The role of community nurses for people with learning disabilities: working with people who challenge

The locus of care for people with learning disabilities has transferred from institutional to community-based services. Increasingly people who have learning disabilities and additional challenging behaviours live in community settings. Spearheading the care for these people are community nurses for people with learning disabilities. This study aimed to explicate the role of these nurses in their day-to-day work with people who challenge. Using grounded theory methodology, 22 nurses were selected by theoretical sampling and interviewed. An analytical story and theoretical framework that emerged from the grounded data is presented. It is suggested that this framework has utility for practice.