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