Navigating Nursing as a Nurse Living With Disabilities

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 26% of adults living in the U.S. have some type of disability. This can include challenges with mobility, cognition, hearing, vision, and self-care.

A disability may affect your career as a nurse but can also be valuable. “Living with a disability, or chronic illness, or health challenge gives us as nurses such a unique perspective,” said Leah Parker, a full-time traveling family nurse practitioner. Parker was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis early in her nursing career.

On this page, we discuss the common experience faced by nurses living with disabilities. Our contributors share their views on living with a disability and resources for nurses living with disabilities.

Lack of awareness and knowledge can be a breeding ground for insensitivity and rejection. Parker believes that the experience is what you make of it. Communicating with your colleagues and management is key.

Diagnosed with a progressive disease that affects her joints, Parker found that her colleagues were “loving but tough.”

“Learning to speak up for yourself early and having a good relationship with your manager is vital,” she said.

Anne Llewellyn, a brain cancer survivor, had a different experience. Llewellyn was a registered nurse (RN) for over 43 years with experience in critical care and case management. After recovery, Llewellyn now uses her expertise as an independent nurse advocate and writes a weekly blog.

She finds that nursing is versatile. You can reach your full potential with the right attitude, a good support system, and resources.

Llewellyn believes that a disability can make you a better nurse. Through the experience, a nurse may develop greater empathy. Experience also offers the opportunity to share empowering information.

“You can be an example for someone with a disability which could be a game-changer for someone who does not have the confidence in themselves,” Llewellyn said.

The Americans with Disabilities Act has opened doors for nurses living with disabilities. Yet, there are still challenges within the workplace. As Llewellyn states, the challenges experienced depend on the disability. For example, nurses with nonvisible disabilities have different challenges than those with physical disabilities.

Llewellyn experienced some cognitive issues after chemotherapy. In her case, she chose to become an independent nurse advocate. She recommends nurses who go through similar mid-career life changes do the same.

“Be patient and keep your eyes and ears open for opportunities in the field you want to work in,” she advises. “Look for roles that fit your abilities and tap into your expertise.”

Parker finds another challenge is not having a flexible schedule to speak to specific needs.

Research from Mass General Brigham Institute of Health Professions suggested that nurses with disabilities sometimes fear they could interfere with patient safety. Parker’s and Llewellyn’s experiences have not supported these findings.

Parker finds that nurses living with disabilities often work harder. Llewellyn says that a nurse who acknowledges the disability would not be any more of a risk than any other nurse with regard to patient safety.

It’s important to recognize barriers continue to exist. This includes concerns from nursing managers. One study of nursing managers gathered information from 600 hospitals. The study asked about attitudes and performance toward nurses with disabilities.

While there were some concerns related to performing certain job duties and acceptance by the public or coworkers, most rated disabled nurses’ performance as exceptional or above average. With increased cultural competence in healthcare, previous exposure to a nurse with a disability improved the manager’s willingness to hire nurses with disabilities.

Llewellyn encourages nurses to be upfront and ask for any accommodations necessary to perform the job. Since most are not costly, employers may make them. On the other hand, Parker believes some nurse managers may be uncomfortable accommodating disabilities because it might appear they were giving the nurse a better assignment.

The 2020 National Nursing Workforce Survey reports that 10.7% RNs said they were not working as a nurse because of a disability. But this does not reflect every experience. Others have found successful accommodation and continue to work. Experts have also suggested patients may feel more comfortable with nurses whose personal experience matches their own.

According to the National Organization of Nurses with Disabilities, some healthcare professionals with disabilities use:

It is also important to note that many nurses with disabilities do not use accommodations in the workplace.

Llewellyn’s brain tumor was diagnosed when she was 60 years old. With a few more years before retirement, she suddenly found herself recovering from treatment and without a job.

Her husband applied for Social Security Disability Insurance, available for some disabilities. Llewellyn describes it as not an easy process. For help, her husband used Allsup, a company that helps individuals understand the process and complete the application.

When Llewellyn was ready to return to work, she faced a new problem. There was concern she could lose her disability insurance if she could not continue employment because of her disability. She would be without income and forced to apply for disability again. She then discovered Ticket to Work. This is a Social Security program that helps people living with disabilities progress toward financial independence.

Several organizations offer help if you need assistance getting accommodations at work.

At your job, Parker suggests working closely with the Human Resources (HR) Department. HR should be well versed in federal disability laws. They can often help mediate between the nurse and manager of the unit. Llewellyn has also discovered several outside resources for nurses with disabilities.

The first is Exceptional Nurse, which was started in 2001 by an advanced practice registered nurse. The site offers resources for nurses such as equipment, latex alternatives, and uniforms. They also provide legal resources.

Llewellyn also found support through groups. Some she found on Facebook. PatientsLikeMe and Smart Patients are online communities that bring together like-minded individuals with various medical conditions.

Parker and Llewellyn have had years of experience practicing in nursing and with a disability. They both find that the nursing field has many opportunities for nurses with disabilities.

“Flexibility has been one of the most important factors when choosing a job versus setting,” Parker said.

As is true for all workers, choosing a schedule and shift length can make all the difference in whether you can be successful in your job.

Parker’s advice to nurses or nursing students who may feel hesitant is to remember the skills you bring from your experience. Because nurses with disabilities have filled the role of patient many times, you can offer your patients the gift of empathy as a nurse.

“Empathy cannot be bought with money or learned in school — it is a gift,” Parker said. “The world needs our gift. Our patients need our gift.”

Llewellyn has found satisfaction using her skills as an independent nurse advocate. She uses her blog to educate and empower others. She also encourages nurses who have disabilities to be patient with themselves.

Llewellyn suggests nurses with disabilities who understand their functional abilities can find a role in or outside of healthcare. She suggests talking with others can sometimes help us see things that we don’t see on our own.

Because of the versatility nursing provides, if one work setting doesn’t work, Parker reminds us that the opportunities in nursing are endless.

“The best part of nursing is that the opportunities are so broad and vast,” Parker said. “If one area is not a good fit, try another!”