Integrating critical disability perspectives in nursing education

Abstract

Undergraduate nursing education has a duty to make certain that the focus of both nursing practice with disabled people and nursing education are enabling, rather than disabling. However, depictions of disability in nursing education have been identified as inadequate and at times problematic, with insufficient attention paid to disability in curricula. In this paper, we provide an overview of representations of disability in nursing and examine the gaps and inadequacies in nursing education. We also support the argument that nursing educators must utilize critical perspectives on disability to challenge discrimination and address the gaps that currently exist. Finally, we focus on how nursing programs and educators can take action to support all nursing students to develop the knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours to meet the needs of disabled people in a more comprehensive and meaningful way. Practical and effective strategies are shared.

Nursing Students' Views and Suggestions Regarding the Disability-Friendly Nursing Education Curriculum: A Mixed Method Research

“…It is seen that the content related to disability is mainly lacking in nursing education textbooks 38 . These factors affect the knowledge and attitudes of nursing students toward people with disabilities 11 . This study determined that a significant part of the students did not participate in an activity for the benefit of persons with disabilities and did not contribute to realizing an activity.…”

“…The fact that nurses are the largest group in the health workforce increases the rate of encountering individuals with disabilities compared to other healthcare professionals. This situation makes nurses a leading profession in meeting the health needs of people with disabilities 11 . However, studies have shown that nurses do not have enough knowledge to care for people with disabilities [11][12][13][14][15] .…”

“…This situation makes nurses a leading profession in meeting the health needs of people with disabilities 11 . However, studies have shown that nurses do not have enough knowledge to care for people with disabilities [11][12][13][14][15] . A study examining nurses' knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours towards hearing-impaired patients showed that nurses lack knowledge and education about caring for these patients 12 .…”

“…Kiliç and Çitil (2019) found in their research that the nurses' awareness about the practices related to persons with disabilities in the hospital they work at is low 15 . These studies on nurses lead to questioning the scope of nurses' pre-graduate education on disability 11,15 . The content of the undergraduate nursing education curriculum is essential for training nurses who will contribute to solving the problems of persons with disabilities 11 .…”

“…These studies on nurses lead to questioning the scope of nurses' pre-graduate education on disability 11,15 . The content of the undergraduate nursing education curriculum is essential for training nurses who will contribute to solving the problems of persons with disabilities 11 . The American Academy of Colleges of Nursing (2008) considers disability within the concept of human diversity and draws attention to the fact that the care of persons with disabilities is included in the undergraduate education of nurses 16 .…”