• Nurses should advocate for an increase in safe and ethical research opportunities with informed consent for people with IDD .
• Nurses must advocate for IDD support services and access to funding at the local , state , and national levels .
• Nurses must be aware of caregiver impact and provide support to family members and caregivers .
Additional resources include the Villanova University College of Nursing Nurse Practitioner Toolkit ( Blunt and Smeltzer , n . d .), the Americans with Disabilities Act ( ADA . gov ), the Developmental Disabilities Nurses Association ( ddna . org ), and the World Institute on Disability ( wid . org )
Conclusion
In conclusion , nurses and nursing students play a pivotal role in advocating for patients with IDDs . As advancements in research and education develop , it is imperative that we stay informed and create an inclusive healthcare environment for all . The future is bright when we have passionate advocates !
References
American Nurses Association ( 2019 ). Nurse ’ s role in providing ethical and developmentally appropriate care to people with Intellectual and developmental disabilities . https :// www . nursingworld . org /~ 4ab16d / globalassets / practiceandpolicy / nursingexcellence / ana-position-statements / social-causes-and-health-care / nurses-role-in-providing-ethicallyand-developmentally-appropriatecare-to-people-with-intellectual-anddevelopmental-disabilities . pdf
Blunt , E ., Smeltzer , S . ( n . d ). Caring for people with disabilities : The nurse practitioner tool kit . https :// www1 . villanova . edu / villanova / nursing / community / npsknowdisabilitycare . html
Bio
Kayla Honeysett is a senior nursing student at the University of Pittsburgh , in Pittsburgh , PA . She serves as the 2023- 2024 NSNA Vice President and Chair of the Health Policy and Advocacy Committee . She previously served as her local chapter ’ s Mental Health Chair .
Delaney Sanders graduated May 2024 from Alverno College with her BSN and MSN . Her previous career was in exercise physiology and she hopes to integrate that knowledge into her future nursing practice . During her nursing program , Delaney served as the inaugural President for her school ’ s Student Nursing Association , as Resolutions Chair for SNAAz from 2022-2023 , and 2023-2024 NSNA Director and Chair of the Ethics and Governance Committee . She is dedicated to working and advocating for those with IDD in her daily life and work as a professional . Delaney will start her nursing journey in Buffalo , NY at the Veteran ’ s Hospital in their new grad residency program .
Megan Le is a junior nursing student at Villanova University . She currently serves as the Legislative Coordinator for the Student Nurses ’ Association of Pennsylvania ( SNAP ).
Dannie Lusich lives in Portland , Oregon with her wife and two dogs . She is a dedicated nursing student at Oregon Health and Science University . Throughout her academic career , Dannie has been involved in many leadership roles including the Treasurer of the Oregon Student Nurses ’ Association and the Student Nurses ’ Association of Portland .
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