Nurses working in disability-specific settings and/or roles : perceptions about caring for people with intellectual disability

Background: To explore the perceptions of nurses working in disability-specific settings and/or roles, of nursing people with intellectual disability (ID) living in Australia. Method: Individual interviews were conducted with 18 nurses working in ID-specific settings and/or roles across the state of NSW. Participants were asked to discuss what it is that sets ID nursing apart from other nursing specialties, as well as the rewards and challenges of their roles. Questions were also asked about professional practice standards for ID nursing. Data were analysed thematically. Results: Seven themes reflected ID nurses perceptions: Advocacy, capacity, client profile, collaborations, person-centred care, familiar relationships, and intersection with the National Disability Insurance Scheme. Although written practice standards are important for the novice nurse, over time they become more intrinsic to the nurse’s approach to practice. Nurses reported variable understanding of professional practice standards designed for ID nursing, but also a belief in their importance. Conclusions: The nurses’ experience of care accounts for the specific needs of people with ID and points to the importance of developing new professional practice standards that acknowledge the changing landscape of service provision for people with ID in Australia.