A new study published in the American Journal of Critical Care (AJCC) shines a light on the lived experiences of critical care nurses who care for patients with intellectual developmental disabilities (IDDs), underscoring the urgent need for systemic support, specialized training, and tailored processes to improve outcomes.
A Vulnerable Population in Critical Care
The study, “Nursing Care of Patients With Intellectual Developmental Disabilities in Intensive Care Units: A Phenomenological Study,” gathered insights from 49 critical care nurses who had personally cared for patients with IDDs within the past five years. Participants were recruited via an online nursing association advertisement and referrals. Using semistructured interviews conducted over videoconferencing, the researchers identified key themes that highlight both the challenges and opportunities in providing equitable care.
Lead author Adrianna Lorraine Watson, PhD, RN, CCRN, TCRN, assistant professor at the College of Nursing, Brigham Young University, emphasized the consequences of systemic shortcomings:
“Current processes often fail to identify and accommodate patients with IDDs, which may hinder equitable care and contribute to nurses’ moral distress and job dissatisfaction,” Watson said. “Neurodiverse individuals and those with IDDs are part of a vulnerable patient population that needs specialized care. The nurses who care for them have a unique perspective and valuable insights into specific strategies that would support nurses and patients in achieving optimal outcomes.”
Five Themes That Shape Care
From the interviews, five overarching themes emerged that capture how ICU nurses navigate the complex realities of caring for patients with IDDs:
- Equity and Safeguarding: Nurses reported that patients with IDDs face heightened risks of abuse, neglect, and disparities in care. They stressed the importance of systemic safeguards to ensure these patients are treated equitably and compassionately in critical care settings.
- Family and Caregiver Involvement: Families play an essential role in bridging communication gaps and alleviating patient stress. Nurses described family members as critical partners in care, offering not only emotional support but also valuable insights into patients’ unique needs and circumstances.
- Building Ties With People With IDDs: Nurses with personal or professional connections to individuals with IDDs said these experiences enhanced their empathy and communication strategies. Building rapport with patients helped them navigate care challenges more effectively.
- Specialized Processes in the ICU: Participants pointed out systemic barriers, such as misattributing patient symptoms to delirium or medication side effects. They called for tailored protocols that better address the unique clinical presentations of patients with IDDs.
- Enhanced Nursing Support: Many nurses described feeling strained by inadequate staffing, limited resources, and insufficient training. They urged health systems to recognize the need for specialized roles, policies, and training opportunities to safeguard both the quality of patient care and nurse well-being.
Moving Toward Change
The study highlights the pressing need for interventions at environmental, systemic, and individualized levels. These could include dedicated training programs, specialized ICU protocols, and formal recognition of the added workload and stress involved in caring for neurodiverse patients.
Ultimately, the findings underscore that improving care for patients with IDDs is not only about clinical outcomes—it’s also about supporting the nurses who shoulder the responsibility.
- How AI Helps Nurses Cut Through Administrative Burden and Focus on Patient Care - December 31, 2025
- Back by Popular Demand: A Day in the Life: NICU Nurse - December 12, 2025
- From Homeless to Healing: My Journey Through Nursing, Adversity, and Advocacy - December 10, 2025