COVID-19: intellectual disability nurses and the role of networking during a pandemic
Intended for healthcare professionals
Evidence and practice    

COVID-19: intellectual disability nurses and the role of networking during a pandemic

Liz Hartnett Assistant professor, School of Nursing, Psychotherapy and Community Health, Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland
Martin McNamara Professor, School of Nursing, Midwifery and Health Systems, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland

Why you should read this article:
  • To enhance your understanding of the networking role of the registered nurse in intellectual disability

  • To familiarise yourself with the requirements of the networking role during the COVID-19 pandemic

  • To learn more about how to access services for clients with a learning disability during COVID-19

The role of the registered nurse in intellectual disability (RNID) includes networking, which is an important aspect of supporting people with an intellectual disability with their health and social care needs. Networking involves RNIDs communicating with various people in intellectual disability services, mainstream health services and local communities. The advent of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) resulted in RNIDs having to use their networking competences to support clients and their families, particularly in accessing the services they needed to maintain their health during the pandemic.

This article examines this networking role and discusses the developments required for RNIDs to support people with an intellectual disability effectively during a pandemic. The article also calls for further research and clarification of the networking aspect of the RNID role. This will provide knowledge that can underpin intellectual disability nursing education and practice.

Learning Disability Practice. doi: 10.7748/ldp.2021.e2154

Peer review

This article has been subject to external double-blind peer review and checked for plagiarism using automated software

Correspondence

liz.hartnett@dcu.ie

Conflict of interest

None declared

Hartnett E, McNamara M (2021) COVID-19: intellectual disability nurses and the role of networking during a pandemic. Learning Disability Practice. doi: 10.7748/ldp.2021.e2154

Published online: 08 July 2021

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