Nursing (Learning Disability)

Are you passionate about meeting the needs of people with a learning disability? Are you looking for an interesting and exciting career working to support people’s health, wellbeing and independence? Our Nursing (Learning Disability) BSc(Hons) degree regulated by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) could be a great place for you to take the first steps towards making a huge difference to people’s everyday lives.

* You'll be supported by a team who really understand what it’s like to be a learning disability nurse and will learn through lectures, seminars, group work, simulation and role play.

* You'll practice and develop your skills through a variety of clinical placements in a range of statutory, private and voluntary services, in order to prepare you to pursue your career.

* You'll learn how to work in partnership with service users, their families, carers and other professionals to promote health and wellbeing.

* You’ll have the opportunity to hear the experiences and viewpoints from service users and carers, who are part of the Public Partnership Group.

* You’ll also learn how to respond to the physical, cognitive and mental health care needs of all patients and service users across their lifespan.

Learning disability nursing is an exciting and rewarding career where you can support people from a range of backgrounds to lead healthy and fulfilling lives. Learning disability nurses provide hands on care, as well as emotional and educational support in order to promote an individual’s independence. They work in people’s homes, schools, respite units, hospitals and secure services to empower individuals to achieve their potential and have more choice and control over their lives. Working in partnership with the individual and their families, learning disability nurses work independently and with other professionals, learning how to respond to individual needs.

The course is designed to help you become a competent, caring and compassionate nurse who can work confidently with a high level of personal and technical skills to improve the quality of life of people with a learning disability. You'll spend half of your time undertaking theoretical study and the other half in practice as you develop your knowledge and skills in order to empower, advocate and protect the rights of marginalised people. These will include communication and interpersonal skills, person centred working, leadership and management, evidence-based decision making and team working.

Meeting the needs of people with learning disabilities is at the heart of everything we do and this motivates us to provide excellent learning disability nurse education. The course has been developed by a team led by academics including local employers, service users, carers and students. Nursing students spend half of their time on practice placements, which prepares them for the real world of healthcare. We encourage all our students to become critical thinkers who apply their knowledge in practice settings and make sound clinical decisions with their clients. Student nurses are well-supported by both academics and practice staff, and we work together closely to ensure a quality student experience. ~ Sheena Miller, Senior Lecturer.

Professional links and accreditation:
This course is regulated by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) (http://www.nmc.org.uk/).

Whilst studying this course you're currently not required to register as a member with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), however you must follow their codes of conduct.