Americans with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/ DD) are living longer due to healthier lifestyles, health promotion, diagnostic examinations and medical interventions (Vincent & Velkoff, 2010). Longer lifespans translate into higher risks for hospitalization for adults with I/DD. Multiple comorbidities and communication impairments result in poor patient outcomes and increase the risk for rehospitalization (Hemsley et al., 2016). Loss of control, fear of negative outcomes, restrictive medical equipment, increased environmental stimuli and longer than average hospital stays are some of the obstacles confronted by individuals with I/

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Adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) avoidable health disparities, which may be related to healthcare professionals ' attitudes. To examine the attitudes and experiences of nurses caring for adults with I/DD in the acute care setting.Methods A mixed method approach was utilized. Data was collected from January to March 2021. Data collection consisted of the ATDP-B questionnaire completed by 31 RNs and Eight RNs interviewed via Zoom. ResultsQuantitative data from the ATDP-B questionnaire revealed most nurses had negative attitudes towards disabled persons. Four themes emerged from the qualitative data: Experience, setting, emotional responses, and education. DiscussionPractice implications include knowledge deficits and lack of confidence reported by the participants.

Many factors impact access to care and global health equity, which can be transformed by nursing. When healthcare infrastructure is suboptimal, nursing's role expands exponentially. In this reflection, I share my experiences accessing healthcare as a child in a low-resource community and highlight nursing activities to improve global health equity. Nurses can facilitate change by becoming active in communities, humanitarian organizations, policymaking, and advocacy.