Nursing and Disability: Examining the Equity of Nurse Practice Acts

Background: Many individuals with disabilities face challenges in education and employment despite having legal protection. This study examined laws governing nursing and education, focusing on how they affect individuals with disabilities pursuing nursing careers. Method: Using the READ document analysis approach, we reviewed state nurse practice acts across the United States. Results: Ten states included accommodations or anti-discrimination language. In comparison, 34 states had language that could exclude persons with disabilities without any mention of accommodation, and 10 states had no laws with language about disabilities or accommodations. Conclusion: The lack of specific language in laws may lead to discrimination for persons with disabilities attempting to enter nursing education due to various interpretations of the law. Nursing education should adopt inclusive standards for admission and outcome measures for nursing students. Regulatory bodies should adopt more specific and inclusive language in their laws.