An investigation into intellectual disability nursing interventions and their impact

Abstract

Aims To identify nursing-led and / or nursing centred interventions that are in place to address the challenging and changing needs of people with intellectual disabilities (IDs). To identify areas of good care delivery, innovative practices, and possible gaps in the provision of care for individuals with IDs. Research questions The research sought to answer the following questions; What nursing led / nursing centred interventions are in place to respond to the changing needs of people with ID in the UK? Are there examples of service redesign to meet future needs? How could ID nurses better contribute to these interventions? Where in the UK are these interventions taking place? What is the impact of these interventions? Impacts of ID nursing interventions We used Braun and Clarke (2006)’s framework to analyse the data and we identified 13 themes of these impacts; Having a voice. Increased independence and choice. Improved health and quality of life. Improved access to health and social care services. Improved standards, quality of care, and patient experience. Improved awareness of the needs of people with intellectual disabilities. Reduced health inequalities and risks. Making reasonable adjustments. Improved transitions. Improved family life. Improved healthcare outcomes. Increased community presence and inclusion. Improved mental health and reduced challenging behaviour. Conclusions ID nurses implement a wide range of emerging interventions working in multi-disciplinary teams. They practice in a wide range of settings in the UK and other countries. More work is needed in order to better understand the reasons for the limited involvement of ID nurses with pregnant women with IDs and in end-of-life care. The variation in understanding the interventions undertaken by ID nurses between countries need to be further investigated.