Nurses with disabilities: a pilot test of the Nurses’ Attitudes toward Nurses with Disabilities Scale

• Published in: Journal of research in nursing 2012-07, Vol.17 (4), p.376-392
• Main Author: Matt, Susan B.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1744-9871; 1744-988X
• DOI: 10.1177/1744987111406523

The aims of this pilot study were to describe registered nurses’ attitudes toward nurses with disabilities in the hospital nursing work force, explore factors contributing to these attitudes and explore the concept of disability climate in the hospital workplace. The web-based 37-item Nurses’ Attitudes toward Nurses with Disabilities Scale (NANDS) was administered to a convenience sample of 131 registered nurses working in three urban tertiary care hospitals. Respondents with experience caring for patients with disabilities indicated a significantly more positive perception of accessibility in the workplace and more positive attitudes toward the capability of nurses with disabilities than those without patient exposure. Respondents with higher levels of education indicated a higher level of Americans with Disabilities Act awareness. The disability climate was significantly more positive in outpatient clinics than in intensive care unit environments. Nurses with physical and sensory disabilities may feel more welcomed in areas serving patients with lower acuities. Greater exposure to individuals with disabilities positively impacts attitudes toward this population. The NANDS may be useful to assist employers and nursing administrators in assessing and creating healthy, disability-friendly work environments that promote a positive disability climate and improve the work experience for nurses with disabilities.