Cheyenne Nicole, a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) at Ascension Via Christi St. Teresa in Wichita, was born completely deaf in both ears but has built a successful nursing career through a combination of personal resilience and technological support.<\/p>\n
“It’s hard being a new nurse, and with anybody with a disability, they usually have to compensate,” explains<\/a> Kyle Stilwell, house supervisor at Ascension Via Christi St. Teresa. “Cheyenne uses her heart.”<\/p>\n This sentiment captures how Nicole approaches patient care: with compassion that transcends communication barriers.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Nicole’s nursing practice is made possible largely through her cochlear implant, which she describes<\/a> as “the best thing ever to me because it helps me to hear and be able to take me to where I’m at today.”\u00a0<\/p>\n Beyond this personal technology, her workplace has implemented several accommodations to support her practice, including:<\/p>\n Technology-appropriate phones The specialized stethoscope connects to Nicole’s phone and transmits heart sounds through her cochlear implant, enabling her to conduct thorough patient assessments.<\/p>\n The nursing profession has historically presented barriers for practitioners with disabilities. According to the National Organization of Nurses with Disabilities<\/a>, nurses with disabilities face significant workplace challenges despite the Americans with Disabilities Act.\u00a0<\/p>\n Nicole’s experience demonstrates how appropriate accommodations can enable qualified nurses with disabilities the opportunity to continue with direct bedside patient care.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Throughout her career journey, Nicole has encountered skepticism.\u00a0<\/p>\n “There were people telling me, ‘Oh, you can’t do this,'” she recalls<\/a>. Her response exemplifies her determination: “And I was like, ‘OK, I can show you. I can do it.'”\u00a0<\/p>\n While Nicole hasn’t had everyone believe in her along her journey to become a nurse, she believes in herself enough to continue on, despite what any naysayers might think.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\nEquipped stethoscopes<\/p>\n