Nursing Learning Disabilities

Learning disabilities nursing is one of the four fields of nursing practice in the UK, and it is distinct in its focus on supporting people with learning disabilities to live well, to access healthcare, and to exercise their rights and make their own choices. Nurses in this field work with people across the full lifespan, from children with complex developmental needs through to older adults with lifelong learning disabilities, often in the context of significant health inequalities and advocacy challenges.

At Edinburgh Napier University this three-year full-time programme leads to registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council as a learning disabilities nurse. You will study the theoretical foundations of learning disabilities nursing, including anatomy and physiology, psychology, sociology, health law and ethics, pharmacology, and the evidence base for nursing practice. Clinical placements are integral to the programme from the beginning, placing you in a wide range of community, residential, and hospital settings where you will develop practical competence under the supervision of registered nurses.

These placements build progressively in complexity and responsibility, so that by the time you graduate you are ready to practise safely and confidently.

The programme reflects the principles of person-centred care, positive behaviour support, and the social model of disability, training you to be an advocate as well as a clinician.

Graduates register as learning disabilities nurses and work in NHS services, local authority provision, independent sector care organisations, schools and educational settings, and community learning disability teams. The field offers a rewarding career for those who want to make a real difference to the lives of some of the most marginalised people in society. Many nurses also continue to postgraduate study and specialist practice development.