Tenacity, personality or both?

Recently, I asked my online MSN students to share their thoughts about an article I wrote in 2004.

One student responded:

“As I read your article, it brought to mind several nurses that I have worked with through the years that have had disabilities. My employer made accommodations for one nurse by making sure her patient assignments were located so that she had to walk only short distances between them. Still another nurse was given a desk job, as your article suggests. While in nursing school, I can recall a nurse at the hospital where I did my clinical who had such a profound speech impediment that it was very difficult to understand her. She worked the night shift which would seem accommodating in that most patients would sleep through the shift, requiring little conversation. I recall a nurse's aide went into the rooms with her during her initial assessment to facilitate interaction with the patient. I definitely agree with your stance that we need to be accommodating for nurses with disabilities but the tenacity of the nurse plays a huge role in how they are treated and their success in the workplace. I am not saying that it is appropriate to treat someone according to their personality, but the nurse must be an asset to their employer regardless of physical limitations or lack thereof.”

Is it tenacity, personality or both?

Maheady, D. (2004). Positions wanted: Nurses with disabilities: Barriers to employment remain despite the nursing shortage. American Journal of Nursing, 104(3),13.

http://www.nursingcenter.com/library/journalarticleprint.asp?Article_ID=493990