A Nursing Student ’ s Guid for Intellectual and Deve
By Kayla Honeysett , Megan Le , Dannie Lusich , and Delaney Sanders
Intellectual and developmental disabilities ( IDDs ) are differences that can have an impact on the trajectory of an individual ’ s physical , intellectual , and emotional development . These disabilities can affect the nervous and sensory systems , metabolic processes , and overall degeneration of the body .
This article was inspired by the 2017 resolution titled , “ To Enhance Nursing Student Education Related to Advocacy for Patients with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities .” Our goal is to highlight the deficit of knowledge that nurses often have when interacting and treating patients who have an IDD . It can be eye-opening when you have a personal connection with IDDs . We recognize , however , that not every nursing student has the same experience . Increased interactions with people who have IDDs can decrease the uneasiness and tension , resulting in positive experiences for both the patient and the nurse .
Personal Connections
All of us authors share a personal connection to someone with an IDD , which helps drive our advocacy . Megan Le has two older sisters with IDDs and has witnessed the challenges of neglect and a lack of understanding from others . She has a big passion for Special Olympics , where she can create a space of love and inclusivity at Villanova University . Megan is also pursuing a disabilities studies minor where she sees the lack of content taught in schools and therefore advocates for a more inclusive and aware community .
Kayla Honeysett experienced the loss of her uncle who had Down syndrome , amplifying the miracle of a long-lived life as well as the sadness of
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