A procedure for providing advice and support for nurses with a disability

Declaring a disability can prove challenging for an individual. It may also represent a challenge for that individual's manager, particularly if it is something they have had little experience of. Knowing that advice and support is available to both parties should make the process much easier and help to provide more positive results. This article looks at how a procedure has been implemented by one NHS Trust to help individuals and managers address the needs of staff and students with a disability, through reasonable adjustments suggested to support them. Any such adjustments need to be assessed for their practicality in clinical settings. Positive action and a practical, sensitive approach will lead to happier staff and a more confident manager who is better equipped to deal with colleagues and students who are disabled or develop a disability. This should also lead to a positive impact on overall quality of patient care.