INTRODUCTION TO INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES NURSING

Course overview

This course will provide registered nurses with an overall introduction to the field of Intellectual and Developmental Disability Nursing. They will learn about the history of institutions for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities and the movement toward community integration. Nurses will watch a video entitled Beyond Forest Haven for an intimate historical account of an infamous D.C. institution. Nurses will also gain knowledge on the definition of a developmental vs. intellectual disability, how the federal law defines ?developmental disability?, and the evolution of disability terminology in society. Lastly, nurses taking this course will gain understanding of the important role(s) of the registered nurse who specializes in I/DD nursing and the guiding principles of the field, including person-centered planning and community access.