Learning disability nursing

People with a learning disability are those that have a significant impairment of intellectual and social functions. These impairments are present from childhood and are not the result of an accident or illness in adulthood. People with a learning disability can often experience physical, sensory and/or mental health problems.

Learning disability nurses work in partnership with a range of professionals along with the client’s family and carers, assisting in an all-encompassing way to provide a person-centred service. They work with some of the most vulnerable and socially excluded people in society, promoting health and well-being and working to enable people with a learning disability to live fully integrated and independent lives.

Starting out

Becoming a learning disability nurse opens up a huge range of opportunities to work with children, adults and older people who will each have a diverse range of needs. Nurses can work in a number of different settings including:

• community teams
• higher education
• in-patient facilities
• secure services
• respite facilities
• prisons
• schools
• colleges
• private and voluntary agencies.

Their work can be physically and emotionally demanding and may include a lot of travelling to client’s homes. Recently introduced government legislation has ensured that learning disability nursing remains high on the government agenda, which has ensured the continued promotion of the needs of this client group and has assisted in developing new and exciting roles for learning disability nurses.

Skills required

As a newly qualified nurse you will need to have highly developed communication and interpersonal skills to be able to relate to people at different levels. You should also be able to work both independently and as a member of a multidisciplinary team.