The opening learning module will provide you with an orientation to the program, specifically its aims and objectives as well as what you can expect to experience while working through the learning activities contained within each learning module. The second aspect of the introduction focuses on an overview and background on the population of adults living with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Further, we will discuss the guiding principles that inform this work: patient and family-centered, neurodiverse, trauma-informed, and the social model of disability. The last component of this learning module introduces you to our case study, Jonas Garcia, an adult patient diagnosed with IDD who you will follow and reflect about throughout his hospitalization in each learning module.

In this module, you will be introduced to best practices to help hospitalized patients with IDD cope with hospital procedures and ways to provide them with comfort and support to reduce the potentially harmful use of chemical and physical restraints.

In this module, you will have the opportunity to explore the key components of effective discharge planning for hospitalized individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. 

In this learning module you will explore the role nurses play in delivering positive health outcomes for hospitalized patients, particularly those diagnosed with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Health outcomes will be examined through the lens of the Quadruple Aim in Healthcare with an opportunity for the learner to identify effective care transitions for patients with IDD.

In this module, the learner will reflect on several concepts explored throughout the program. In particular, you will examine the following:

• the variety of ways you were invited to explore deeply the unique healthcare needs of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities; 
• the critical role nurses play as members of the interprofessional team in the delivery of high-quality care; and 
• strategies to improve outcomes for hospitalized patients with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

In learning module 2, you will begin your exploration of implicit and explicit bias and its impact on health outcomes for adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities.  This content will be foundational to the development of your confidence and skills around caring for the population.

In this module you will explore the varied approaches to communication people with intellectual and developmental disabilities may present and learn skills that fosters effective communication with this population in the acute care setting

In this module, you will be introduced to nursing strategies and interventions to promote patient quality outcomes, well-being after discharge, and caregiver involvement.

In this module, you will explore the fundamentals of team science with a focus on interprofessionalism. Through this lens, your ability to work to the full scope of your license will be examined. Further, the content aims to promote skills and confidence in your crucial role on the interprofessional team, as an advocate for patients with IDD.

In this module, you will learn how to recognize the symptoms of deterioration in patients with IDD with a focus on the common conditions that are known to have fatal outcomes for people with IDD.  Additionally, this module will provide you with a strategy for implementation of the communication tool, SBAR (Situation-Background-Assessment-Recommendation), a technique to ensure physician, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant immediate attention and action.

Management of pain is critical to improving outcomes for hospitalized patients. The recognition of pain for hospitalized patients with intellectual and developmental disabilities has historically been challenging for providers. In this module, you will explore strategies for the identification and assessment of pain presenting in hospitalized patients with intellectual and developmental disabilities. You will learn how to transform assessment data into strategies for effective pain management for your patient. 

In this module, you will be introduced to a variety of causes behind mental health symptoms in persons with IDD and how the acute care setting increases the potential for distress for this population. You also will learn to implement nursing interventions to intervene in behavioral and mental health concerns for hospitalized patients with IDD

In this module, you will understand the sensory implications of the hospital environment, what a person with IDD may encounter when they are hospitalized and nursing interventions to support coping and comfort.