Developmental Disabilities Nurse – Career and Education Profile

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Developmental disabilities nurses work with patients from all walks of life who are dealing with physical and mental handicaps as a result of genetic disease, birth defects, or other medical problems that manifested before the age of 18.

Job Responsibilities

As a developmental disabilities nurse, your duties will likely include tasks such as assisting with daily hygiene, feeding patients, talking to friends and family, preparing patients for treatment or physical therapy, monitoring progress, and recording vital signs. You could work with patients who are dealing with a single type of developmental disability, or you could work with patients who are dealing with a wide range of problems. Some developmental disabilities nurses work with a specific age group, such as children, while others work at a facility that specializes in a certain type of treatment. You’ll also be tasked with watching for signs of infection, medication complication, or other problems that could lead to serious complications and risks for the patient.

Salary and Career Options

The amount of money you make as a developmental disabilities nurse will depend on your level of education. According to reports, LPNs typically make between $34,000 and $44,000 annually while RNs make an average salary of about $55,000. You can make more money by specializing in one area of developmental disabilities, especially in a specific area where there is high demand, such as autism.

Educational Requirements

To become a developmental disabilities nurse, you need to at least become an LPN, but many nurses go on to earn an associate’s degree or bachelor’s degree in the field, allowing them to become an RN. You can also take the Developmental Disabilities Nurses Association exam, which allows you to become certified in this field, but this is not required to work in developmental disability nursing roles. Your classes will focus on caring for patients in a long-term situation by managing pain, encouraging mobility, and more so that you’re prepared to help patients have the best quality of life possible.

LPN to RN College Programs

While several schools have online nursing degrees available, few offer LPN to RN programs. What's the good news? We have listed some accredited schools below that do offer the program in addition to schools with other bridge programs available. Find out more information and contact each school by using any of the links below.

Indiana State University—Indiana State University offers a robust online program designed for LPNs wanting to become registered nurses and earn their BSN degree. Since ISU's credits transfer to over 80 campus majors, this is an ideal program for people wanting to open opportunities for their career down the road.

The College Network—The College Network is a partnership with several universities and organizations like the National League for Nursing that focuses on online education and programs, with several courses for nurses or those interested in a nursing career. Specifically, TCN helps students prepare for their PN and RN licensures and move on to earn graduate degrees.

Other Nursing Degrees

Walden University—Walden University is typically a graduate school with several masters and doctoral programs available, but they do have BSN and RN to MSN bridge programs available. Walden is based out of Minneapolis and offers several options in transferring your previously earned credits to and from (or even within) the school.

Kaplan University—Kaplan University is one of the nation's largest and leading online educators and offers several bridge programs for registered nurses to earn their BSN or MSN degree. If you have previously earned credits, Kaplan makes it easy for you to transfer to any one of their undergraduate or graduate programs.

Herzing University—While Herzing University does not offer an undergraduate nursing degree, it is a great choice for working nurses wanting to pursue leadership positions in Nurse Education or Management. With over 10 campuses and 45 online programs available, Herzing has a massive network that makes it easy to transfer to or from the school.

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