THE ROLE OF NURSES IN WORKING WITH PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES: BARRIERS AND CHALLENGES

ABSTRACT

Introduction. People with disabilities are increasingly present in the general population and are frequent users of various types of services, including educational, social, and healthcare services. Healthcare professionals, including nurses, play an important role in ensuring a better quality of life for people with disabilities. However, research findings are mostly based on the experiences of people with disabilities themselves and their families, while less attention has been paid to the experiences of healthcare staff in providing healthcare services to this population.

The aim of this paper was to review the literature in order to highlight the importance and role of nurses in providing services to people with disabilities, as well as to identify the main barriers and challenges in this process. The literature search was conducted using relevant databases (Google Scholar, SCIndeks, ERIH Plus, and SCOPUS). The literature was searched in both Serbian and English using appropriate keywords, and papers published within the last 15 years were taken into consideration.

The conclusions of a large number of studies indicate that nurses experience difficulties in communicating with people with disabilities and do not always feel comfortable when providing healthcare services. In addition, it was emphasized that they are not sufficiently prepared to work with this population. In order to improve the existing findings, it is recommended to introduce educational content designed to familiarize future nurses with appropriate approaches and methods of communication with people with disabilities. Furthermore, the importance of gaining direct experience in a clinical setting is emphasized.