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Confident learning disability nurses can reimagine the profession

With registered learning disability nursing at a tipping point, confident and articulate nurses can reimagine the profession and promote its outcome-driven value

Learning disability nursing at a crucial tipping point: the challenge for registered learning disability nurses is to amplify ‘in profession’ confidence to strategic decision-making level. A nurse talks with a woman living with learning disabilities outside an urgent treatment centre
Learning disability nursing recruitment has dropped and the number of learning disability nurses on the NMC register is at an all-time low Picture Tim Zoltie

Learning disability nursing is at a crucial tipping point with the opportunity to reimagine itself or tip into a potential abyss.

For many readers this statement will not come as a surprise, after all the profession has been here before.

However, learning disability nursing recruitment has dropped considerably and the number of registered learning disability nurses (RNLDs) on the NMC register is at an all-time low.

Added to this are repeated claims that our unparalleled profession struggles to articulate itself and there is uncertainty more widely about what RNLDs do.

Two learning disability projects give cause for optimism about the future of the profession

That said, two projects I’ve been involved with recently – and not published yet – fill me with optimism about the longevity of the profession. For the RCN Foundation I heard from cross nation experts and RNLDs themselves about how they are overcoming health inequalities in mainstream healthcare.

In another project, funded by NHS England, experienced, advanced level RNLDs revealed the impact they are demonstrating through person-centred leadership and evidence-informed care delivery. Both projects show a confident workforce making a unique impact on the lives of people with a learning disability.

‘The challenge seems to be that “in profession” confidence is not amplified enough outside of it at a strategic decision-making level’

People with a learning disability have also told me how invaluable learning disability nurses are at explaining their needs to other health professionals.

Emphasis on overcoming health inequalities hands our profession an opportunity

The challenge seems to be that ‘in profession’ confidence is not amplified enough outside of it at a strategic decision-making level. This is despite the recommendations and collaborative intentions set out to modernise the UK learning disability nursing workforce in policy documents, such as Strengthening the Commitment and the subsequent cross nations responses to it.

The bigger ambition to remodel the NHS workforce and the emphasis on overcoming health inequalities in the NHS Long Term Plan presents the profession with a timely platform to, once again, reimagine itself through its outcome-driven value.


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