Shutting Down Fake News
One of the fairly commonplace elements of my role involves me supporting college or school careers advisors to understand disciplines like learning disability nursing. However, what I never expected is having to routinely deal with the prejudice and fallout from students being misinformed about the field by nurses of varying seniority in other fields.
Whether it’s an applicant at an open day or interview, or first year students on placement; I am filled with dread and despair when I hear phrases like:
‘pigeon-holed’ … ‘restricted’ … ‘too specialised’ … ‘If you work in LD you can’t work anywhere else’ … ‘I’ll specialise in LD after I’ve done my general training’
"If you work in LD you can’t work anywhere else’ …"
As a nurse and a lecturer, students often look up to you and act on your advice or guidance. What we should not have to do is counsel a student after someone has abused their influence and attempted to dissuade them from pursuing or continuing their studies in learning disability nursing owing to false knowledge.
I feel impassioned to understand others’ perceptions of our field so we can be armed with knowledge the to improve our image and continue to shut down fake news from outdated attitudes.
People with a learning disability remain some of the most vulnerable people in our society. Amidst a pandemic, national nursing shortages, attrition challenges and continued health inequalities; it seems a sobering reminder that we must work together to protect, promote and empower learning disability student nurses to add to our inspirational workforce and promote the health of people with a learning disability.
I was raised by a learning disability nurse who brought me up around the profession, other nurses and ultimately inspired me to embark on the journey myself. Nearly 10 years post-qualifying (at the tender age of 21), I still take enormous pride in being part of our close-knit and passionate field – it is part of my identity.
Have you experienced misinformation, or how would you address it if you did? What does learning disability nursing mean to you?
Josh Hodgson
Senior Lecturer – Learning Disabilities / Course Lead – Learning Disability Nursing