Affiliations: West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA | Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL, USA
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Larry G. Kontosh, Ph.D., West
Virginia University, 502-F Allen Hall, P.O. 6122, Morgantown, WV 26506-6122,
USA. Tel.: +1 304 293 2176; E-mail: LGKontosh@ mail.WVU.Edu
Abstract: Healthcare professionals, nurses with and without disabilities,
administrators and personnel directors were surveyed to explore hiring
practices and attitudes towards working with nurses with disabilities employed
in clinical settings. Specifically the purpose of the study was to gather and
analyze data regarding the perceptions of two groups towards nurses with
disabilities: 1) employers and 2) other nurses (with and without a disability).
The study defined a nurse with a disability as an RN who has an activity
limitation, specifically an altered activity capability which limits mobility,
ambulation, strength, coordination, or equilibrium. Findings suggest that
nurses are more likely to be willing to work with an RN with a disability if
they had worked with one in the past. However, overall acceptance of RNs with
disabilities was not broad.
