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Published on: August 1, 2017
Nursing standards of practice and persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities: Concepts and competencies
Joyce Carolyn Graff1, Esther Oh2, Sherita Etheridge3
1College of Nursing, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee; Center on Developmental Disabilities, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee.
Background:
Despite the publication of ANA Standards for intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) nursing, individuals with IDD continue to experience inequities in health care access, quality, and outcomes.
Purpose:
This study examined how 14 IDD concepts derived from legislation, policy, and self-advocacy movements are represented within the Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Nursing: Scope and Standards of Practice (ANA, 2022).
Methods:
Using a document analysis approach, nurses with expertise in IDD nursing coded competencies across eight standards for the presence of each concept.
Discussion:
Holistic Health, Advocacy, and Lifespan were frequently represented, whereas Cultural Competence, Integration, and Systemic Change were rarely evident. These findings reveal progress and ongoing gaps between nursing standards and contemporary disability and equity principles.
Conclusion:
Strengthening the explicit integration of Equity, Inclusion, and Systemic Change can guide nursing education, policy, and leadership to advance equitable care for all persons with IDD, ultimately shaping a more inclusive healthcare workforce.
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