Andrea Dalzell

Last updated
Andrea Dalzell
Other namesThe Seated Nurse
Education College of Staten Island (BS, BSN)
Occupation Nurse
Website theseatednurse.com

Andrea Dalzell is an American nurse, disability rights activist, and content creator. Dalzell is the first wheelchair-using registered nurse in the state of New York and advocates for disabled healthcare workers on social media.

Contents

Early life and education

Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, [1] Dalzell was diagnosed with transverse myelitis at age 5. [2] Throughout childhood, she would alternately use a wheelchair, a walker, and crutches, and started using a wheelchair fulltime by the age of 12. [1]

Dalzell earned two degrees, one in biology and one in neuroscience, from the College of Staten Island. [3] Originally interested in medical school, Dalzell switched to nursing after realizing that "doctors treat the Disease and I never wanted to look at someone as a disease, but as a whole person. Nurses do that and that’s where my mindset shifted to nursing". [4] Dalzell was awarded her Bachelor of Science in Nursing and became a registered nurse in 2018. [5]

Career and advocacy

Any person, with any type of disability can be a nurse. The misconception comes with the fact that with a disability means you’re incapable. Every single person’s ability is different. What I am able to do at my injury level, may not be another person’s ability at the same level.

Andrea Dalzell [4]

After becoming a registered nurse, Dalzell applied to, and was turned down for, 76 different as a clinical nurse positions. [6] [7] She found work as both a school nurse and as a camp health director during this period. [8] In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic led to a high demand for nurses, and Dalzell landed a job as an ICU nurse based on her experience with ventilators. [2] Dalzell became the first wheelchair-using registered nurse in the state of New York. [9]

Dalzell cites multiple instances of being questioned on her qualification to perform as a clinical nurse, including "professors doubting her capabilities and the constant pressure to prove herself". [1] [10] On social media, she is known as The Seated Nurse, and uses her platform to advocate for disabled healthcare workers. [2] She trains as a boxer to help build her strength for activities such as CPR. [3] Dalzell was asked by Apple Inc. to appear in a commercial for the Apple Watch, discussing how the watch has helped her physical training. [3]

Awards and honors

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References

  1. 1 2 3 Sherer, Teal (January 4, 2021). "New Mobility Person of the Year: Andrea Dalzell". New Mobility . Retrieved December 6, 2024.
  2. 1 2 3 Gandhi, Devansh (February 28, 2024). ""The Seated Nurse" Discusses Healthcare Career as a Disabled Person". The Hoya . Retrieved December 5, 2024.
  3. 1 2 3 "Apple TV Star Andrea Dalzell Fought Transverse Myelitis to Become a Nurse". CureMedical.com. May 29, 2018. Retrieved December 7, 2024.
  4. 1 2 Lee, Tatiana (April 28, 2020). "Andrea Dalzell: RN Who Uses a Wheelchair Treating COVID-19 Patients in NYC". respectability.org. Retrieved December 7, 2024.
  5. ↑ Russell, Sara; Bernabe, Angeline Jane (September 10, 2020). "Nurse in wheelchair working as a COVID-19 frontline hero surprised with $1 million". ABC News (United States) . Retrieved December 5, 2024.
  6. 1 2 Okine, Dollita (August 10, 2024). "The inspiring story of Andrea Dalzell, the first registered nurse in a wheelchair in New York". Face2Face Africa . Retrieved December 5, 2024.
  7. ↑ Hardy, Jasmine (May 26, 2023). "'Unheard': Black women open up about mental health". TheGrio . Retrieved December 7, 2024.
  8. ↑ Norlian, Allison (July 29, 2020). "Disabled Nurses Find Covid-19 Silver Lining; Hope For More Inclusive Future". Forbes . Retrieved December 6, 2024.
  9. ↑ Deleon, Nina (May 23, 2024). "Meet the Black Woman Making History as a Nurse Despite Being Wheelchair Bound". BlackNews.com. Retrieved December 7, 2024.
  10. ↑ McMahon, Emily (September 29, 2021). "Interview with Andrea Dalzell, RN, Disability Advocate & Activist". American Nurses Association Illinois. Retrieved December 8, 2024.
  11. ↑ Benanti, Carol Ann (July 22, 2015). "Ms. Wheelchair NY: 'Life, liberty and the pursuit of access'". City University of New York . Retrieved December 8, 2024.
  12. ↑ Frias, Daphne (June 27, 2023). "12 Disability Activists You Should Know (and Follow!)". GoodGoodGood.co. Retrieved December 8, 2024.
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