Education of nursing students with special needs

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Disability Studies
• Higher Education Policy

Background:

• Recent legislation, including the Americans with Disabilities Act, significantly impacts higher education in nursing.
• There is a need to understand how nursing programs accommodate students with special needs and chronic illnesses.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the extent to which Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) programs admit and graduate students with special needs.
• To identify successful accommodations for educating students with disabilities in nursing programs.

Main Methods:

• A survey was distributed to nursing programs across the United States.
• Responses were collected from 86 nursing schools in 44 states.

Main Results:

• Most surveyed programs have encountered students with various special needs, including learning disabilities and chronic illnesses.
• Learning disabilities and mental impairments were the most frequently reported conditions.
• Few programs reported experience with visually impaired students or extensive experience with providing specific accommodations, though campus accessibility awareness was noted.

Conclusions:

• Nursing programs face challenges in educating students with special needs due to recent legislation.
• Addressing the educational needs of students with disabilities is crucial for the nursing workforce.
• Further development of accommodations and support systems is necessary for inclusive nursing education.