1. Regarding the original message and the question
>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).

I have a degree in Pharmacy.  During my PhD I researched areas in chemistry,
mathematics and physics and I am support tutor to pharmacy, chenistry, maths,
phys students to whom I do not give subject specific tuition.  I have no doubts
about the boundaries that these different roles imply.  So I do not see why a
qualified nurse should not be a support worker in the case you mention.

2. Regarding the response
>If a support worker is working with the student then how much is the student
>being assessed as working towards autonomy.

As I understand it, the autonomy is in relation to the capacity the student has
to interpret the information and the capacity for decision making once the
information is delivered in a way the student can access it.

3.Regarding the response
>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.

This is a very important issue in all health/medical fields (as it is in SEN
practice).  There are departments that clarify "confidentiality" to be within
the service and not only between the service user/patient/client and the person
providing the service. In the case you refer, the patients would be informed of
the meaning of confidentiality.

I hope this informs the debate.
Best regards,
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Learning Support Service
University of Bath
Claverton Down, Bath BA2 7AY, UK
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Quoting "Lim, Pauline" <[log in to unmask]>:

> 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
>
>