Working with individuals with intellectual disabilities - Page 2

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  1. Oct 14, '12 by
    Quote from studentnurse1992
    Thank you. The camp that I worked at this summer was one of the best experiences I've had in my life. A lot of the guests at the camp were in group homes that were not well run at all and I was disgusted with how the group home workers treated these people.

    It was really a life changing experience that I don't think many people can do.
    In the past, many people with DD were housed in terrible facilities that were like nursing homes. Now that more people are in more home-like group homes there are fewer nurses per se needed (as in, medication aides and CNA's or HHA's work more in those settings) but there are still going to be social service agencies and day programs. You might check with the staff at the camp where you worked as they should know the network in your area. A nurse might do inservices for the clients, inservices for new staff, flu shot clinics, sex ed, all kinds of things.
  2. Dec 1, '12 by
    I work for DDD, I absolutely love the work!! The politics, not so much.
  3. Dec 1, '12 by
    I work for DDD, I absolutely love the work!! The politics, not so much.<img class="inlineimg" title="Wavey" border="0" alt="" src="http://img.allnurses.com/smilies/wave.gif" smilieid="41">
  4. Dec 4, '12 by
    Maybe try private duty? I cared for individuals with ID and who had other medical issues, usually requiring a feeding tube and/or a ventilator. It's 1:1 and I found it rewarding.
  5. Dec 11, '12 by
    I work in this field. There are days I work with lots of behaviors and days I work with high medical needs. It depends on which clients and their level of functioning. I absolutely love it!
  6. Jan 10 by
    Quote from brownbook
    I am no expert but I think "nursing" in this field is more administrative paperwork jobs as opposed to hands on care given by aides or techs.
    This field, like so much of nursing, is also full of diversity. Many positions are more administrative however, depending on where you live, there may be group homes that have nurses working in them. This type of group home would support very medically fragile individuals. There are differences from state to state. Check out the DDNA.org website for more information.

    You could also investigate working at the state level, overseeing waivers. There are lots of options. Good luck in this very rewarding field!
  7. Jan 18 by
    Hi everyone,

    I'm new to this site and have just spotted your thread. I'm from Wales in the UK and am in my second year of my learning disability nursing degree. I love the work we get to do during our practice placements. We get to work in many varried settings. I'm lucky to have got a place on my course as there are not many Uni's who offer Learning/Intellectual Disability nursing degrees.

  8. Jan 18 by
    Quote from jaynew1966
    Hi everyone,

    I'm new to this site and have just spotted your thread. I'm from Wales in the UK and am in my second year of my learning disability nursing degree. I love the work we get to do during our practice placements. We get to work in many varried settings. I'm lucky to have got a place on my course as there are not many Uni's who offer Learning/Intellectual Disability nursing degrees.

    In the States you can get a DD certification once you are a nurse working in the field for about 2 years. I did not know that in the UK there was a separate degree. very interesting! I also love working in this field - good luck!
    jaynew1966 likes this.
  9. Jan 24 by
    Thanks rotteluvr31,

    I think I'm going to need all the luck I can get. Does anyone know the specific steps for Imogene Kings assessment in her open systems model of nursing. I want to use her model of nursing for a case study of an adult man with a mild learning disability, uncontrolled epilepsy and an increase in challenging behaviour. I've been through her books, nursing model books, journals, the internet and everything else I can think of but I can't find anything that represents a specific step by step assessment.

    Thank you