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My experience as in #autistic person as a student nurse & RN
A thread!
{Highlights my OWN experiences after diagnosis.}
CW: Swearing, disability discrimination, ED
A thread! {Highlights my OWN experiences after diagnosis.}
CW: Swearing, disability discrimination, ED
1. In my early 30âs, I finally had a diagnosis. This gave me something to work with. It answered a LOT of questions for me. It made my awkwardness easier to understand.
Unfortunately, once this was known, it made both Nursing school and my job a bit more challenging.
Unfortunately, once this was known, it made both Nursing school and my job a bit more challenging.
2. As a student Nurse
Most of my teachers were great. I was even given extra time for tests.
My Nursing instructors were NOT so kind. I did things a bit differently and they didnât like that.
I had a lot of medical knowledge behind me. Using this knowledge was frowned upon.
Most of my teachers were great. I was even given extra time for tests.
My Nursing instructors were NOT so kind. I did things a bit differently and they didnât like that.
I had a lot of medical knowledge behind me. Using this knowledge was frowned upon.
3. I had instructors who intentionally failed me during my clinicals because âwe canât have an #autistic student nurse representing our institution.â
Yes. This was ACTUALLY said to me.
I wasnât as cute and perky as my classmates. I was short. I was awkward. I was, well...me.
Yes. This was ACTUALLY said to me.
I wasnât as cute and perky as my classmates. I was short. I was awkward. I was, well...me.
4. âYou arenât like the other girlsâ
Well, no fucking shit! Took them long enough to figure that out.
The doctors loved working with me.
Except one. Apparently saying âhelloâ to this woman deeply offended her.
{Seriously! You canât make this shit up!}
Well, no fucking shit! Took them long enough to figure that out.
The doctors loved working with me.
Except one. Apparently saying âhelloâ to this woman deeply offended her.
{Seriously! You canât make this shit up!}
5. I also comforted a mom after her delivery of twins and said her babies were âbeautiful.â
The instructor called the Dean to have me reprimanded for saying this.
Shortly after I was working as a Nurse, I ran into this bitch in OB with her new students. Boy, talk about awkward
The instructor called the Dean to have me reprimanded for saying this.
Shortly after I was working as a Nurse, I ran into this bitch in OB with her new students. Boy, talk about awkward
6. She told this new mom âyou did so well, your baby girl is beautiful!â
She hadnât noticed me yet...so I quickly went and told my charge Nurse about her and what she did to me.
She walked back over with me and asked her and her students to leave.
I got a dirty look for that
She hadnât noticed me yet...so I quickly went and told my charge Nurse about her and what she did to me.
She walked back over with me and asked her and her students to leave.
I got a dirty look for that
7. I heard other students make the same remarks. They never got into trouble. They were praised for being lovely students.
I was literally called âfat and uglyâ by my Nursing skills instructor. I briefly had trouble again from having eating disorders.
She STILL called me fat.
I was literally called âfat and uglyâ by my Nursing skills instructor. I briefly had trouble again from having eating disorders.
She STILL called me fat.
8. I just couldnât win!
âWhy didnât you just finish medicine? You would have been a better doctor.â
Had it not been for the bureaucracy, trust me, I would have.
I also worked as a CNA.
Patients loved me.
The nurses I worked with loved me!
I was proficient. I was kind.
âWhy didnât you just finish medicine? You would have been a better doctor.â
Had it not been for the bureaucracy, trust me, I would have.
I also worked as a CNA.
Patients loved me.
The nurses I worked with loved me!
I was proficient. I was kind.
9. All in all, I ended up using our State Uni system to finish with two weeks of intense âon-siteâ with one of their instructors.
I wish Iâd done that to begin with.
Iâd clearly suffered enough.
I took both exams. Practical nurse and RN. Passed BOTH with flying colors.
I wish Iâd done that to begin with.
Iâd clearly suffered enough.
I took both exams. Practical nurse and RN. Passed BOTH with flying colors.
10. My career as a Nurse was rather short lived.
My brother and son needed more of my time. I couldnât be a good caregiver at home and while working.
I decided to take early âretirement.â
I let my licensure expire.
I loved being a Nurse. It was very hard for me to quit.
My brother and son needed more of my time. I couldnât be a good caregiver at home and while working.
I decided to take early âretirement.â
I let my licensure expire.
I loved being a Nurse. It was very hard for me to quit.
11. Itâs hard to believe that I was mistreated as a student nurse...but I was. It was bullshit.
So I couldnât always sit in class. I preferred to work alone and learn alone. I worked with groups when I had to. My âattendanceâ was poor.
But my scores were top of the class.
So I couldnât always sit in class. I preferred to work alone and learn alone. I worked with groups when I had to. My âattendanceâ was poor.
But my scores were top of the class.
12. Do I recommend #autistic people who want to be nurses continue forward?
Hell yeah.
Maybe if more of us come forward, then they wonât be able to single people out like they did with me.
I try to let it go, but I still have hurt feelings and anger.
Hell yeah.
Maybe if more of us come forward, then they wonât be able to single people out like they did with me.
I try to let it go, but I still have hurt feelings and anger.
