.png)
UMB faculty publish study on disability education in the Maryland Nurse.
A new research article co-authored by faculty at the University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) and the University of Maryland School of Social Work (UMSSW) has been published in the Maryland Nurse journal.
The study, "Exploring Disability in Healthcare: Maryland Nursing Students Report Improvements in Comfort, Skill, and Clinical Approach," is authored by Rebecca N. Weston, EdD, MSN, RN, CNE, UMSON assistant professor; Samantha Fuld, DSW, MSW, LCSW-C, UMSSW clinical associate professor and associate director, Doctor of Social Work program; Merve Gurlu, MS, UMSON statistician; and Patricia Schaefer, DNP, RN, CNE-cl, CHSE, CNE, UMSON assistant professor and director of the simulation lab at the Universities at Shady Grove.
The study developed and evaluated UMSON’s undergraduate nursing elective, Exploring Disability in Health Care, using a quasi-experimental pre- and post-survey design to examine its impact on nursing students' self-perceptions when caring for people with disabilities. Findings demonstrated that students reported meaningful improvements in their comfort, skill, and clinical approaches following completion of the course.
This publication reflects the School of Nursing's ongoing commitment to disability-inclusive education and preparing future nurses to deliver equitable, person-centered care to diverse patient populations.