A developmental disability nurse or special needs nurse helps individuals with various developmental care needs.
It includes patients with ADHD, autism, blindness, cystic fibrosis, down syndrome, dyslexia, or other special needs.
These nurses provide medical care, education, emotional support, and developmental training.
As a result, they help people with developmental conditions lead happy, healthy lives.
They also improve their ability to handle essential and complex daily functions more effectively and efficiently.
What Do Developmental Disability Nurses Do?
The duties of developmental nurses vary depending on the healthcare facility and the patient’s required level of care.
Some patients require occasional assistance with specific cognitive developmental skills.
These individuals often operate at a higher level and require less frequent care and support.
Developmental disability nurses may perform cognitive tests to determine their current needs.
They may also educate the individual on strategies and techniques to improve their focus and attention.
Developmental disability nurses frequently see patients in more intensive or sensitive care situations.
In this case, they may require further assistance to develop specific skills or manage complex tasks.
It enables developmental nurses to provide more comprehensive care and ensure they receive adequate attention.
Developmental nurses also work directly with families to help them develop skills for basic and advanced daily activities.
They’ll answer questions, offer support, provide education, develop care plans, and perform follow-ups.
Developmental Disability Nurse Duties:
- Provide emotional support to patients and families
- Educate patients and families on healthcare
- Perform cognitive tests
- Assess the individual’s mental and physical health
- Analyze health data and make recommendations
- Develop care plans
- Update health records
- Assist patients with intensitive/sensitive care needs
- Act as a liaison between health professionals and patients
Where do Developmental Nurses Work?
Developmental disability nurses work in various healthcare and mental health support settings.
It includes hospitals, developmental homes, community centers, and educational and institutional settings.
They also operate in language and occupational therapy departments to help individuals with vital developmental skills.
Occupational Settings:
- Hospitals
- Developmental homes
- Community centers
- Local clinics
- Educational environments
- Administrative departments
- Language and occupational therapy departments
- State support facilities
- Institutions settings
Developmental Housing
At the highest level of developmental care, patients may live in developmental homes or care facilities.
It enables developmental disability nurses to provide medical care and assistance on a 24/7 basis.
In these situations, patient care may span from assisting patients with basic cognitive skills to full-on care.
Developmental disability nurses or nurse aides who provide full-on care may assist with various day-to-day tasks.
It includes cleaning and dressing patients, administering medications, cooking and feeding, and many other daily duties.
Patients in these situations may also be sent to developmental schools to learn cognitive skills.
The school will teach them to perform recreational activities to improve/maintain their mental health and capabilities.
Understanding Developmental Care
Developmental care covers a broad spectrum of activities.
It can span from occasional medical care and check-ups for high-functioning individuals to full-on medical care and assistance with basic needs for those who require more intensive care.
As stated earlier, not all individuals require advanced care.
Some may be able to lead happy, healthy lives with little to no supervision.
However, the aid of a developmental disability nurse may help these individuals maximize their potential and make the most of their disability.
Developmental disability nursing can be a gratifying career for nurses.
It allows them to develop long-lasting relationships with their patients and form strong bonds that can last a lifetime.
Necessary Skills
Developmental disability nurses must possess multiple skills to provide adequate care to those with developmental needs.
It includes compassion and empathy, medical expertise, and a team-oriented mindset.
These skills are integral to ensuring patients and healthcare workers receive essential support.
Compassion and Empathy
Developmental disability nurses must have a high level of compassion and empathy to operate in this profession.
These healthcare workers assist those with various developmental care needs.
As a result, it’s necessary to be patient, understanding, caring, and empathic.
Individuals with special needs often require more support, time, and understanding to develop their skills.
They also have distinct limitations that make performing specific tasks more challenging.
Therefore, nurses have a more patient-facing, social, and interactive role throughout the patient’s care.
Medical Expertise
Developmental disability nurses have a background in nursing and healthcare.
They often spend several years in direct patient care settings to develop their skills and learn to provide medical care.
As a result, nurses assisting people requiring developmental support must have good knowledge of the nursing practice.
Team Oriented Mindset
Sometimes developmental nurses work alone or with a limited staff.
It enables them to provide high-functioning individuals with specific needs receive adequate care.
They also work alongside various support staff and medical professionals to care for those with more extensive needs.
It includes CNAs, LPNs, registered nurses, physical therapists, physicians, and multiple support staff.
As a result, having excellent communication skills and a team-oriented mindset is essential.
Healthcare is a group-based profession that requires various experts’ coordination, communication, and organization.
No single professional can provide all of the expertise or care a person needs to lead a happy, healthy, and productive life.
How to Become a Developmental Disability Nurse
Most individuals can become developmental disability nurses with adequate training.
However, entering this field requires time, dedication, work experience, the right mindset, and the proper education.
This section explores the necessary steps to obtain an RN license, gain experience and become developmental nurses.
1. Earn an ADN or BSN
The first step to becoming a developmental disability nurse is to obtain a two-year ADN or four-year BSN degree.
The ADN degree is fantastic for those who want to enter healthcare quickly, gain experience and earn money.
However, most healthcare facilities prefer nurses with a BSN for non-entry-level positions.
Many registered nurses eventually return to school to earn their BSN and acquire higher-level careers.
To enter nursing school, students must complete multiple prerequisite courses and maintain a good GPA.
Most students can complete nursing school prerequisites at a qualified college/university.
They may apply to a nursing program at or near the end of prerequisites completion.
Some schools have relatively limited settings, making it difficult to gain entry.
As a result, students may apply to several nursing programs at different universities to maximize their acceptance odds.
As previously mentioned, the nursing program requires two to four years to complete.
Students will learn various aspects of nursing, healthcare practices, and patient care during this time.
Successful students will earn their ADN or BSN at the end of nursing school.
2. Pass the NCLEX-RN exam
After compiling nursing school, students must take the NCLEX exam to obtain their license.
The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) administers the NCLEX and other examinations.
This test determines the companies of students qualifying for a nursing license.
It ensures they understand the fundamentals of nursing and can provide adequate patient care.
Those who complete the NCLEX-RN exam can obtain licensure and work as registered nurses.
3. Obtain Work Experience
Obtaining work experience in a direct patient care setting is beneficial for becoming a developmental disability nurse.
Some students operate in the developmental field directly out of nursing school.
There are no standard work experience requirements to work in this profession.
However, some employers prefer or require registered nurses to possess two or more years of direct care experience.
They may also prefer registered nurses to acquire certification to care for specific individuals with developmental needs.
Patient care experience enables registered nurses to develop vital skills and learn effective communication.
It enables them to learn to manage multiple patients, work in a team setting and receive support from other professionals.
After obtaining sufficient experience, registered nurses may apply for developmental disability nursing jobs.
Numerous government agencies, healthcare institutions, and community agencies offer developmental nurse jobs.
4. Acquire Certification
Certification is not necessary to work as a developmental disability nurse.
However, obtaining credentials does have numerous advantages.
Possessing a DDNA certification demonstrates your dedication, expertise, and training in the field.
As a result, you’ll have an easier time getting hired and working with specific patient demographics.
Certification also enables nurses to receive higher salaries in numerous circumstances.
Therefore, it’s beneficial to consider acquiring credentials to earn more money and obtain multiple career opportunities.
Registered nurses must receive two years of work experience to qualify for DDNA certification.
The Developmental Disabilities Nursing Association administers the DDNA certification exam.
It tests a nurse’s competencies in developmental care and ensures they have sufficient training.
After completing the exam, you’ll have the experience necessary to operate as a developmental disability nurse.