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Find out in this Q&A with the editors of Nursing Care for Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities |
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About the editors
 Cecily L. Betz, Ph.D., RN, FAAN, is an associate professor of clinical pediatrics at the USC Keck School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics. She serves as the director of nursing training at the USC University Center of Excellence in Developmental Disabilities at Childrens Hospital, Los Angeles. Dr. Betz has worked with ill children, adolescents and families for more than 30 years. For the past 25 years, she has served as the editor-in-chief of the Journal of Pediatric Nursing, the official journal of the Society of Pediatric Nursing and Pediatric Endocrinology Nursing Society. In 2008 Dr. Betz received the Margaret S. Miles Service Award from the Society of Pediatric Nurses for her service and contribution to pediatric nursing.
Wendy M. Nehring, RN, PhD, FAAN, FAAIDD, is dean and professor of the College of Nursing at East Tennessee State University (ETSU) in Johnson City, Tennessee. She has written, presented, and consulted widely on nursing care for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. With her colleagues in 2004, Dr. Nehring revised the Scope and Standards of Practice in the field of nursing care for intellectual and developmental disabilities, published by American Nurses Publishing and the American Association on Mental Retardation. Dr. Nehring is a fellow of the American Academy of Nursing and the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD). In 2009, she received AAIDD's Leadership Award. Questions? Customer Service: |
Q: In your new book, you emphasize "lifestage-specific models of care" for individuals with IDD. How is that different from typical models of nursing care?
A: Most nursing models of care are either discipline-specific, illness-specific, or developmentally focused. Typically the care of individuals with IDD requires an interdisciplinary approach that proceeds across the lifespan. As discussed in the text, lifestage-specific models of care are directed to particular age groups such as early childhood and older adulthood. The care needs will vary greatly depending on the developmental needs of individuals. Q: What are some differences in the nursing experience of someone who specializes in the care of individuals with IDD? A: Most nursing specialities practice in typical health care settings such as hospitals and clinics. Nurses who specialize in the field of IDD practice primarily in community settings such as group homes or developmental centers. Nursing care for individuals with IDD also contains a strong family-centered component since the family's needs change across the lifespan along with the individual's. Q: You note that there is a decline in educational opportunities for nurses who wish to specialize in the care of persons with IDD. What accounts for that and what can help counter that? A: There is a significant shortage of nurses across all specialties of care. Given the competing demands of state nursing board requirements, training rotations have been eliminating course work and clinical practicums in specialized nursing practice. Furthermore, unless there is a faculty member with an interest in that area—or unless the program is at a university with a University Center of Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD)—nursing students rarely get an opportunity to train in settings in which care is provided to individuals with IDD. It is important for nurses to have inservice opportunities to make up for this deficit. Q: Given the changing needs of individuals with IDD over a lifetime, how important is a comprehensive approach to care? A: A comprehensive approach for individuals with IDD is critical to optimal outcomes. The most effective nursing practices are those based on holistic and integrated approaches that (a) consider the biopsychosocial needs of individuals and (b) involve collaboration with colleagues across disciplines. Q: For a nurse interested in specializing in a more comprehensive, interdisciplinary approach to care for individuals with IDD, what course of action would you recommend? A: One step is to enroll in the educational programs offered by the network of UCEDDs. Many of the UCEDDs receive funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Maternal Child Health Bureau (MCHB) for interdisciplinary training in the field of neurodevelopmental and related disabilities. These MCHB training programs are called Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities and offer specialized training based on an interdisciplinary approach to care. (See the Association of University Centers on Disabilities web site for a listing of UCEDD programs.) |
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