Q&A with a learning disability student nurse

Rich Nye is an Open University learning disability nursing student and an OU Student Ambassador.

A learning disability nurse supports people with learning disabilities to improve their physical and mental health, live an independent and fulfilling life, and advocates on their behalf.

Here, Rich tells us about his learning journey so far and what has inspired him to follow this path.

Since when have you worked with people who have a learning disability?

It's coming up to five years now, I started in a day service for adults with a learning disability on the community before moving to the NHS in 2022.

Did you do any different work or did you have a different career before your work as a learning disability nurse?

After completing a politics degree I started to work in retail. This was a job that I fell into - I was supposed to be there for 6 weeks but stayed for 15 years! By then I had a mortgage and I'd worked my way up to managing my own shop. I was unhappy for a while and had an opportunity to change my career. I studied with The Open University for the first year of the social work course but realised that nurses  interacted with people and helped people in the way that I wanted to and decided to change my focus.

The Open University was always my first choice, it gives me the ability to work at my own pace and at a time that is suitable for me.

How did you become a learning disability student nurse?

I am being supported to be a LD nurse through a secondment through my employer Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board. I have been exceedingly well supported by my manager and the OU to do this.

How would you describe the best aspects of your job?

Being able to help people tell the story of their lives. You get to work with a group that historically and currently have been ignored, marginalised and excluded from society. You get to help address this. You spend your time getting to know people and being able to help them live their best lives.

What has challenged you in your work as a learning disability nurse?

The feeling of powerlessness, feeling powerless against systems or being unable to reach a person and to help them. It means that small wins need to celebrated.

As well as being a support worker, you're also a 'student nurse' at The Open University, so what drew you to pursuing this course of study and personal development?

I was sure that being a nurse was what I wanted to do and I was willing to pursue the route through a traditional university. The Open University was always my first choice though, it gives me the ability to work at my own pace and at a time that is suitable for me (important when you've young children). It has provided me with contact with students from around the UK in a similar position to myself which has provided me with support and different views on topics and it has encouraged me become an independent learner, instead of being told what I need to know, I have been given the skills to go off and find and evaluate information for myself.

How did you find out about this way of studying to become a registered nurse?

It was discussed in my development reviews in work.

Did you have 'everything' you needed to become a nursing student with The OU or did you have to do some other study first?

I had done a level four in social work before which helped with my study skills.

What stage are you up to with your course and how has it been going?

I am halfway through stage two and on placement. I have really enjoyed it so far and I feel privileged to be able to work towards a job I crave whilst being able to feed my children!

Where would you like to see yourself in 5 years time and what would be your dream job?

I would love to be an advanced nurse practitioner role, able to continue my learning and become an expert and a leader in an area that will have real benefit to the people I work with. The relationships that you build with patients is the real joy of this job and I would be hesitant to lose that contact.

Interested in becoming a learning disability nurse?

To become a learning disability nurse, you will need a degree. You won’t have to do a general nursing degree if you know you want to specialise in learning disability, you can do your degree in learning disability nursing.

Fully funded learning disability nursing degrees are available through the NHS Wales Bursary.

Find out more

Help deciding if nursing is the right career for you            

This free OpenLearn course, So you want to be a nurse? A brief introduction to nursing, provides an overview of what nursing entails. Focusing on nursing in the UK specifically, but also looking at its place globally, you will learn about the four fields of nursing in the UK, what nurse training involves, as well as what makes a great nurse.

Learn more