The Role of the Developmental Disabilities Community Nurse

The registered nurse in a developmental disabilities agency has numerous roles and responsibilities. The nurse is part of the interdisciplinary health care team. They are the health care leaders in the community residential or day/vocational program. They work collaboratively with the other team members, family members, community physicians and the agency’s administration.

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In a developmental disabilities community setting, the nurse delegates nursing tasks to UAPs and CNAs. The DD nurse must be familiar with and incorporate into his/her standards of practice the regulations governing delegation of nursing functions as found in the Maryland Nurse Practice Act.

The responsibilities of the DD community RN Case Manager/Delegating Nurse/Trainer include but are limited to:

• Being a member of the interdisciplinary health care team
• Health care educator
• Monitor/supervise unlicensed staff/LPN
• Advocate for individuals with developmental disabilities
• Liaison between family and health professionals
• Health care coordinator
• Develop and implement health care policies and procedures
• Completes initial nursing assessment and develops nursing care plan
• Delegate nursing tasks to unlicensed staff
• Monitor hospitalizations and follow-up
• Perform 45 day visits and reviews
• Attend medical appointments when needed
• Coordinate pharmacy services
• Supervise medication technician training and monitor competence
• Participate in annual IP meetings
• Participate on committees – QA, Policy and Procedure, Emergency Preparedness, etc
• Triage medical concerns 24/7 for direct care staff
• Document nursing interventions