Learning disability nursing courses

Undergraduate courses

• Learning Disability Nursing BSc(Hons)

What is learning disability nursing? 

Learning disability nursing offers a unique and rewarding career which often provides you with the privilege of entering fully into the lives of people with a learning disability. Commonly nurses are working over time periods to enhance the health, well-being and social inclusion of people with a learning disability by improving or maintaining their physical and mental health, reducing barriers to their special needs and supporting them to achieve a life which is as fulfilling as possible.

What does it involve?

Learning disability nurses support people with learning disabilities who often have a range of complex developmental, physical, psychological and mental health needs. As a learning disabilities nurse you will work in partnership with service users, their families / carers and other health and social care professionals. You will help identify and create ways to support a range of health and developmental needs in order that people with a learning disability of all ages may live their lives as fully and independently as possible.

Career options

As a student of learning disability nursing you will study towards a degree to gain your nursing registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council UK (NMC). Once qualified you have many opportunities to further your professional development / career as part of the life-long learning expected of those in the nursing profession.

Learning disability nurses work in a variety of settings such as: 

• Community nursing teams
• Assessment and treatment services
• Forensic services
• Residential services
• Independent / voluntary and charitable services
• Schools / colleges
• Prisons

Increasingly learning disability nurses are employed in specialist roles such as health facilitators; working closely with acute hospitals and GP practices to enable people who have learning difficulties to receive a more skilled service that better meets their health needs.

Typical work activities include:

• Assessing needs and developing person-centred care plans
• Advocating on behalf of people with learning disabilities and enabling self-advocacy
• Monitoring physical and psychological health states including medication
• Generating and searching for the best available evidence for nursing interventions
• Developing therapeutic interventions for individuals and groups
• Undertaking health promotion activities and teaching programmes
• Engaging in and promoting interprofessional teamwork
• Acting in a supportive consultancy role to staff and carers in the community.
• Providing advice and educating other professionals

What personal attributes does a learning disability nurse require? 

• ‘People Skills’ (interpersonal) – to build trusting, mutually respectful relationships
• Excellent communication to adapt to all situations
• The ability to relate well to people from a range of backgrounds
• Ability to work as part of a team
• ‘Openness’ - willingness to see your own limitations or faults and value others' opinions.
• Non-judgemental
• Empathy, sensitivity, compassion and patience
• Self-confidence and calmness under stress
• Flexibility in thinking and doing
• Organised, disciplined and reliable
• Imaginative problem solver.

Your next steps to studying learning disability nursing

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Find out more about our courses

Learning Disability Nursing BSc(Hons)

Learning Beyond Registration

Make an application

To apply for the Learning Disability Nursing BSc(Hons) course you need to complete a UCAS application. Applications to Learning Beyond Registration courses are made directly to the University of Hertfordshire CPD office.