Ryland Looseley – Learning Disability Nursing student

Why did you choose Learning Disability Nursing?

My family has a history of working with learning disabilities in care or special schools. When I was younger, my mum would take me to the Special Educational Needs school she worked at on inset days and then I began to volunteer there. I’m a keen disability activist, which really inspired me to start this degree.  Since joining DMU, my passion for disability activism has grown massively.

 

How have you been supported with your studies at DMU?

DMU has one of the best disability support teams out there. I was supported with my autism, before I was even given an official diagnosis. I have physical disabilities which have become more challenging lately, but I have been supported throughout. Nobody has ever assumed I can’t be a nurse because I use a cane as a mobility aid, have chronic fatigue and a joint disorder. Just because I have those things, it doesn’t mean I can’t do placements and it doesn’t mean I can’t be a nurse!

 

What have you enjoyed most on the course?

Getting hands on experience has been amazing. My first couple of placements helped me to develop my communication skills and learn different communication methods for different patients. For example, at one placement I had a patient who communicated by pointing her eyes in a particular direction so I would hold up two cards or two different options and she’d move her eyes to the one she liked.

My most recent placement was a psychiatric unit for learning disabilities and it showed me the range of people I can work with in my field. In was an invaluable experience, with something new to learn every day. I wasn’t interested in psychiatric care within learning disabilities until I went on this placement, the amount of support that is needed in this area was eye-opening. There aren’t many facilities for people that have learning disabilities that are specialised within the mental health field of practice, so I really benefited from this experience.

All of the placements are incredibly different and varied, so I’m excited for what’s next!

 

What do you think about the facilities on your course?

The clinical suites are fantastic! I had a wound care practical the other day and we learned how to put on a sterile dressing without compromising infection prevention guidelines; it was so realistic and great training for the real thing. It’s really useful to see the different scenarios that could occur, and the realities of carrying out procedures. Experiencing how exhausting it is to do CPR, and having to figure out different solutions for different needs, like being in a wheelchair, is so helpful when you go out on placement.