RCN Peer Support Service - Information for students

If you are studying to be a nurse, or thinking about doing so, and you have disability, impairment and/or are neurodiverse this page is for you. 

Many nursing staff work whilst managing their own health and disability issues whether acquired or pre-existing. Lived experience of working as a medical professional with a disability or neurodiversity is a great asset. 

• Students with impairments can, and do, complete their courses and go on to be employed in the health care sector 
• A diverse cohort brings benefits for all as students with protected characteristics bring valuable lived experience, increased resilience and resourcefulness.
• It is good practice to support nursing students to get the reasonable adjustments they need and often it is also a legal obligation. 

The main barriers to inclusive healthcare placements are: 

• The way information is shared between education provider and placement;
• Lack of knowledge about how to support colleagues with disabilities amongst placement staff;
• Incorrect assumptions about the implications of a disability for being able to perform a nursing role.
• Student’s fear about disclosing their disability (often due to the points above).