Welcome to the new Learning Disability Nursing forum

sjmac · Feb 16, 2006

Thanks very much for your reply. Will certainly do what you suggest and see what's available.

Cheers, sjmac

krob0729 · Feb 22, 2006

I work in a LTC facility for disabled children. They were either born brain damaged, abused, accidentally brain damaged or what ever the case may be. Either way they are all TOTALLY developmentally disabled. Most of them have trachs and gtubes and are on vents. We have a hard time keeping nurses. Some just cant handle it, but that's okay too. I swore when I was in school that I would never ever work LTC again or work in pedi....LOL...jokes on me....I got both with one job...my first job at that..and I just love it. Them kids need love and attention too. They are more there (understanding whats going on) than most people think they are.

krob0729 · Feb 22, 2006

Hi
Is there any jobs for LD nurses in the US? We are in England, thinking about relocating to the US but can't find any jobs so far!
Thanks,
Sjmac

Here is a website you might could use..http://www.specialneedsnurse.org

krob0729 · Feb 22, 2006

I am a Certified Developmental Disabilities Nurse, RN, looking for CEU's in Devleopmental Disabilities topics. Anyone have any resources?

lol...a few years later.....here's a site that might help ya

www.specialneedsnurse.org

atf · Jun 17, 2006

Hi everyone!

I am a nurse(lpn) in Pa. I work in a day program for low functioning people with MR and Mental disabilities. I love this field. My only problem with it is THE PAY. I have a one-to 0ne and I am responsible for 38 other clients but I get less than a person get in a nursing home. We are in a special field and I wish they would pay us as any other speciality nurse is paid.

Markthemalenurse · Jun 26, 2006

Hi everyone!
I am a nurse(lpn) in Pa. I work in a day program for low functioning people with MR and Mental disabilities. I love this field. My only problem with it is THE PAY. I have a one-to 0ne and I am responsible for 38 other clients but I get less than a person get in a nursing home. We are in a special field and I wish they would pay us as any other speciality nurse is paid.

I can relate to the lack of pay. I have been in this field for 10+ years and I like it very much even if the pay is not the best. Sometimes you take the good with the bad.

Markthemalenurse · Sep 24, 2006

Don't let the link die. It's great the we MR/DD nurses have somewhere to go and chat with other MR/DD nurses.

springbokssa · Jan 13, 2007

Hi all, I am a 38 y old student who would like to get into nurseing. I volunteer in a Learning Disability class at college and I really like it. Anyway I have aplied at a hospital as a support worker for LD. I got the job but at the interview I was told the patients have very challenging behaviour. I am just wondering what they mean by "very challenging behaviour" any help would really be appriciated

Thanks

LydiaNN · Jan 13, 2007

Hi all, I am a 38 y old student who would like to get into nurseing. I volunteer in a Learning Disability class at college and I really like it. Anyway I have aplied at a hospital as a support worker for LD. I got the job but at the interview I was told the patients have very challenging behaviour. I am just wondering what they mean by "very challenging behaviour" any help would really be appriciated
Thanks

I'm not sure, because I really don't know what type of hospital this is, but if this is an inpatient program, I am guessing your patients will also have psychiatric dxes. Learning disabilities do not themselves require hospitalization.

As far as what challenging behaviors ''could'' refer to.... self injurious behavior, aggression, obsessions and/or compulsions, lying, stealing, scheming, passive-aggression, paranoia and delusions are things that come immediately to mind, if in fact, these patients do have mental health issues in addition to learning disabilities.

Now, if this is a day program or clinic for individuals with developmental disabilities, I would guess you'd see more of the self injurious or aggressive behavior and less of the others that I suggested. Perhaps if you are offered the job, you should ask the hospital for clarification so that you have some idea what you are getting into. This field is definitely not for everyone any more than any other is, and there is no shame in making that decision.

springbokssa · Jan 13, 2007

Thanks for the quick reply Mercyteapot, My understanding of the post is that some of the patients are being held under the mental health care act. Some of them have been institutionolized and they are now trying to integrate them back into the community. I have been informed that some of the patients self harm and others have known to be agressive.

I do believe that with the proper training I would be able to do it. I just wantedto know what exactly I will be letting myself in for.

Thanks again for the reply I apreciate it at least I'm one step closer than what I knew before:)

LydiaNN · Jan 13, 2007

You're welcome, sprinbokssa. In terms of what sort of self-injurious or aggressive behaviors you might see, I can tell you a few of the more common ones. Head banging, cutting, biting (self or others), throwing objects, kicking, punching and verbal assaults are some of the types of behavior that I would describe as challenging.

You will find, I believe, that the quality of your training and the adequacy of staffing in terms of both numbers and competence will determine how this job works out for you. Good luck.

Have you posted your question over on the psychiatric nursing board, too? I'm sure there's plenty of good insight to be found there.

springbokssa · Jan 14, 2007

Thanks Mercyteapot for the info I will go over the the psychiatric nursing board and have a look around. I know the unit I will be working in has 5 patients two two support workers. I understand that the training is ongoing and very good.

Thanks again I'm off to the psych nursing board.