National Network for Learning Disability Nurses

The RCN Learning Disability Forum is pleased to focus on the structure and activities of a major support network for LD nurses in the UK and announce plans for their forthcoming conference.

The National Network for Learning Disability Nurses (NNLDN) helps nurses share good practice and give each other professional peer support when working in isolated roles. It also provides updates on contemporary issues.

The Network is made up of over 30 regional groups spread throughout England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. There are active groups in most areas, but the Network is always keen to hear from new groups or to provide support to nurses who want to set up a group in a new region.

Membership is free and the NNLDN welcomes all nurses, other health care professionals and students who are working in learning disabilities. It helps nurses share good practice in several different ways:

Online good practice sharing list is a website-based list of members' good practice examples, covering issues such as mental health, access to acute services, hearing tests and many others. Visit the NNLDN website.
Regional group meetings enable you to meet colleagues, get and give advice, hear new ideas and improve your practice.
The NNLDN annual national conference is where you can hear about best practice, gain an overview, meet colleagues and present your work. The next one is set for July - see box for details.
The NNLDN email group offers good support if you need help with a particular practice issue, but can't make it to your regional group meeting or the annual conference. Just join the group and ask your question via email. It was set up by an NNLDN member and we encourage all members to log on.
A2A is a group formed by nurses from acute, primary care and learning disability services. A2A is shorthand for "access to acute services for people with learning disabilities". More information can be found on their website
An annual award for excellence in learning disability nursing is offered by the NNLDN in association with the Foundation of Nursing Studies.