Putting the spotlight on Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) with disabilities

 

                                                                                    Carolyn McKinzie, LPN

Carolyn McKinzie returned to work as a nurse following a below the knee amputation. She has held various nursing positions since then. In addition she is an author, blogger and Amputee Nurse consultant.

In an article she wrote for AbledAmputees.org she stated,

"My right below-knee amputation was the result of an auto accident when I was 32. I would undergo several surgeries to try and repair the damage done from the crushing injury to my lower leg. There were infections, hardware exchanges and bone grafts. But despite all of those, I would lose it anyway.

It would end up being the best thing for me, but there are still some down days. Not all the time, but once and awhile. I used to fight those moods and tell myself I needed to stay positive. One day I realized that I had earned the right to have an occasional “poor me” day." 

Read more about Carolyn at Amputee Nurse Consultant/Carolyn McKinzie, LPN, RBKA, https://www.amputee-coalition.org/inmotion_online/inmotion-27-05-web/6/, https://www.abledamputees.org/staff-writers,https://www.abledamputees.org/single-post/2014/11/09/ups-and-downs-by-carolyn-mckinzie-lpn-rbka  and http://exceptionalnurse.blogspot.com/2017/12/self-defense-and-responsible-gun.html

                                                                               Britny Bensman, LPN

Britny Bensman is an LPN who is deaf. She studied biology at Gallaudet and while there learned sign language (ASL). She went on to study nursing at Hondros College of Nursing. She practices as a nurse and also teaches sign language (ASL).

A story reported by Chaunie Brusie states,"Bensman also started her own social media account, Deaf Med in 2016. Her Instagram account features stories of other deaf and hard-of-hearing nurses, along with tips, inspiration, and education. The social media trailblazer notes that simply sharing stories from other hard-of-hearing and deaf medical professionals have opened eyes and allowed others to turn negative experiences into positive ones."

Read more about Britny at https://nurse.org/articles/being-a-deaf-hearing-loss-nurse/, https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWbsyC3gT87WqHl1PnZVeYg and https://m.facebook.com/access.deafmed/posts/?ref=page_internal

                                                                                     Michelle DiGiacomo, LPN

In a guest blog post, Michelle DiGiacomo wrote about her tracheostomy and becoming an LPN. "I am hardly qualified to dole out words of wisdom as I am still trying to figure it out myself. I can say that taking the power back was key for me.  If I allowed my trach to steal my future, then it truly would be a disabling condition. I had to carry on as I would have without it. I lost a lot of time being angry about what amounts to a botched surgery that I didn't need in the first place. Once I decided that I would pursue my career and socialize again, this issue could no longer hurt me. I am living my life and enjoying the same ups and downs as everyone else. I also learned that before I could put actions behind my decisions I had to accept my difference. Once it was no longer a problem for me, it would no longer be a problem for anyone else."

Read more about Michelle in her own words at https://exceptionalnurse.blogspot.com/2017/10/breath-of-nurse-with-tracheostomy.html

Cheers!

Donna