A new study needs learning disability nurses’ input on why they are losing their professional identity in social care and letting NMC registrations lapse

There were 622,897 nurses, midwives and nursing associates on the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) register in England in September 2023, however, the proportion of registered learning disability nurses has declined over the past five years.

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Between March 2022 and March 2023, the number of learning disability nurses on the register fell from 16,953 to 16,840. Notably, this was the only nursing field of practice to experience a further decrease in the last six months of that year.

‘The majority of registered learning disability nurses work in social care, with many choosing to let their NMC registration lapse’

There was also a 40% reduction in the number of registered learning disability nurses working in the NHS in England, from 5,368 in May 2010 to 3,217 in July 2020, with a 25% reduction in Scotland. This underscores the fact that the majority of registered learning disability nurses work in social care, with many choosing to let their NMC registration lapse.

Why are learning disability nurses losing their professional identity?

Deborah Sturdy, England’s chief nurse for adult social care, has called for urgent research to understand why learning disability nurses are losing their professional identity within social care and leaving the NMC register.

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We are now looking for volunteers to take part in a study, funded by the RCN Foundation, the results of which aim to address this gap. The study is called Exploring learning disability nurses' perspectives on NMC registration: implications for students and individuals living with a learning disability.

The study takes the form of two surveys which will explore learning disability nurses and student learning disability nurses’ perceptions of NMC registration, the impact their work has on people living with learning disabilities and the future of the registered learning disability nurse role.

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We hope you will participate. Full study details are provided at the beginning of the survey and you can scan the QI codes below or click on the links to find out more, but please feel free to contact me with any questions at v.a.heaslip@salford.ac.uk.

Thank you for considering being part of this important research.

Survey for learning disability nurses who are currently, or have previously been, registered with the NMC

 

Survey for student learning disability nurses

Vanessa Heaslip, professor of nursing and healthcare equity, University of Salford, Salford