Students with disabilities are being admitted to nursing programs in increasing numbers.  Obstacles may occur— but what is important to know is that students with hearing loss, vision loss, limb differences, mental illness, chronic illness, learning disabilities and other disabilities have been admitted to nursing programs, graduated and moved on to successful careers.   

                                              Keys to Promoting Success

Do your homework

·         Nursing practice and education is physically and emotionally demanding. Find out all you can about the technical skills needed to become a nurse.

o    Volunteer in a health care setting

o    Talk to nurses and nursing students

o    Visit The National Institute of Health to learn about careers in health sciences. http://science.education.nih.gov/LifeWorks.nsf/feature/index.htm

·         Learn about your legal rights to reasonable accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act. http://www.eeoc.gov/facts/health_care_workers.html

·         Read all you can about nurses and nursing students with disabilities.

Get connected

·         Get involved with advocacy groups for nurses and students with disabilities such as the Association of Medical Professionals with Hearing Losses www.amphl.org and ExceptionalNurse.com, a nonprofit resource network for nurses and nursing students with disabilities www.ExceptionalNurse.com.

·         Network with nurses and nursing students with disabilities. Ask about accommodations that helped them.

·         Find a mentor.

Get organized early

·         Gather letters documenting your disability from your physician, audiologist or psychologist. If you request reasonable accommodations from a nursing program, the Office for Students with Disabilities will require documentation.

·         Research technology and equipment options that may be helpful such as amplified stethoscopes, books on tape and screen readers. 

Cast a wide net

There are no universal standards for admission to nursing programs. Requirements can vary from state to state and program to program. A student can be rejected by one program and welcomed by another.

·         Explore different nursing educational programs.

·         Visit the campus Office of Students with Disabilities.

·         Meet with nursing professors and the Dean or Program Director.

·         Ask about technical or core performance standards.

·         Ask about whether or not you will need to have transportation? And, how long is a clinical day?

·         Visit the nursing practice laboratory. Examine the equipment and take a tour.

·         Anticipate a wide range of responses to your disability.

·         Rehearse responses to questions you may be asked.

How will you be able to perform CPR? Lift a heavy patient? Hear a patient’s call for help?

If nursing is your passion— do your home work— and go for it!

Nursing school can be stressful for all students. Having a disability can make the journey even more challenging. But with proper planning and preparation, you can be on the path to success. Your unique skills, abilities and experiences will add to the profession and enrich patient care. 

About the Author: 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.  

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