A nurse who has been a longtime employee of a hospital, providing beds

A nurse who has been a longtime employee of a hospital, providing bedside care to clients, was seriously injured and is paralyzed from the shoulders down, with limited use of the upper arms.

Through rehabilitation, the nurse is able to mobilize with a wheelchair and has no cognitive or psychological deficits. The nurse wants to return to the same position held prior to the injury. Under the guidelines of the ADA, the hospital:
1. Is required to accommodate the nurse.
2. Must find another job for the nurse.
3. Could claim undue hardship to accommodate this nurse.
4. Will have to terminate the nurse’s employment.

ANSWER

Correct Answer: 3
Rationale 1: The act’s provisions states that the disabled must be able to perform the responsibilities of the job with reasonable accommodations. With limited use of upper arms, this nurse would not be able to perform the tasks required of a nurse working at the bedside.
Rationale 2: With limited use of upper arms, this nurse would not be able to perform the tasks required of a nurse working at the bedside. However, the hospital could help find another position that utilizes the nurse’s experience and desire to continue in the field of nursing, but this would have to be a collaborate effort with the nurse and within a reasonable request regarding the hospital’s needs and resources.
Rationale 3: According to the ADA, it is the employer’s responsibility to provide reasonable accommodations that would allow the person with a disability to perform the job satisfactorily. With limited use of upper arms, this nurse would not be able to perform the tasks required of a nurse working at the bedside.
Rationale 4: Terminating employment may or may not occur, but not until all other options have been explored.