Nursing a Pandemic: Learning Disability Nursing

In the 9th event in this series, we will look at learning disability nursing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Learning disability nurses provide specialist support to people with learning disabilities and their families and carers, in community centres, hospitals and people's homes. What has the pandemic been like for them and their clients?

The interviewer is Jonathan Beebee, RCN Professional Lead for Learning Disability Nursing. You can connect with the RCN Learning Disability Forum here.

Interviewees:

• Steve Hardy is a Practice Development Nurse at Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust
• Lynette Kennedy is a clinical nurse specialist working in the community in Camden, North London
• Mark Topps worked as a care home manager for people with learning disabilities during the first waves of the pandemic, supporting staff and clients through this challenging time

We are living in historic times. Since the World Health Organization declared a pandemic in 11 March 2020, nursing staff have performed a huge range of vital roles in the COVID-19 response in the UK and beyond. Now is the time to go beyond the “clap for carers” and better understand what life during the pandemic has been like for nursing staff in different situations and contexts. From first responders and nursing leaders to staff working in care homes and the nursing students who stepped up from their degrees to support the NHS, this series marks the ongoing impact of the pandemic on nursing and nurses.

Each virtual event takes the form of live interviews with nursing and healthcare staff and students, followed by a Q&A. The interviews will be recorded and added to the RCN archive, making sure these experiences are recorded for posterity.

This event is open to all, and will take place online. Please sign up to attend and the link to join will be circulated in advance.