Learning Disability Practice

31/07/2024

Nearly 1 in 3 NHS trusts in England do not have an acute LD liaison service with a registered learning disability nurse.

This leaves many patients without expert care and ‘without a voice’.

Read our investigation >

Nearly one in three NHS trusts in England do not have an acute LD liaison service with a registered learning disability nurse, our investigation finds

05/07/2024

People with learning disabilities are living longer and are therefore at risk of developing age-related conditions such as dementia.

This CPD article from Learning Disability Nursing looks at recognising and assessing for dementia in people with learning disabilities.

Recognising and assessing for dementia in people with learning disabilities

04/07/2024

Learn about Ivy Angerer, a woman with learning disabilities, who was murdered in N**i Germany along with more than 70,000 people with disabilities and mental illness.

The N**is believed people with disabilities or mental illness were deemed as having 'lives unworthy of living'.

The authors of this article in Learning Disability Practice explore Ivy's life and death to help LD nurses identify and respond to contemporary threats.

Finding Ivy: a life worthy of life – learning from the stories of victims of the N**is’ Aktion T4 killing programme

12/06/2024

Behaviour that challenges in people with learning disabilities and/or autism affects the quality of life for the individual and those around them.

Find out how nurses can minimise the chances of behaviour that challenges occurring and deal with it compassionately when it does.

When people with learning disabilities show behaviour that challenges, nurses should try to understand why it is happening and explore ways to divert from it

19/04/2024

How to get informed consent right: advice for nurses

Experts with lived experience of having a learning disability provide some advice on how to get informed consent right.

Experts with lived experience of having a learning disability offer advice on the importance of obtaining informed consent

20/03/2024

Is it time to change the name learning disability nurse?

Jonathan Beebee asks whether the profession needs a more contemporary title to reflect changes in practice and if ‘neurodisability nurse’ would be a better fit.

Jonathan Beebee asks whether the profession needs a more contemporary title to reflect changes in practice and if ‘neurodisability nurse’ would be a better fit

20/02/2024

It is crucial that people with learning disabilities attend routine annual health checks and screening appointments, but there are many barriers preventing them from doing so and accessing adequate care provision.

Learn how to support people with learning disabilities to attend GP appointments.

CPD article published in Learning Disability Practice.

Supporting people with learning disabilities to attend general practice appointments

25/01/2024

It is more than a decade since the Transforming Care programme was launched to reduce the number of people with learning disabilities in specialist hospitals.

But the numbers being treated remain high.

How can these people be supported to leave?

Some people with learning disabilities and/or autism can become institutionalised, but hospital nursing teams can support them to return to the community

16/12/2023

Vaccine uptake and consent: what has changed since COVID-19?

People with learning disabilities are considered an ‘at risk’ group for flu and COVID, so how can nurses ensure they are vaccinated and have a positive experience.

People with learning disabilities are considered an ‘at risk’ group for flu and COVID, so how can nurses ensure they are vaccinated and have a positive experience

25/11/2023

Rare neurodevelopmental disorders: what nurses need to know

Find out how to perform tailored health checks and screening for associated symptoms.

How families can be key in boosting learning disability nurses’ understanding of rare neurodevelopmental disorders and help build a holistic patient picture

12/11/2023

How to talk to people with learning disabilities about death

Click here for our top tips >

Avoiding the subject of death can rob people with a learning disability of a chance to grieve, but if nurses talk about it, it can help people cope and prepare

10/11/2023

Congratulations to Julie-Anne Colvin - WINNER of the Learning Disability Nursing category in the RCN Nursing Awards.

The LD nurse developed a sleep service for adults with a learning disability. She won funding at her trust’s ‘Dragon’s Den’, employed a full-time sleep co-ordinator and secured sleep counsellor training for staff across the trust.

People now receive bespoke programmes and intensive support. The results have been life changing for individuals, and those close to them.

https://rcni.com/nurse-awards

01/11/2023

Learning disability nursing: can new training fix the shortage?

Find out about the ASPIRE programme that offers to pay potential learning disability nurses while they train and waive fees.

A new course pays students to train as learning disability nurses and demand for places is high – the approach could increase the nursing workforce

31/10/2023

Learning disability nursing careers: what pathways can I take?

Click here to find out how to develop your learning disability nursing career >

There are many pathways you can take for a varied and rewarding career in learning disability nursing including advanced practice, lecturing and research

03/10/2023

Increasing cervical screening uptake among people with learning disabilities: a pilot project

Click here to read this article >

Increasing cervical screening uptake among people with learning disabilities: a pilot project

23/09/2023

End of life care planning can be rushed or missed for people with learning disabilities.

Get advice on advance care planning for people with learning disabilities and how to ensure their wishes are met.

End of life care planning can be rushed or missed for people with learning disabilities and nurses have a key role in ensuring service users' wishes are met

02/09/2023

Aspiration pneumonia: why is it so common and how do you manage it?

Find out what symptoms to look out for and how to manage them.

Multiple factors can increase the risk of pneumonia for people with learning disabilities. Find out what symptoms are red flags and what to do next

12/08/2023

Down’s syndrome doesn’t stop me from living a vibrant life:

Heidi Crowter talks about making the world more inclusive, and her fight against a law allowing abortion of babies with Down’s syndrome up to birth.

Heidi Crowter talks about making the world more inclusive and her fight against a law allowing abortion of babies with Down’s syndrome up to the moment of birth

09/08/2023

The August issue of Learning Disability Practice is online now.

This issue covers:
> DNACPR
> Dental procedures under general anaesthetic
> Gender-based violence
+ more

Go to https://journals.rcni.com/learning-disability-practice

29/07/2023

Nurses are being invited to comment on mandatory learning disability and autism training recently introduced for NHS health and social care staff.

Click here to find out more > https://rcni.com/learning-disability-practice/opinion/comment/learning-disability-nurses-input-vital-on-training-consultation-198436

Consultation on the Oliver McGowan draft code of practice on mandatory learning disability and autism training is open and specialist nurses need to contribute

27/07/2023

Learning disability placement: what experience will I gain?

Find out what you will learn and why it is important to know how to provide appropriate care for people with learning disabilities.

Nursing students in every field need to know how to support and provide appropriate care for people with learning disabilities, and challenge health inequalities

19/07/2023

Learning disabilities: can arts and crafts help mental health?

This practice question describes the SOOTHE project and the making of an eQuilt.

Arts and crafts activities can stimulate discussion on mental health and well-being

16/07/2023

DNACPR and learning disabilities: what nurses should know

Concerns have been raised that DNACPR recommendations are being made inappropriately for people with learning disabilities.

Find out what nurses can do to help.

How nurses can help in avoiding making inappropriate do not attempt cardiopulmonary resuscitation (DNACPR) recommendations for people with learning disabilities

30/06/2023

Health inequalities: change can only happen with a shift in power

People with lived experience of learning disabilities must have a bigger voice in decisions made about health services if we are to make quality improvements.

People with lived experience of learning disabilities must have a bigger voice in decisions made about health services if we are to make quality improvements

17/06/2023

How can nurses support inclusive physical activity for people with learning disabilities?

This article outlines the barriers for people using fitness centres and discusses the implications:

Understanding the barriers experienced by adults with learning disabilities when accessing fitness centres

14/06/2023

Gender-based violence against women with learning disabilities is under-reported and services have failed to provide adequate support.

Find out how nurses can spot red flags and advocate for service users.

Women with learning disabilities are particularly vulnerable to abuse and nurses need to offer support and identify and challenge what is happening to them

06/06/2023

The latest digital edition of Learning Disability Practice is out now.

This issue covers:
> Communicating effectively when undertaking a systematic health assessment
> The pros and cons of non-contact monitoring systems
> Safe and well-being reviews
+ more.

Go to https://journals.rcni.com/learning-disability-practice

26/05/2023

Do you know what therapeutic untruths are?

Find out how they can be beneficial when talking to a person with a learning disability.

While no one wants to tell direct lies, therapeutic untruths can be beneficial but should be monitored to avoid the chance of them being misused

23/05/2023

‘If we are truly committed to changing the experience of people with learning disabilities, we must also defend our profession and its preparation for future generations’

Nurse academic Louise Cogher discusses why we must fight the dilution of field-specific education if we want to improve care and tackle health inequalities:

Nurse academic Louise Cogher on why we must fight the dilution of field-specific education if we want to improve care and tackle health inequalities