Getting into a nursing program with a L.D.

Nurses Disabilities

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Hello everyone,

I have always had an interest in nursing, due to the fact that many of my immediate family are in the healthcare field. It is my dream to become a Nurse. I took the TEAS and was confident that I would pass. I done exactly as I predicted; well on everything but the math which has always been a problem for me. I have a 3.7 GPA and made A's in anatomy and Physiology (as well as several other classes that will go towards my Bachelors).

The problem is that I never told anyone at my college about my learning disability that has haunted me since the third grade. But it has became apparent that I am going to need some help if I am going to succeed. Understand that it is counterintuitive to every instinct that I have to ask the college for any type of help. But it has came down to either my pride or following my dream and being able to support my family while doing somthing I would love. I literally forget that I will be getting paid for being a nurse when I daydream about working. I guess I though I would grow out of my Learning Disability:rolleyes:.

I truly feel ashamed for needing to ask for help and I feel that I will be treated as I always have; A burden. I know for a fact that I can perform as well as anyone in the classes and clinicals, all i'm asking for is the chance to do so.

Specializes in Pediatrics, developmental disabilities.

Bottom line (if you have a documented disability)...you are entitled to accommodations start to finish!

Nursing students are granted accommodations on the NCLEX...it is a process...you have to request through your state board, show documentation and proof that you received accommodations in nursing school.

Specializes in NICU, Trauma, Oncology.
Hey hlr2752 i was just reading some of your coments an i have a LD to an also wanted to be a traveling nurse! I just didnt know if i felt loke studying everyday for hours! Im goin to try it in the fall anyway just to see how it is. Did you have to study alot an are you still in school now or do you have your RN licence?

You study all the time. No way around it.

I have dyscalculia also just like you SunnyPupRN. I am really worried about entering into nursing school. I am 45 and have 2 BA's one in psych and one in social work and a Masters in social work. I finished undergrad and grad school with a 3.7 GPA but I had to take math 4 times to pass it. I am going to go get my associates in nursing and then try to enter a bridge program to do an NP.

Can anyone offer me and advice or tips on how to make this work or what their experiences are? I am sorry for reliving an old thread but I cannot PM people since I am new to this board.

Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.
I have dyscalculia also just like you SunnyPupRN. I am really worried about entering into nursing school. I am 45 and have 2 BA's one in psych and one in social work and a Masters in social work. I finished undergrad and grad school with a 3.7 GPA but I had to take math 4 times to pass it. I am going to go get my associates in nursing and then try to enter a bridge program to do an NP.

Can anyone offer me and advice or tips on how to make this work or what their experiences are? I am sorry for reliving an old thread but I cannot PM people since I am new to this board.

What kind of dyscalculia? What kind of accommodations do you need? You will need to do dimensional analysis (basic calculations for pharmacology) and likely statistics at some point.

I have taken 2 stats classes and 2 or 3 math classes and I was able to pass them but I had to take them more than once and I really struggled. I just registered for an AS at the local community college. I start classes next month and have to take chemistry and language of medicine as my fist two classes. I am just going to see how it goes. I have no idea what type I have and I did not know there are more then one type. I have Aspergers so I have a crazy high IQ. I did 2 BA'S and a masters and graduated all 3 with a 3.7, never bought or read a book or really ever studied for a test in college, with the exception of math. When I took my testing for my Asperger's diagnosis 2 years before I started college with only a GED, I was testing at the PhD level for everything except math and I tested about a 6th grade level for that.

Your school sounds AWFUL!!!! And they lied too. I had accommodations for my NCLEX Exam in Missouri. My "testing" accommodations were: private testing room, double the time to take the test, &someone could read me the test if I chose so. The rest weren't related to testing and more for physical comfort.

That's pretty much where I was - I quit for 6 years after doing my LPN since the teachers treated me like I was lesser than every other student. Just took my enterance exams for my ADN today without accommodations because the proctor said she knew nothing about disability services/accommodations and there were 3 people in line behind me waiting to check in (within hearing distance). I guess we will see how it goes.

I know your post is old, but I had to comment. My daughter is like you with excellent grades, etc. She was able to activate her accommodations that she had through college to take the TEAS. Unfortunately, her accommodations did not help her score. She took two practice tests. The second practice test she exceeded the score the school would like to see to be accepted. I watched her take the test (no cheating) and she did amazing. She wasn't pressured with a timed test, as she also received time and a half. She also doesn't perform well as another person posted when under pressure. We also were informed the school my daughter is applying to has accepted students with TEAS scores in the low 40's. They have changed their minds and only will accept proficient. Knowing they would accept lower scores lessened her anxiety on getting a high score. She studied and studied, but indicated the study guide and practice tests info were not on the actual TEAS she took. The school did a "bait and switch" on us and others. She really likes the school and teachers and did not use her accommodations for the classes she had to retake due to the classes not transferring. I might call an attorney or the state disabilities to see what can be done. She has done everything she needs to do. Completed all the required courses for nursing and for a TEAS test to be the deciding factor is not right.

Hello, I also have several disabilities, that I thought there was no way, that I'd be going back to school, because of those disabilities, that I struggle with each day. my disabilities are, Chronic kidney disease (CKD), being on dialysis, Asthma, Tourette [COLOR=#6a6a6a]syndrome, L.D., somewhat loss of hearing. 5 disabilities. I'm not going to allow these disabilities, to stop me, from accomplishing my goal, to become a Nurse. so don't allow any type of disability stop you from accomplishing your goal, and your dream.[/COLOR]

Very nice post. The school is stopping my daughter from becoming a nurse. (At least at that school. There are others out there.) They would not accept her application packet because she did not have the score they wanted with her TEAS, yet, she has a 3.8, A's in all of her classes, and current student. The school is supposed to look at all the criteria and not just one piece of the puzzle. Very frustrating!

Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.
Very nice post. The school is stopping my daughter from becoming a nurse. (At least at that school. There are others out there.) They would not accept her application packet because she did not have the score they wanted with her TEAS, yet, she has a 3.8, A's in all of her classes, and current student. The school is supposed to look at all the criteria and not just one piece of the puzzle. Very frustrating!

If your daughter has severe test anxiety and does not qualify for accommodations, how will she take the mandatory, high pressure NCLEX-RN that is timed/time limited and ranges from 75-265 questions?

Many who don't pass the TEAS do not have the essential academic skills needed to be successful. Those with test anxiety but have the academic skills may need accommodations.

If your daughter was diagnosed by a licensed healthcare professional then she can self-identify to the office of students with disabilities and request accommodations for test anxiety.

Nursing school is extremely competitive in many areas especially affordable public schools. The initial application review keeps the students who meet ALL the admission criteria. Those who lack in one area but perhaps highly qualified in all other criteria may make the second cut.

If timed test anxiety is the only facet preventing her from achieving the minimum TEAS score she should consider consulting the office of student disabilities. They may have resources for your daughter to over come or at least cope with test anxiety and achieve her goal.

Thank you! She does have accommodations. She turned in her paperwork last year when she enrolled. She did not use her accommodations this past year and did very well due to the great support with her instructors and the one on one ability to ask questions. We didn't find out that she could use her accommodations for the TEAS until after her 1st attempt. She approached the school to let them know she could use her accommodations for the TEAS and would like to use them on her 2nd attempt. It was like asking to meet the Queen of England. The came back that she could not use her accommodations for the TEAS or NClex (but she informed them that she could), both ATI and the State Board of Nursing told her/us she could. Their demeanor changed with her. They were not the "helpful school" she knew this past year. They were rude, short answers when she would ask a question, put her on the back burner and it started with the Nursing Director and trickled down. We found out they never processed her paperwork for accommodations last fall and this was last minute to them, plus we feel they probably didn't know what to do. We had to send everything to their corporate office who were very helpful. Just the local campus was not the best. She knows nursing will be tough for her, but she is very dedicated and ready for the challenges. We have a tutor ready to be part of her action plan with studying. She enjoys her sciences and math. She does have a diagnosis with a disability and she WILL graduate with her BSN and plans to continue her education. The funny thing, there are other campus sites for this school and we have already been told she has an incredible package and they would accept her in a second. The TEAS is the last thing they look at. She has sent her n to the other campus sites. Unfortunately, she would have to move away, we just don't know how far yet. Thank you again for your comments.

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