Saturday, November 20, 2021

The Exceptional Nurse: An Interview With Dr. Donna Maheady, ARNP

 
The Exceptional Nurse: An Interview With Dr. Donna Maheady, ARNP


      *This month’s blog has Fatenah chatting with an advanced registered nurse practitioner (ARNP) who  advocates for inclusivity within the nursing profession. Dr. Donna Maheady is a professor with the ABSN program at Utica College, located in Utica, New York. She coined the phrase “exceptional 
   nurse” to reflect those within the nursing profession, students and/or staff, with disabilities.

 Let’s learn more about Dr. Maheady and her inclusion work through Exceptional Nurse, as well as additional resources.

 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.

 I wrote three books about nurses and nursing students with disabilities and created a coloring book including nurses with disabilities.

 What was the impetus for starting Exceptional Nurse?

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.

 A carpenter was doing some work on our house. He said he created websites “on the side.” Mind you, at that time, I was lucky if I could pick up my email!

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.

 What do you hope to accomplish through Exceptional Nurse?

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.”

 We provide mentorships (linking a nurse or student with another nurse or student with a similar disability) and yearly scholarships. [To create community]…we maintain a blog, Facebook page, and LinkedIn groups.

 How would you address the beliefs by some nurses who feel “such person with such disability can’t be a nurse?”

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.

 Some higher education institutions where I’ve worked mention that they look to what the clinical sites will “allow” and use that as the basis for student admissions into their nursing programs. What is your reaction to this?

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.

 What can nursing programs do to support exceptional nurses? What can be done to have a healthier view of seeing differently abled individuals as equals in the nursing field?

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.).

 Build resources (books, videos, etc.) that help faculty understand how students can be accommodated. Some nursing faculty (not all) need to do a better job advocating for all students to be accepted at a facility. Work towards your program being a role model of acceptance for other programs. Research the topic and get papers published.

 This is a great example. Covid actually opened doors for nurses who use wheelchairs:

Disabled Nurses Find Covid-19 Silver Lining; Hope For More Inclusive Future

 Outside of your website, what other resources or support are available for exceptional nurses?

Websites

YouTube

Blogs

          A Nurse With Albinism and Vision Impairment

         Blind Nurse Colleen Collins, a LightHouse Employment Immersion Client, Lands a Job at       American Care Quest


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.

 Read everything you can get your hands on regarding success stories of other nurses with disabilities and reach out to organizations for support.

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.

          Exceptional Nurse Website

*Fatenah Issa is an Instructional Designer II with Orbis Education. This interview was previously published in the Orbis Education "Hub" blog.

Cheers!

Donna 

 

No comments:

Post a Comment