Nursing Science, Registered Nurse
Learning disability nursing is a specialist branch of nursing focused on supporting people with learning disabilities to live as fully and independently as possible, accessing healthcare, education, employment and community life on equal terms with others. People with learning disabilities have the same health needs as everyone else and often additional ones, and they face significant barriers to getting the care and support they need. Learning disability nurses are advocates and enablers, working with individuals, families and other professionals to remove those barriers and promote health, wellbeing and human rights.
At the University of Northumbria at Newcastle, this three-year full-time qualifying programme is developed in close partnership with NHS partners and is designed to embody the Nursing and Midwifery Council's FutureNurse standards, as the university describes, equipping graduates to lead the profession. You will study the theoretical foundations of learning disability nursing, including anatomy and physiology, mental health, psychology of learning disability, communication and the ethical and legal frameworks that govern working with this population. Substantial supervised clinical placements in a range of settings, including NHS community and specialist services, residential settings and educational environments, are central to the programme and are essential for developing the clinical and interpersonal competence that registration requires.
Learning disability nursing is a registered profession, and graduates who meet the competence requirements apply to register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council as learning disability nurses.
Graduates work in NHS community learning disability teams, inpatient specialist services, residential care, supported living, schools and further education, prisons and forensic services. Career progression leads to senior nursing roles, advanced practice, community nursing, education and management. Further study in learning disability, mental health or specialist health areas is available for those who want to deepen their expertise.