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November 3, 2022
What barriers do nurses with dyslexia face at work? And might some qualities of dyslexia make you a better nurse? A third-year nursing student, who herself has dyslexia, investigates.
Introduction
Dyslexia appears to be poorly considered or understood in the New Zealand nursing profession, as evidenced by the lack of research, literature and resources from a New Zealand perspective.
International literature appears to focus heavily on student nurses' experiences during their academic studies and clinical placements, rather than that of qualified nurses navigating their way through clinical practice and employment.
New Zealand academic bodies, such as polytechnics, are beginning to consider and invest in research to understand and best support the needs of their neurodiverse learners. However, it is still unclear what support is accessible at an employment level, especially when nursing students become qualified new graduates.
The idea of exploring the subject of "nurses with dyslexia" was born after a summer of brainstorming to come up with a research topic I felt passionate about, to pursue in my third year of study.
Applying the PECOT framework,4 I narrowed in on a research question: "What are the barriers for nurses with dyslexia in clinical practice?" I explored literature from national and international contexts, but soon discovered that most of it was either outdated, under review, or purely focused on student nurses. Unfortunately, New Zealand-based literature on the topic was scarce or non-existent.
From what literature there was, I managed to identify three prominent barriers for nurses with dyslexia - individual barriers, employer barriers and resource barriers.
Why is this important?
Dyslexia is stigmatised, misunderstood and often perceived as a personal deficit, rather than a gift or an advantage. I, like many others, have historically labelled myself as "stupid", which has self-limited my opportunities, making me wonder whether I had what it takes to become a qualified nurse.
I have chosen to explore this topic to highlight to the New Zealand nursing profession the barriers that nurses with dyslexia experience, as well showcasing the strengths of nurses with dyslexia. I hope to bring a new lease of life to the issue and advocate for those whose voices are not already projecting loudly enough.
I am optimistic that my efforts will pique the interest...