Learning Disability Nursing
Learning disability nurses play a significant role in the lives of persons with learning disabilities. They work in many different settings where they support patients to maintain healthy lives. They are the only nurses who have the privilege of working with people with physical, mental, psychological and emotional health problems from birth to old age. They work with a range of professionals across health and social care.
Learning disability nursing as a profession has been in existence for over a century. It has evolved through the decades and today, many people with a learning disability are living longer and healthier lives. Mencap reports that there are 1.5 million people with a learning disability in the United Kingdom yet there are currently just under 17 000 learning disability specialist nurses on the NMC register in the UK. For many years, academics, experts and advisors have warned that there is an urgent need to increase this number.
In the past 100 years right up to this very day, new concepts, inventions and professions have gained popularity worldwide. Universities have been offering brand new courses that have attracted large numbers of students globally. Yet when it comes to learning disability nursing, the numbers tell a different story. While the numbers of people with a learning disability rise, the same cannot be said for learning disability nurses. Traditional nursing courses such as adult nursing continue to attract many applicants whilst learning disability nursing struggles to raise enough numbers and most recently we have seen some courses close down because of lack of applicants.
In England, there are hundreds of learning disability nurses who are very passionate about the future of learning disability nursing. In the last ten years we have seen excellent initiatives implemented to help sustain the profession. This has led to competition for places in some institutions and this has worked out for the profession as a whole. However, the reality is that we still do not have enough nurses. So it leaves us thinking, What do we do to improve this situation?
Some applicants have reported that they were not aware of learning disability nursing at the time of applying. Clearly there is scope here to increase publicity and awareness of the course. This responsibility lies with universities. We rarely see adverts for learning disability nursing nationally although there are local adverts that have worked previously.
In the press, we sometimes watch programmes and read articles about people with a learning disability. Half the time these are about abuse and very few have celebrated the work of learning disability nurses. In the same programmes and articles, people with learning disabilities have been identified as having learning difficulties which then sends mixed messages. There is a difference between the two. Just recently, the Antiques Roadshow on the BBC featured an episode entitled The History of Nursing which did not even once mention Learning Disability nursing. What a missed opportunity!
What does this all mean? Clearly we have to have some conversations around this topic. It is not a very complex issue, yet a deeper exploration is certainly required imminently. This post just scrapes the surface but there is a glimmer of hope that it ignites more conversations around the necessity of spreading awareness about learning disability nursing . Hopefully it can spread more awareness and spark healthy discussions not only between individuals but within organisations and higher education institutions too. Even schools and colleges should join in too. How can we, therefore improve awareness of learning disability nursing in the general population?
Do you like helping others? Does teaching others new skills appeal to you. Are you a cool and calm person? Are you the effervescent type; the type that can change the complexion of a shift as soon as you walk into the building? Have your previous life experiences taught you humility, advocacy, to challenge injustice, to celebrate success or to build self-esteem and belief. Are you funny, full of life and like talking? Do you like to see others receiving services that are suited to their needs, preferences, and cultural beliefs? Do you despise discrimination of any kind? Do you believe in protecting people who are vulnerable, supporting them with their day to day requirements with kindness, patience, and compassion? Do you like singing, playing instruments, painting, drawing? Do you like knowing about different syndromes and how they impact on a person’s life? Are you versatile? Are you flexible? Are you creative? Are you a human?
Are you that special kind of person our profession is looking for? Do you want to talk to someone about becoming a learning disability nurse? Come to Twitter and follow us @weldnurses. Make enquiries from your local university. We need you because we know you will make a difference to the lives of people with a learning disability. I am convinced that learning disability nursing, though small, is mighty, though invisible, is fully present, though seemingly hidden, is in plain sight, though quiet, is not silenced, though misunderstood, is not mysterious and that is why l am a learning disability nurse and a proud lecturer in learning disability nursing












