Citation

Heaslip V, Hewitt-Taylor J. Nurs. Child. Young People 2014; 26(10): 24-29.

Affiliation

Bournemouth University, Dorset.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, RCN Publishing)

DOI

10.7748/ncyp.26.10.24.e528

PMID

25487401

Abstract

Children are identified as a vulnerable group in need of a degree of safeguarding. About 6% of children in the UK have a disability, which can increase their level of vulnerability. How disability is perceived by others may affect the way they work with these young people in coping with life's risks, which may be increased due to the disability. Each individual's perception of the risks and benefits of a given venture varies. Children's nurses work with these young people and their families, aiming to give them maximum autonomy, self-reliance, empowerment and independence in adulthood. This involves risk-taking, as every young person needs to learn from graduated exposure to new experiences, environments, associations and hazards; the chance of harm must be balanced with the disadvantages of over-protection.

Language: en