DIfficult one - one of the criteria for qualification is autonomous practitioner - to enable the client group and inform them to be able to make informed choice. If a support worker is working with the student then how much is the student being assessed as working towards autonomy. How are they going to be able to demonstrate achieving competency as this is usually continously assessed. I have not had any students who have received support workers in practice as it is expected they will be able to work with support teachers to develop strategies to enable them to cope (alone) in the clinical environment. There is also an issue of patient/client confidentiality if a third person is involved and who would then be responsible for assessing the student an dmonitoring her practice.
Pauline Lim
S/L - Midwifery (School of Health)
Boundary House - Gorway Road Campus
University of Wolverhampton.
(01902) 518868
Be alert ......We need more lerts.
-----Original Message-----
From: Discussion list for disabled students and their support staff.
[mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Pauline McInnes
Sent: 02 November 2005 14:52
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Support workers on nursing placements
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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