BSc (Hons) Learning Disability Nursing Practice is a pathway that offers all the skills of traditional nursing with the added focus on providing specialised care. If you’re thinking about studying to become a nurse, consider choosing Learning Disability Nursing for a varied and rewarding career where you can develop skills valuable to any employer.
Choosing what to study can be a big decision, so read our article for everything you need to know about Learning Disability Nursing. You can also read our student stories to get insight about the course from our students to help you choose your ideal course. Here are five reasons why you should study Learning Disability Nursing Practice and information about what a difference you can make in your future career.
1. You can work in a profession with a proud history
In 2019, the Learning Disability Nursing profession celebrated 100 years of the career. This was a proud moment for nurses within the vocation, as well as an excellent opportunity to reflect on the crucial impact Learning Disability Nursing make for both people with learning disabilities, their families and their supporters.
As Victoria Mason-Angelow described in their report to inform the future of learning disability nursing in 2020 “for learning disability nurses, the centenary of the profession provided a helpful opportunity to showcase the range of outstanding work they deliver; pioneering person-centred care, protecting people’s rights, and always working in partnership with the people and the families they support.” (This is Us, Victoria Mason-Angelow, December 2020.)
2. You can work in a varied job role
The role of a Learning Disability Nurse is to provide healthcare and specialist support to people with a learning disability, as well as their families and supporters. Learning Disability Nurses have multiple opportunities for employment, including at hospitals, GP surgeries, mental health services, prisons, schools and colleges, and personal homes. The versatility of the profession allows for you to pursue your interests and work in a particular area that suits you.
Unfortunately, many people incorrectly perceive Learning Disability Nurses as less qualified than traditional nurses. However, the reality is that a Learning Disability Nurse possesses all the skills of a regular nurse, with the additional benefit of specialised knowledge pertaining to caring to people with a learning disability.
Learning Disability Nursing can offer the ability to diversify your career path, and you are not limited to working within specialist services. The skills developed by a Learning Disability Nurse can be adapted and transferred to a range of roles, offering multiple opportunities for growth and career progression.
Find out more about Learning Disability Nursing Roles.
3. You can make a difference
While studying Learning Disability Nursing can be challenging, it can be an incredibly rewarding career choice to see the difference you are directly making in the lives of others. Learning Disability Nurses are fundamental in creating safe environments for people with learning disabilities and helping them to feel understood.
The presence of Learning Disability Nurses can also ease pressures on services as their knowledge allows for care in personalised ways, and can ultimately help to reduce health inequalities, which can lead to premature deaths and readmissions.
“Learning Disability Nurses are paramount in ensuring people with learning disabilities receive the specialist care and support they require. People with learning disabilities do not have ‘special needs’ but they do have ‘additional needs’. Learning Disability Nurses have the skills, attributes and knowledge to support people with learning disabilities achieve their full potential in life and receive high quality healthcare to reduce health inequalities and co-morbidities!"
Ruth Wilson, BSc (Hons) Learning Disability Nursing Practice Senior Lecturer
4. You can develop professionally
As well as offering specialised care and support, Learning Disability Nurses also often double as health educators who spread valuable information to inform local communities. The ability to educate both colleagues and the wider population about their work is incredibly beneficial to any workplace and is a desired skill for employers.
Learning Disability Nurses also teach people with a learning disability and their families and supporters about how to raise their standard of living, which can ultimately prevent health emergencies. Helping their patients to be healthier and happier through their expertise is a rewarding part of being a Learning Disability Nurse.
Find out more about the journey of a Learning Disability Nurse.
5. You can join the profession now
As Victoria Mason-Angelow has observed “there has never been a better time to become a learning disability nurse.” With several entry routes into the profession, it is easier than ever to find a pathway that suits your skills and interests.
The value and worth of Learning Disability Nursing is also being showcased and celebrated. As there is a current shortage within the profession, there have been several incentives to encourage people to join the profession, including monetary incentives. For example, there are a range of financial incentives to support students who choose to pursue a degree in Learning Disability Nursing. You can find out more information about this on the NHS Business Services Authority website.
What are you waiting for?
The future for Learning Disability Nursing is bright and can offer a rewarding career after graduation, with several potential roles.
Find out more about our Nursing and Midwifery courses to find the right pathway for you or join us at an Open Day.
Published: 18 November 2022