The role of nurses in a rapidly changing Australian disability policy landscape

Introduction: Australian disability policy is evolving in rapid and tangible ways. Research and disability policy are converging to a point where the unique contribution of nursing to this field of complex care is being recognised. This paper reports results from exploratory research about the role/s of nurses who work with people with intellectual and developmental disability (IDD). Methods: Three separate literature reviews were conducted alongside individual interviews with nurses who work in acute care settings and nurses who work primarily with people with IDD across a range of contexts. Results: The combined results show a consensus for the importance of nursing to support the health and wellbeing of people with IDD. Nurses who work with people with IDD need generic skills to provide physical care and specific relational skills in order to work effectively with different individuals and families both within and across the health and disability service systems. Implications: A new approach to conceptualising what is unique about the role of the nurse is needed as the disability policy landscape continues to evolve. Our research has identified a model of ‘nurse-led relationship-centred care’, however, more research is needed to theorise this model further and to embed this practice model in disability policy.