Nursing faculty members' perceptions, knowledge, and concerns about students with disabilities

This study surveyed nursing program faculty about their perceptions, knowledge, and concerns regarding nursing students with disabilities. Surveys were completed by 88 faculty members in eight programs. Faculty members rated the extent to which they perceived that individuals with different types of disabilities had the ability to be nursing students and professionals; their level of knowledge about how to teach and accommodate students with disabilities; and their level of concern regarding nursing students with disabilities. On a scale from 1 (strong agreement) to 6 (strong disagreement), faculty members' mean ratings of the ability of individuals with disabilities to be successful nursing students and professionals, were 3.2 and 3.4, respectively. On a scale from 1 (low) to 6 (high), faculty members' mean ratings of their knowledge and concerns related to students with disabilities were 2.7 and 4.0, respectively. These results suggest nursing faculty need training regarding nursing students with disabilities.