Why study Learning Disability Nursing?

Student Nicholas Harfield explains why he chose to study Learning Disability Nursing at BCU and why it's a rewarding career to consider. 

Nicholas Harfield
BSc (Hons) Learning Disability Nursing student

Why did you choose to study Learning Disability Nursing?

The main reason I wanted to pursue nursing generally was that I wanted a career that mattered, and I thought healthcare would be a good fit. As someone who was largely unfamiliar with the different fields of nursing prior to applying, as well as being a clearing applicant, I didn’t know or understand what Learning Disability Nursing was before joining my course (Learning Disability Nursing BSc W/ Foundation Year).

I started my foundation year with the belief that I would switch to a different field of nursing once I progressed, but this wasn’t even a thought by the time my first year of nursing began. Finding out about this field of nursing, as well as the learning disability population as a whole, opened my eyes to how much more important my work could be if I prioritised the groups with the least amount of support. At the end of the day, this is why I chose Learning Disability Nursing.

The final assignment of my foundation year was for me to study perceptions around Learning Disability Nursing and explore why that was the career I wanted to pursue. This project inspired me to continue with Learning Disability Nursing.

My main point is that I didn’t mean to choose Learning Disability Nursing in the beginning because I wasn’t aware of it, but through the years I’ve grown to genuinely love the field and it’s why I personally take part in so many BCU events - I want future applicants to learn about the course and choose it with passion and intent.

What do you enjoy most about the course?

This may or may not come as a surprise, but what I enjoy most is writing assignments. My friends and peers have all told me they prefer practice, but I've always enjoyed the assignments. Each module covers an aspect of nursing and healthcare, and so we get an opportunity to further our learning and prepare for future practice. For example, I had to deliver a presentation in my final year on how I would implement change to improve healthcare on a ward. I thought this was a brilliant assignment as it put me directly into that managerial position and allowed me to consider ways in which my previous placements could’ve been improved or made more efficient. Put simply, my favourite part of the course was being able to make use of my studies and feeling encouraged to propose changes.

What support is available to students?

At the university we have the Academic Development Department (ADD) who are incredibly helpful if you want to ensure you get the best possible grade on your assignments. The ADD accepts drafts of your assignment and offers feedback before the submission date to help you improve on your grammar, referencing, analytical skills, etc. Other students I’ve spoken to have praised the ADD for helping them pass assignments they were really struggling with.

Similar to the ADD, we have a fantastic library team who are happy to help you locate sources for your assignments, and the library itself is a great place to study in peace and borrow books for free.

A service that I’ve personally engaged with and can attest to is the mental health team at BCU. During an incredibly stressful period during my first year of study, I applied for a consultation and spoke with a member of the team. That first meeting was incredibly helpful, and it was immediately clear to me that they genuinely cared about my wellbeing. After that initial meeting, we arranged to meet every two weeks until I was feeling well enough to stop. There was no pressure from the team, and they provided me with a healthy way of working through my thoughts and feelings. 

As a future student nurse, the most important service you should know about is SPACE. SPACE is an off-campus building near the City South campus where students can book in and practise their skills. This is a great way for students struggling with their confidence to improve in a controlled environment with increased supervision and support.

Of course, there are other services available at BCU - you can find them here.

What advice would you give to those considering the course?

Temper your expectations - in the best sense. As Learning Disability Nurses, we can treat acute and long-term conditions but we must recognise what we can and can’t do. The people we work with have profound and complex disabilities and disorders, and sometimes the best we can do is manage their pain and discomfort. Think holistically, consider the person and how you, as a professional, can manage their comfort, pain, and make their day just a bit better for having you around.