Intellectual Disability Nursing

If you enjoy supporting people with an intellectual disability, this could be the career for you. Intellectual disability nurses work within a social model and provide supportive care to people with an intellectual disability. Intellectual disability nurses build relationships with the person and their family, based on the principles of human rights, inclusion, advocacy, protection and support for independent living. 


Intellectual disability nurses work in environments such as in people’s homes, education and community settings, residential and respite services, schools and health centres. Intellectual disability nurses can work with children, adolescents, adults and their families. Intellectual disability nurses work as part of a multidisciplinary team in the community. 

The four-year intellectual disability nursing degree course teaches you to develop your nursing knowledge and skills. It also teaches you to become an effective member of the wider healthcare team and advocate for people with intellectual disabilities. The shift patterns can be very flexible; you can work short or long days, nights or weekends or a combination of all of these. 

Once qualified, intellectual disability nurses can diversify and progress their career path through continued study at graduate level. This can lead to a career in management, clinical specialist practice, advanced practice, clinical research or teaching at clinical or university level. 

Intellectual disability nursing could be the career you are waiting for!

Courses in Intellectual diability nursing