Inclusion of People with Physical Disabilities in Nursing Education

This article proposes that qualified individuals with physical disabilities can and should be included in nursing education. When nursing is viewed as a humanistic profession, involving caring relationships grounded in nursing knowledge, it is clear that people with disabilities are capable of fulfilling the goals of the nursing profession. Reasonable accommodation and creative access are discussed as means to facilitate inclusion. Potential concerns of nurse educators are addressed, with emphasis on the erroneous assumption that people with disabilities will be unable to provide safe care. The many benefits of including people with physical disabilities into the nursing profession are highlighted, and the importance of nurse educators in facilitating this process is explored.