I am involved in Physiotherapy education and also in an exercise being
carried out by the Health Professions Council re: disability, health and
registration. This relates to producing good practice guidance for GPs with a
particular focus on disability re: signing the health reference that is
necessary before a licence to practice is granted.
As you know, Qualifying bodies (which will include nursing qualification
bodies) are now included under the DDA (since Oct '04) and these
organisations have to re-examine their competencies to ensure that they are
not discriminating against applicants/professionals with disabilities. It may
be worthwhile throwing this issue back into the court of the qualifying body
who have to make sure they are not putting unnecessary barriers in the way of
disabled individuals training as and being employed as Health Professionals.
The GMC is working with the DRC and Skill to look at these issues but I have
not heard that the nursing bodies are carrying out a similar exercise.
Karen Atkinson
Sen. Lecturer, Physiotherapy
Manager, RNIB Resource Centre
University of East London
-----Original Message-----
From: Discussion list for disabled students and their support staff.
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Iain Hood
Sent: 01 March 2005 10:04
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Risk assessment for a nursing student
I agree Pauline, we have a duty to inform students at the earliest
opportunity when reasonable adjustment cannot be made. I guess I was
commenting on what your course people were saying, and that though I said
let's leave aside the generalisation about people with cerebral palsy, on
reflection this is the more central issue. Two situations which are extremely
different are a student applying to the course whilst at the same time
signalling a belief he or she could not possibly fulfil the requirements of
the course, or a student applying and signalling by the application that he
or she believes the course requirements can be fulfilled. I suppose I assumed
from her action in appling the second of these possibilities. What we need to
know is what the student was saying.
The situation Clare describes is, I guess, fairer, but then I'd call that an
assessment process of the course. If the nursing course where you are seems
to be running a hidden curriculum of essential tasks (that is, as you say, it
is unclear what it is that is actually required to be a nurse), then this is
something the course should investigate urgently.
I hope I am adding to the debate, and not just coming over as critical.
Cheers
Iain
Iain Hood
Senior Student Adviser, Learning Support
Student Support Services
APU
East Road
Cambridge
CB1 1PT
01223 363271 ex 2316
[log in to unmask]
----- Original Message -----
From: "Pauline McInnes" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, February 28, 2005 3:19 PM
Subject: Re: Risk assessment for a nursing student
Hi Iain,
You are assuming of course that a student is actually 'assessed' on course
for their ability to do these things in some sort of meaningful way, whereas
the critical assessments on our nursing courses are the theory ones and
practical issues are much more 'woolly' in terms of assessment. I Know this
sounds nonsensical, but it is the way our course is run.
Futhermore, isn't it better that a student finds out from the start that she
cannot do the course and is guided in a more appropriate direction, if this
is the case, rather than get half way through, find she can't complete the
practical work and have to re evaluate what she wants to do?
Hopefully she will be able to do the things necessary to be a nurse but if
she cannot and there are no reasonable adjustments we can make to allow for
this then the University is entitled to turn her down on the basis of her
disability, let's hope we don't have to, but that is the bottom line.
Pauline
-----Original Message-----
From: Discussion list for disabled students and their support staff.
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Iain Hood
Sent: 28 February 2005 15:04
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Risk assessment for a nursing student
Leaving aside the generalisation in the description of the case, which seems
to imply the course staff believe all people with cerebral palsy can or
cannot do this, that or the next thing (and which we might, at times, use as
a definition of the word 'discrimination'), I'm interested in the pre-emptive
quality that is perhaps being defended here. Surely the assessment process
for becoming a nurse is the assessment processes of the course itself.
Perhaps this student, assuming that she is qualified to be on the course,
need only give the same assurance as any other student applying to the
course: that she feels she can make an attempt at the tasks involved in being
a nurse. Then if she fails to complete an assessment of an essential learning
outcome, then perhaps she will fail the course and fail to become a nurse.
But, then again, she may pass.
I feel we may be confusing what it is to have needs assessed, and what
assessment within a course is for. (The picture I paint here is subtly
changed if it is the student who is leading the process to be a priori
assessed, and accepts that she will be refused a place if she cannot perform
certain tasks.)
(PS: I also reject that what is being assessed is 'Risk'.)
Cheers
Iain
Iain Hood
Senior Student Adviser, Learning Support
Student Support Services
APU
East Road
Cambridge
CB1 1PT
01223 363271 ex 2316
[log in to unmask]
----- Original Message -----
From: "O'Callaghan, Loretto M J" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, February 28, 2005 2:10 PM
Subject: Re: Risk assessment for a nursing student
The advice of our Occupational Health Practitioner is that you should talk to
your OH provider!
-----Original Message-----
From: Discussion list for disabled students and their support staff.
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Pauline McInnes
Sent: 28 February 2005 13:18
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Risk assessment for a nursing student
Dear All,
Here at TVU we have a prospective nursing student who has cerebral palsy, our
faculty are concerned about her ability to carry out manual handling tasks
and transfers of patients. They are also concerned about her ability to
kneel down and perform CPR if necessary (yes, that old chestnut again).
Can anyone advise me on how we might carry out an assessment of her ability
to undertake these tasks prior to her acceptance on the course and who the
appropriate person might be to conduct such an assessment?
Kind 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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