Behavioral traits of the nursing students with special educational needs in Japan

Abstract Nursing students with tendencies toward developmental disorders or special educational needs could face difficulties while studying nursing. The study examined the behavioral traits of nursing students with special educational needs who graduated in Japan in March 2011. Nurse educators from 341 programs provided information concerning students who had been identified as difficult to teach while enrolled in nursing programs. Behavioral traits were examined in students with special educational needs (n = 139) and those who did not have special needs but were identified as difficult to teach by the nurse educators (n = 84). The most prevalent behaviors in students with special needs were "making excessive excuses" in unstressful situations and "lapsing into silence" under stressful circumstances. The number of students with special needs who were prone to "blaming others" and "disappearing" was higher relative to that of students without special needs under unstressful circumstances. Under stressful circumstances, "blaming others," "disappearing," and "staying at home" were reported more frequently for students with special needs than they were for students without special needs. Nurse educators should pay attention to these behaviors in students facing difficulties while studying nursing.