A nurse who uses a power wheelchair shared the following story:
I was recently accepted into an RN to BSN program. I have an incomplete spinal cord injury (SCI) from an accident. I use a power wheelchair, drive a modified van and do not require any accommodations for writing, computer or telephone use. I am also Minimum Data Set (MDS) certified.
I was officially accepted into the nursing program. The program never asked about my disability or shared any technical standards.
I attended the first week of classes and was told, "you can't be a nurse because you don't meet the college's technical standards." There is a small component of the program that includes a clinical experience and they said I wouldn't be able to participate as, "I must be able to ambulate without any assistive device".
So many questions to ask about this situation?????
You "can't be a nurse". She is a nurse!!!!!
Isn't this screaming discrimination?
What about Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and reasonable accommodation?
The clinical portion of an RN-BSN program is typically in a community setting...so accommodation would certainly be possible.
What about totally online RN-BSN programs?
What would you advise this nurse to do?
With thanks in advance!
Donna
I was recently accepted into an RN to BSN program. I have an incomplete spinal cord injury (SCI) from an accident. I use a power wheelchair, drive a modified van and do not require any accommodations for writing, computer or telephone use. I am also Minimum Data Set (MDS) certified.
I was officially accepted into the nursing program. The program never asked about my disability or shared any technical standards.
I attended the first week of classes and was told, "you can't be a nurse because you don't meet the college's technical standards." There is a small component of the program that includes a clinical experience and they said I wouldn't be able to participate as, "I must be able to ambulate without any assistive device".
So many questions to ask about this situation?????
You "can't be a nurse". She is a nurse!!!!!
Isn't this screaming discrimination?
What about Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and reasonable accommodation?
The clinical portion of an RN-BSN program is typically in a community setting...so accommodation would certainly be possible.
What about totally online RN-BSN programs?
What would you advise this nurse to do?
With thanks in advance!
Donna
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