Accommodations in nursing school- are they good?

jrt71 · Oct 12, 2011

Since its none of my business what other students are doing or what their medical or psychological history is, I've never really thought about it. Just concentrate on your own studies and let others do the same. It really doesn't concern you.

latebloomer74, LPN · Oct 12, 2011

The same disabilities you speak of are some of the same you will be working with when you become a nurse. You have some work to do......

JBMmom, MSN, NP · Oct 12, 2011

I did not mean to be insensitive to students (and people) with disabilities of any sort, I apologize if that's how it sounded. What I meant was, should the school be more pro-active in teaching students that have an issue how to overcome them within the more natural environment they'll eventually need to work, rather than changing the environment because of the issue? Sorry if I offended anyone.

NurseTrishaH · Oct 12, 2011

I agree with you. Despite what a person truly desires, some people are not cut out to be nurses. I went to school with a person that got extra time on tests, got to go to a quiet room to do the test, and at one point had a proctor in the room reading the questions outloud. How is this gonna pan out when in an urgent situation?

People come with all sorts of problems. Some don't read very well, some are terrible at math. But you have to take a good look at yourself to determine if your weak points can pose a huge problem. For instance, I believe I would make a terrible waitress. I am incredibly clumsy and would end up covering patrons with food. So, I never became a waitress. Same thing with nursing - if you can't do the work, don't become a nurse.

roser13, ASN, RN · Oct 12, 2011

OP, I see your point and I don't think that you are being insensitive. It is a very valid question.

But I think the answer likely lies in the fact that the school (unless completely privately funded) is probably between a rock and a hard place. They are very likely required by Federal law to provide these provisions to nursing students who qualify for them. Unfortunately, in this scenario, the students with the various learning disabilities may be the ones to suffer the most. Instead of figuring out early on what they can and cannot handle, they may make it all the way through nursing school with the accommodations, only to find out that the real world does not provide them.

I wonder if accommodations are given for taking the NCLEX?

adnrnstudent, ASN, RN · Oct 12, 2011

OP, I see your point and I don't think that you are being insensitive. It is a very valid question.
But I think the answer likely lies in the fact that the school (unless completely privately funded) is probably between a rock and a hard place. They are very likely required by Federal law to provide these provisions to nursing students who qualify for them. Unfortunately, in this scenario, the students with the various learning disabilities may be the ones to suffer the most. Instead of figuring out early on what they can and cannot handle, they may make it all the way through nursing school with the accommodations, only to find out that the real world does not provide them.
I wonder if accommodations are given for taking the NCLEX?

Yes about NCLEX , time and a half I believe it is. I'm a 2nd year A.D.N. student with ADHD and agraphia. When I take tests with class and not at testing center, I am always the last one out.

I too believe O.P. asked a fair question. Here are things for O.P. to consider.

In the real world, I don't have to do dimensional analysis on my math. In nursing school, I can't just list the answer which I can solve in my head almost instantly, but in nursing school, I have to show my work. It takes me forever to figure out how to set those things up, and I already have the problem solved.

In the real world, I know what to do for conditions, but in nursing school on multiple choice tests I have to sit and think about what could be 4 right answers but have to think about which one is most right for the test.

I am a very robotic and black and white person. I recently took a test in Mother-Baby where there were 2 very right answers. I took the test with my class, I didn't use special accommodations testing center.

I went up to teacher and said elevated estrogen is right answer, it can make hands itch, I said but so is protein loss in blood. Protein pulls fluid from extracellular space so without it, hands can get swollen and itch too.

She said, "Oh you are WAY overthinking that. Choose the simple answer."

So the right answer was estrogen, but a robotic person like me could look at that question for hours.

On another note:

I think a problem we are facing in this country is labeling and judging people for asking questions.

If a person publicly questions for instance about the welfare of children being adopted into gay families, that doesn't make that person a homophobe full of hate.

I applaud the O.P. for asking the question.

Quickbeam, BSN, RN · Oct 12, 2011

OP, this is a question that is often on my mind as the world/ADA changes things. I had a whopper of a fitness test and physical to go through before I was accepted into my nursing program. I've also had grueling pre-employment tests as well as drug screens, hearing and vision tests and mental acuity exams before hire.

It is unsettling to me to think that an RN who cannot read/process information/hear might be interpreting my health data or be responsible for my care. And I say this as an interpreter for the deaf and someone married to a man with severe dyslexia.

There are physical truths of clinical nursing that cannot be overcome by will alone. I'm never going to be an Olympic ice skater or triathlete, no matter how much I might want to be.

The good news is that employers are entitled to ask an applicant to perform the essential functions of the job before hire. e.g. a nurse with quadriplegia could be asked to demonstrate how they would deliver bedside care.

The disconnect in my mind is that schools are potentially graduating RNs that can never function in that role.

roser13, ASN, RN · Oct 12, 2011

Thank you, adnrnstudent. That was a very informative and helpful answer.

adnrnstudent, ASN, RN · Oct 12, 2011

I made a few edits, so you may want to re-read it.

JBMmom, MSN, NP · Oct 12, 2011

Thanks for the replies (glad I didn't seem to have offended many after the first couple). ADNRNSTUDENT, I particularly appreciate your response and you make many valid points. As I said, I posted it for nurses because I wasn't sure that nursing school and the real world cross-over much, as you mentioned.

Another thing I've always wondered is whether we give labels too quickly. I'm pretty sure that if most of my 40-somethings colleagues took some of these diagnostic tests today (myself included), we'd be labeled ADD at least, and a host of other things (social phobia, ineptitude, etc) as well. Maybe we were better off not knowing it. Even just from the standpoint of ignorance to the fact that a diagnosis doesn't define a person. I wonder whether some people limit themselves because other people think they can't do something, that would be sad.

Gently.me · Oct 12, 2011

I think accomodations are acceptable within reason.

I remember in nursing school, we constantly had a disruptive student who would fall asleep in class only to wake herself up, and ask questions about something she missed when she was sleeping. Add that to always being late, not having a great hygiene (she had hand fungus on all nails) and constantly disrupting class, and there is a problem. She was given accomodations and those accomodations disrupted the rest of us.

I think this lady is a great person who has had some tough times. I do not think she was cut out to be a nurse. When we had a vital sign assessment test, I told her i would be her volunteer to practice on. She pumped my BP cuff all the way, and let it out VERY slowly. Then her cell phone rang mid test, and she answered it! My hand was purple and numb. Obviously, she didnt make it through nursing school.

Moral of the story: If you are not cut out for nursing and the "real world", it will catch up to you.