Learning Disability Practice
Editor's choice
How to promote cardiovascular health in people with learning disabilities
Nurses can manage risks with regular check-ups, lifestyle support and monitoring medicine
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NMC agrees to regulate nursing associate role in Wales
First nursing associates expected to begin training in autumn 2025
Two nurses removed from NMC register for test fraud
Regulator found evidence of fraudulent computer-based tests at a centre in Nigeria
Nurse suspended after trying to get selfie with footballer
NMC gives nurse four-month suspension for breaching code and patient privacy
Nurses reject pay offer as it falls short of giving them parity
Nurses in Northern Ireland refuse deal that fails to bring them in line with England
Why are students turning away from nursing courses?
Promises of a rewarding career fail to halt a decline in applicants for nursing courses
Purple uniforms introduced for advanced nurse practitioners
Scottish trust’s uniforms ensure better recognition of ANPs in emergency settings
Evidence and Practice
Using the Learning Disability Screening Questionnaire for homeless people
Homeless services may not recognise service users’ intellectual disabilities
Supporting positive dietary behaviour change in people with learning disabilities
The importance of nutrition as a controllable factor in preventing long-term conditions
Forensic risk assessment in people with learning disabilities: principles and process
The process aims to provide a nuanced understanding of factors that may lead to offending...
Promoting oral health for people with learning disabilities
How interventions such as desensitisation and reasonable adjustments can address challenges
How to support adherence to medicines among people with learning disabilities
A strategy is needed that includes education, reasonable adjustments and medication reviews
Supporting people with learning disabilities and needle phobia to be vaccinated
How a desensitisation programme was used to prepare people for the COVID-19 vaccination
Features
Uniform approach: what we like about our standardised scrubs
Nurses from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland on the pros of their nations’ uniforms
Rostering: could more control over your shift timings transform your work-life balance?
Team-based rostering pilots point to improved staff retention and greater collaboration
Bonding with long-term patients: promoting continuity of care within healthy boundaries
Tips on fostering ongoing therapeutic relationships while avoiding undue attachment
Rare neurodevelopmental disorders: what you need to know
Getting to know the characteristics of rare disorders can improve patient care
How you can improve end of life care planning for people with learning disabilities
Guidance and tools to help nurses ensure service users’ wishes are met
How to handle a bullying, weak or incompetent boss
Tips on initiating constructive conversations and where to seek support over poor leadership
Opinion
Promoting safe care for people with epilepsy and a learning disability and/or autism
Nurses can use the new Clive Treacey Safety Checklist to support service users
Our professional inferiority complex: why you’re never ‘just’ a nurse
Safety-critical care is what we do, yet some of us can’t resist the urge to downplay
Is it time to retire the title learning disability nurse?
Changing the name could make it more contemporary and reflect changing times
Students
Community placement: what does working with parish nurses involve?
Parish nursing teams can offer scope to develop communication and health promotion skills
Care innovations: how to spark ideas on placement and influence change in practice
Hospital-based projects are a chance to gather evidence, present a case and improve care
How can I become more confident in delegating nursing tasks?
Delegation is a key nursing skill but can be challenging, here is some practical advice
Careers
Social media recruitment: how you can turbo-charge interest in vacancies where you work
TikTok and other platforms are proving to be powerful tools for filling nurse roles
Help! My revalidation is looming and I’m worried I’ve left it too late to get started
Don’t panic – let our portfolio tool take the strain out of organising your documents
Sexual assault referrals: my work as a forensic nurse examiner
A typical day in this demanding role, and the skills and compassion required