I have been hearing impaired for the majority of my life, was in middle school when I got hearing aids. Became a CNA and eventually RN - probably not the easier career path for me to have chosen, but I passed nursing school and NCLEX. I’m well aware of my limitations - for instance, I’d never seek a job in an ED or ICU where it’s noisy. I’ve done SNF, IP and OP behavioral health, and currently work in OP primary care. I use an amplified stethoscope when necessary. I honestly don’t have to take vital signs much anymore (the MAs rooming the patients do most of that), and when I do take them we have an automatic blood pressure cuff. In a code situation or any other situation where a manual BP was required, I’d be deferring to a co-worker to get that manual BP and offering to do anything else I could to help instead. Recently, all of the nurses at our clinic participated in an annual skills check-off. One of the skills they focused on was taking manual blood pressure. They wanted you to be accurate within 5 points of an automatic cuff and my readings were more than that. They’re supposed to follow-up with me tomorrow on next steps, but I’m feeling embarrassed and like I might be facing termination. For my fellow hearing-impaired nurses out there, do you struggle taking manual BPs? Any tips that can make it easier?   submitted by   /u/Top-Lawfulness9338 [link]   [comments]