speaking and writing on topics such
as diabetes and
vision loss, health and nutrition, adjustment to blindness, depression, stress
management, self-advocacy and dog guides. I draw on professional training and
life experiences as a visually impaired nurse. My career has not been what I
originally imagined, but it has been rich and fulfilling. I am excited to see
what comes next as I explore new opportunities. As a CareerConnect Mentor, I
encourage you to use CareerConnect to find out about careers includinghealthcare.
Check out my blog at www.seeingpossibilities.com.
Questions About Your Career After Vision Loss?
Have you had to adjust your career after
losing vision? Share your thoughts and comments.
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