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Exceptional Nurse: An Interview With Dr. Donna Maheady, ARNP
Who is Donna Maheady?
Big question! I am a nurse, nurse practitioner,
and nursing professor (pediatrics is my specialty); mom of a 35-year-old
daughter with a genetic defect called HNRNPU, which presents with some symptoms
similar to autism; wife; founder of two non-profits: ExceptionalNurse.com (for
nurses and nursing students with disabilities) and ExceptionalEnsembell.org (a
bell choir for adults with disabilities); author; blogger; dog lover; and
volunteer.
Lauren, my daughter, was born in 1986 and was later
diagnosed with HNRNPU, OCD, epilepsy, and a host of other autism-related
challenges. I quickly became an advocate for her and, over time, expanded my
advocacy efforts to include nurses and nursing students with disabilities.
When considering a research topic for my doctoral
dissertation, it was just “natural” to study the experiences of nursing
students with disabilities. I found that few resources existed for this group,
and most students struggled to become nurses and find employment—and nurses who
became disabled had virtually no place to turn for support.
Long story short: ExceptionalNurse.com was born
in 2001!
Later, we became a non-profit. And the rest is
history as they say. We have grown and grown.
Per our mission statement, “We are committed to
inclusion of more people with disabilities in the nursing profession. By
sharing information and resources, ExceptionalNurse.com hopes to facilitate
inclusion of students with disabilities in nursing education programs and
foster resilience and continued practice for nurses who are, or become,
disabled.”
To my fellow nurses and nursing educators, I
would stress the importance of recognizing that disability is part of life…for
everyone! Nurses with disabilities have knowledge, experience, and skills to
share. They have walked the walk and gained insight into patient care from
“both sides of the bed.” Their experiences inform and benefit their nursing
practice. Many have a passionate desire to care for others. Nurses with
disabilities can be the best role models for patients. Many of our practice
settings are some of the most accessible facilities in our society. We need to
put these settings to work for nurses as well as patients. Where technology,
equipment, and reasonable accommodations are not enough, nurses need to rely on
positive attitudes, teamwork, and thinking outside the box. A move toward
upholding more of the spirit of the ADA will benefit all of us.
That may be the reality for some programs, but
that does not make it right. If the university or college is receiving federal
funds, the ADA applies. Nursing programs often rely on “what a clinical site
will allow,” but their larger responsibility is to uphold the law and provide
reasonable accommodation.
Faculty need to ask themselves, how we can meet
the curriculum goals and provide the accommodation a student needs? Maybe it is
time to look at other more accommodating clinical sites. Or provide an
in-service to showcase the accomplishments of nurses with disabilities and what
skills they can offer a facility (recognizing Covid limitations).
Another idea might be to invite nurses from facilities
to a technology vendor–type show or webinar and have reps demonstrate how
equipment/technology can help nurses with and without disabilities (amplified
stethoscopes, Safe’N’Clear masks, etc.).
Disabled Nurses Find Covid-19 Silver Lining; Hope For More
Inclusive Future
Websites
- College and university Disability Services offices
- Department of Labor Job
Accommodation Network (JAN)
- National Organization of
Nurses With Disabilities (NOND)
YouTube
- I’m a Nurse With a Cochlear Implant: How I
Succeed as a Deaf Nurse (9:01)
- One Handed Nursing Student | My Experience (11:25)
- The Disabled Nurse: Focus on Abilities (6:24)
Blogs
How would you advise
someone considering a nursing career who lives with a disability?
Cast a wide net for career opportunities. There
is a place for everyone! If one door closes, move to the next door. The
possibilities are endless—from the bedside to case management, telephone
triage, legal nurse consulting and writing, teaching online, and becoming an
entrepreneur. Consider using your nursing background to start a health-related
consulting business, or become a clown or humorist, certified yoga instructor,
Reiki master, massage therapist, personal chef, inventor, blogger, fitness
coach, holistic nutritionist, cosmetic tattoo artist, tutor for nursing
students, host a radio show, or design apparel for people with disabilities.
Some references to explore:
·
Dupler, A. E., Allen, C., Maheady, D. C.,
Fleming, S. E., & Allen, M. (2012). Leveling the playing field for nursing
students with disabilities: Implications of the amendments to the Americans with
Disabilities Act. Journal of Nursing
Education, 51(3), 140–144.
·
Matt S. B., Fleming S. E., & Maheady,
D. C. (2015). Creating disability inclusive work environments for our aging
nursing workforce. The Journal of Nursing Administration, 45(6), 325–330.
· Matt, S. B., Maheady, D., & Fleming, S E. (2015). Educating nursing students with disabilities: Replacing essential functions with technical standards for program entry criteria. Journal of Postsecondary Education and Disability, 28(4), 461–468.
Thanks to Dr. Maheady for sharing her expertise with us! If you would like to learn more about the Exceptional Nurse, visit the sites below or contact Dr. Maheady at exceptionalnurse@aol.com.
*Fatenah Issa is an Instructional Designer II with Orbis Education. This interview was previously published in the Orbis Education "Hub" blog.
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