Special Needs Nursing: How to Reduce Stigmas

• In special needs nursing its important to understand the stigmas around the patient population you serve.
  
• These stigmas exist due to a lack of education, integration, communication, and advocacy. 
• Nurses can have a significant role in helping us as a society lessen these stigmas. 

Disapproval.  Stereotype.  Discredit.  Undesirable.  Disgrace.  Tainted.  Helpless.  Dependent.  Unaccepted.  Negativity.  Discrimination.  The list could go on.  

Each of these describes the stigmas that are often experienced by individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.  

The question is often asked “why is this population so immensely misunderstood and labeled in such a way”?  

In considering this question, the following is important to acknowledge in special needs nursing to assist in alleviating the stigmas around intellectual and developmental disabilities.

 Common Stigmas You Need To Know in Special Needs Nursing

Unfortunately, stigmas are not a new occurrence to the arena of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and have been a part of history for decades. 

You would think that over time stigmas would have improved and not be a lingering issue, but they still seem to be ever so present.   

The most prevalent stigmas that are noted among this special population are social avoidance, stereotyping, condescension, discrimination, blaming, violence, and internalization.   

Common Stigmas 

• Social avoidance – These individuals often experience feelings of exclusion from the outside world and often feel “left out” of certain activities.  They often think that certain friends abandon them and do not want to spend time with them anymore or are ashamed to be associating with them.  
  

• Stereotyping – Most individuals in this population are presumed to be helpless, dependent on others, and unable to make any decisions on their own.  If they have a disability in one area, they are often categorized as having a disability in other areas which is not always true.  
  

• Condescension – Many of these individuals are treated with over-protection measures to the point of even being treated as an infant due to the perception by many that these individuals are helpless. 
  

• Discrimination – Denial of jobs, certain career paths, housing, finances, and other areas are often led by false assumptions that these individuals cannot or do not have the capabilities to function as a citizen of society. This is an unfair truth that is often practiced.   
  

• Blaming – Many are accused of using their disability for self-gain or other benefits.
  

• Violence – An alarming number of physical and sexual violence incidences are noted among this population. Many have become victims in these areas due to the offender thinking that those with disabilities are incoherent and incapable of reporting.  
  

• Internalization – Self-esteem may be low or totally absent since many of these individuals internalize the negativity and think of it as a punishment for something they have done or said and they feel a sense of shame.

The Role of Special Needs Nursing in Reducing Stigmas

Nurses have the ability to serve this special population in an unique way. There are a lot of ways nurses can help reduce these stigmas by setting an example for others.

Education

Many times, stigmas can be alleviated simply by placing value on education and informing those that are misled of the truths, myths, and slander that surround those with both intellectual and developmental disabilities.  

It is rare that educational trainings on disabilities are required by your healthcare organization, so it is important to take initiative in learning about this topic. 

Choose CE courses like this one, that cover topics like dealing with behaviors exhibited by these individuals, communicating effectively, administering and monitoring medications, utilizing special techniques if the individual becomes combative, and educating all staff and caregivers about important ways to interact with these individuals.  

Integration into The Community

Encouraging these individuals to participate in activities in the community is imperative when attempting to alleviate stigmas.   

Allowing the individual to participate and become involved in community outings and public activities aids in assisting others to visualize how these individuals thrive with community involvement.   

Check the patient’s local community for programs like this one that encourage and support community involvement.

Effective Communication

It can be a challenge in understanding how to communicate with patients in a non-judgmental and respectful manner.  

As nurses, we must tailor our communication style to include tactics such as speaking directly to these individuals, maintaining eye contact, using ordinary language and expressions that are easy to understand, using age-appropriate language, avoiding interruptions or rushing clients that speak slowly, and never guessing what a client may have said by asking for clarification when communication is difficult. 

Some patients also use communication devices such as an electronic tablet, writing thoughts on paper, or pointing to flash cards with pictures and phrases that indicate their needs and/or wants. 

Understanding these aspects can make you better prepared to deliver care to your patients.

Advocacy

Serving as an advocate is one of the primary goals in speical needs nursing.

We as nurses should empower our patients to perform and complete tasks at their own ability which ultimately leads to an increased self-worth and acceptance by others.   

Being a strong advocate also looks like identifying and implementing specific services for the individual and their caregivers based on their individual needs.

The Bottom Line

The stigmas around developmental and intellectual and developmental disabilities exist due to a lack of education and awareness about the DISABILITY of the individual instead of the ABILITY.

With more education, community integration, effective communication, and advocacy, nurses in special needs nursing can help stigmas be alleviated, and the mindset can often shift from one of labeling and negativity to more optimistic thinking, inclusion, and acceptance of these individuals.

Read More