Deaf nursing professionals: experiences of social interaction and communication in professional practice.

OBJECTIVE: to explore the inclusion of deaf nursing professionals in terms of attitudinal and communicational accessibility in the workplace. METHOD: qualitative, cross-sectional, descriptive study based on the history of the inclusion of people with disabilities and Sassaki's seven dimensions of accessibility. Semi-structured online interviews were conducted with deaf nursing professionals. The analysis followed Braun and Clarke's Thematic Analysis method. RESULTS: eight professionals participated, including six nurses and two nursing technicians, with mild-to-profound hearing loss. Two main themes emerged-Accessibility and Barriers-and four subthemes: attitudinal accessibility (representation, support, and inclusive coexistence) and communicational accessibility (use of adapted communication strategies); attitudinal barriers (ableism, invisibility of deafness, and discrimination) and communicational barriers (protective masks, noisy environments, use of writing, and auditory fatigue). Despite occasional advances, structural and cultural barriers persist that hinder the full inclusion of these professionals. CONCLUSION: the inclusion of people with hearing loss in nursing remains partial, particularly in attitudes and communication. The presence of these professionals contributes to raising awareness about deafness, reducing stigma, and strengthening accessibility practices, all of which are essential to a more diverse and equitable nursing profession.