Dear All,
Does anyone have any experience of having a disabled nursing student who
required a support worker for some or all of the time with them while
they were on placement? If so, did that person have to be a qualified
nurse? How did you manage to pay that person?
We have a situation here where the faculty and indeed the student think
it would be a great idea if the student (who is dyspraxic) had a support
worker with her during one of her nursing placements. The student has
difficulties in remembering her instructions and often needs someone to
repeat those instructions to her several times. This is certainly the
case in a new environment (ward) until she gets her confidence up.
She also have a great deal of difficulty articulating both verbally and
in writing her reasons for treatment, even if she does know why she is
doing something she can't express it easily.
I am in two minds about this one. In some ways I can see how having a
support worker that could be with her for a start and then slowly phased
out might be a good idea, especially with the prompting and repetition
of what she has to do. However, I know our trusts wouldn't allow this
unless the person was a qualified nurse and if they are a qualified
nurse are they providing subject specific tuition? (which of course the
DSA won't pay for).
Any suggestions on this one would be very helpful.
Regards
Pauline
Pauline McInnes
Disability Co-ordinator
Disability Team
Student Services
St Mary's Road
Ealing
London
W5 5RF
Tel: 0208 231 2058
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