Turkish and American Nursing College Students’Views Toward Disability

This descriptive study was conducted to determine views of nursing students of different cultures towards disability. The sample was comprised of 104 of senior students who studying a school of nursing in Turkey and, 32 of nursing students who studying a collage of nursing in United States of America (USA). Data was collected by questionnaire form. In evaluation part, percentage and x2 analyses were used. Approval of the Nursing Schools’ administration, and verbal informed consent of nursing students were obtained. 76.5% of nursing students were attented in Turkey, and 23.5% of them were attented in USA. Nursing Students in Turkey were women and Muslim. 75.0% of nursing students in USA were women, and 78.1% were Christian. 94.2% of students in Turkey and 93.8% of students in USA percieved to disability as physical disability. As the most important cause of disability, students in Turkey indicated to accidents, genetic causes, cousin marriages, and students in USA indicated to accidents, genetic causes, elderly and chronic diseases. Although nursing student in Turkey than in the other group of students adequate information on disability, sensitivities on the subject of both groups was not enough. Nursing students of both cultures is increased sensitivity, information and skills for caring about disability