As the judges and audience rolled their eyes, boos could be heard as a middle aged woman took her place on the stage.

Then, the contestant opened her mouth - and the voice of an angel dazzled the crowd - and later the world.

Susan Boyle took the ‘Britain’s Got Talent ‘show - and the world, by surprise. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lp0IWv8QZY

Susan Boyle grew up challenged with learning disabilities. She was bullied and mocked throughout her life. Susan was called names and struggled in school.

This remarkably talented lady made me think about nurses with disabilities who may be judged in similar ways - stereotyped before given a chance - for being too short or tall, too heavy or thin, missing a limb, having an unsteady gait or using a mobility aide.

Like Susan Boyle has shown us - we can’t judge a book by its cover.

 In my book, “Leave No Nurse Behind: Nurses working with disAbilities”, nurses with a wide range of disabilities share their stories. www.leavenonursebehind.com.

Here are some examples:

Susan Fleming was born missing her left hand. She has been a nurse for over 20 years. And, yes - she has started many IVs. Susan is a doctoral student and a faculty member of the Washington State University Intercollegiate College of Nursing.

Marianne Haugh was born with spina bifida. She uses a wheelchair and works as a Clinical Nurse II on a pediatric unit of Shriners Hospital in Chicago.

Morag MacDonald is a nurse who is deaf. She uses sign language and reads lips. She works with patients who are deaf at a mental health clinic in Connecticut.

Beka Serdans is a nurse with dystonia. She is a nurse practitioner and she works in an ICU in New York City.

Lynne Shaw is a nurse with mobility challenges. She uses a scooter and works as a nursing supervisor at a large medical center in Boston.

Do you know a nurse, nursing student or aspiring nurse like Susan Boyle? Have you judged a nurse or student by their appearance? Have you witnessed unexpected ability? Been surprised?

What can we learn from Susan’s experience?

Please share your thoughts! 

Donna Maheady, Ed.D., ARNP is a pediatric nurse practitioner and nursing care consultant.  She is a strong advocate for inclusion of nurses with disabilities in nursing practice, and has taught nursing for over 20 years and worked with nursing students with a wide range of disabilities.  Donna is the founder of www.ExceptionalNurse.com, a nonprofit resource network for nurses and nursing students with disabilities. 

Click here to read more on Donna Maheady.