Angie North works within the the Adult ADHD service

What value does being a learning disability nurse bring to your role?

The Adult ADHD service provides a specialist service assessing, diagnosing and treating ADHD.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterised by symptoms of inattention, impulsivity and hyperactivity. For a diagnosis, the behaviours and difficulties associated with ADHD must interfere significantly with an individual's functioning. As a result. Symptoms must not be better explained by another mental disorder which involves an assessment for differential diagnoses.

The value being a learning disability nurse within this service is such that I can differentiate between and identify other co-existing conditions amongst the symptoms of ADHD. We see people with learning disabilities, and LD nurses are the experts and can tailor the assessment in such a way as to promote greater understanding of the process, as well as being aware of the difficulties of managing ADHD, ASD and a learning disability and the impact on individual’s and their families. I am also an NMP and prescribe medication as part of the treatment process. Learning disability nurses are taught to be vigilant as to the subtle nuances of an individual’s response to treatment, even when they may not be able to describe it themselves which is invaluable when reviewing the success of treatment.

Why would you advocate for choosing learning disability nursing as a career choice?

This month sees me celebrate 35 years as a learning disability nurse, yes, I really am that old, and I trained at an old learning disability hospital, now long shut!

I am a registered nurse (LD) and Nurse Independent and Supplementary Prescriber.

I have worked with many interesting and often complex individuals within low, medium and high secure forensic services, the prison setting, community and acute hospital settings.

I have enjoyed a variety of roles from service manager, clinical lead, CTL and NMP in many services including commissioning of new services and involvement in the tendering process.

My preference has been to develop my career along a clinical pathway and as a clinical nurse specialist and non-medical prescriber I have expanded my practice within substance misuse, community mental health, adult ADHD and young people’s mental health services

There are no barriers as to what a learning disability nurse can do and if you decide to work outside learning disability specific services, your skills will not go to waste, as people with learning difficulties access all these services and need specialist nurses to support them with their physical health, mental health, addictions, and criminal justice contact to name just a few.