Online Certification Courses Ideal for Nurses with Disabilities

Donna Maheady Ed.D., ARNP, founder and president of ExceptionalNur se.com, discussed with Health Ed Solutions the incidence of disability among nurses, common questions and concerns of nurses with disabilities, and why online certification courses are particularly well suited for nurses with disabilities to secure required certification credentials, including stroke certification, ACLS certification, PALS certification and other professional training.

HES: Why did you create ExceptionalNurse.com?

DM: By sharing information and resources, ExceptionalNurse.com makes it easier for students with disabilities to pursue nursing education programs. ExceptionalNurse.com connects nursing students and nurses with any disability to others who have a similar challenge, who may have pioneered ahead of them and forged the path. These resources include related articles and studies, but also inspirational resources like success stories. We want to foster resilience for nurses who are, or become, disabled, and encourage them to remain in practice if at all possible.

HES: What kinds of disabilities are common among nurses and nursing students?

DM: Nurses and students have every disability that affects anyone else. Nurses get arthritis. Nurses suffer injuries. Nurses get cancer. Nurses are born with congenital defects. Certainly, nurses face mental health challenges like all other professionals, and these challenges can sometimes be amplified by their area of practice. No hard data exists regarding how many nurses or nursing students have disabilities; even if such a study were commissioned, the numbers would likely be inaccurate based on many people’s unwillingness to disclose disabilities.

HES: What kinds of questions or concerns are common among nurses and nursing students with disabilities?

DM: Just like any other nurse, nurses with disabilities have questions about a wide variety of topics, and they search to find out more about available resources and how solutions could be supported in practice. I’ve heard from nurses with hearing loss who were interested in finding technology to help them hear heart sounds, like amplified stethoscopes. Other nurses want more information about the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and how to determine what they need and ask for reasonable accommodations. What resources are available for a nurse with vision loss? Should a nurse consider alternative career paths after becoming disabled? Should they disclose a disability to employers or not?

Another area in which nurses with disabilities often seek resources involves certifications and continuing education. These credentials demonstrate a nurse is in line with nursing peers throughout the United States, and it’s an added comfort zone for employers and patients alike. Many nurses are curious as to their options for stroke certification, ACLS certification, PALS certification and the like, wanting to know which alternatives can accommodate their needs.

HES: Are nurses with disabilities leveraging online certification options?

DM: Yes. Online certification is wonderful because of the flexibility. Stroke certification online courses (including information about stroke risk factors) and other required professional certifications allow you to work at your own pace, complete coursework at any time of day or night in a comfortable learning environment. For example, a nurse with a back injury can’t sit for long periods of time in a traditional classroom-based stroke certification course, but he or she could easily take a self-paced online course allowing for breaks. Additionally, online certification options mitigate the challenge of transportation and travel, which can sometimes be an arduous barrier for someone with a disability.

HES: Are there drawbacks to online certification?

DM: While I've seen absolutely no negative outcomes from becoming certified, the journey to securing required certifications could potentially be a negative if the learning platform is not accessible. Potential barriers to obtaining an online certification or recertification might be inherent in the technology.

For example, for a nurse who has vision loss would need to make sure JAWS, the program that reads the content of the computer screen aloud, was compatible with the online stroke certification course they needed. Another example might involve a nurse with dyslexia who may need to determine if a stroke certification online course offered audio options in addition to Web-based readings or a textbook. However, the developers of these courses—including stroke certification, ACLS, PALS, BLS and the like—are large, savvy organizations that know their material needs to be accessible to nurses with disabilities.

Donna Maheady, Ed.D., ARNP, is the Founder and President of ExceptionalNurse.com,
the leading online resource network for nurses and nursing students with disabilities. Maheady is also the author of Nursing Students with Disabilities Change the Course, winner of the AJN 2004 Book of the Year Award, and Leave No Nurse Behind: Nurses Working with disAbilities.

For more information, visit the overview of stroke assessment and courses offered online.

The information included in this article is based on the 2020 guidelines for CPR, first aid and advanced cardiovascular care.