FNP - Developmental Disabilities

[ZenLover, MSN, RN, NP]

Are there any advanced practice nurses that currently work with developmental disabilities or differently abled individuals in their practice? I am interviewing soon for an extremely good graduate program soon and one of my interests is working with this population. My daughter is on the spectrum. During my time at the bedside I am learned and become aware of the great many adults that are not necessarily identified as developmentally different, but rather comments like "bad self care, non-compliant, flat affect, high anxiety" are used. After becoming more aware and educating myself about my daughter I have found that this education as translated nicely to the bedside and even outside the pediatric population. I am passionate about inclusive education techniques and want to do everything I can to improve not just access to healthcare for the developmentally different, but improving what kind of basic care they get.

I am looking for anyone with experience. I would like to hear what you love about your job. What you hate about your job. What you wish would change and what we need to do more of.

Thanks!

[RNbabylon]

aHi Zenlover,

when my 2nd child was diagnosed with DD ,verbal apraxia, and mild MR is when I went into that profession. I was a school nurse at the time in my home town but I really wanted to go into field when we were told at 2 years old he will never speak , I got hired by his school (although I went into adults with DD/ID. It was a tough job though ,I was a th supervisor so I was in charge of 2 Group homes and also had to visit the group homes of my lpn. Now they got rid of the LPN cos they couldn't read

PODs give orders to staff etc. You will really love the field cos it's gives me chills when we help the individuals with problems that they can't tell doctors etc. Also you will be given a cellphone and have to be available 24 hours/7 days a week for only your houses. If you prefer independency nursing and are organized ,since you will be carrying around certain parts that you'll need all the time. My houses were far apart so I ended up some days driving total of 100 miles ( if you visit 2 homes a day and then meet staff and patient at the appts you are required to go to, and attend all the isp meetings, staff meetings, etc you'll be able to fill out mileage reimbursement and get a nice check every 3 months .I had to leave my job due to my drivers license being suspended due to unpaid tickets .NYS has a new thing that they charge you a drivers assessment fee if ticket unpaid for Ann extended time. Now I need 2590 to get my license back . It's a mess. Please try it. I learned so many things I never would of known about that helped my son.I can tell you the websites if you need.my son is 21 already and he still doesn't talk correctly. Knows what he wants to say but can't say it.sometimes he will say a few words so clear. Yet he still doesn't dress correctly, read or write. He also has bad tempers cos his father buys him everything and now he is very entitled from it. He has broken tvs, kindles, and also walks and doors. My mother says he should be in residential setting but we never wanted to do that. And glad we didn't .