Abstract

Session presented on Saturday, September 27, 2014:

Purpose: Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) is a broad term encompassing a group of neurodevelopmental disabilities and the diagnosis of social communication disorder (SCD, DSM-V; APA, 2013). ASD prevalence continues to rise with one in sixty-four individuals diagnosed (CDC, 2014). Nearly twenty-five percent of Americans have a disability with nurses treating them in hospitals, clinics, and schools on a daily basis (US Census, 2012). While there has been much research about ASD, very few articles have been written about nursing interventions with a patient with ASD. How nurses care for patients diagnosed with ASD compared to those without ASD can be different. For example, the persons with ASD is startled by voice inflections, can experience sensory disturbances including sensitivity to sounds, odors, and touches. Many nurses may not be familiar with administering medications commonly prescribed for co-morbid conditions often accompanying a diagnosis of ASD. Furthermore, the registered nurse (RN) must be completely educated on the side effects and drug interactions between these medications because individuals with ASD are often prescribed more than one medication.

Author Details

Cynthia M. Thomas, EdD, MS, BSN, ASN; Constance E. McIntosh, EdD, MBA, BSN; Roberta Allen, MA, RN

Sigma Membership

Beta Rho at-Large

Lead Author Affiliation

Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana, USA

Type

Presentation

Format Type

Text-based Document

Study Design/Type

N/A

Research Approach

N/A

Keywords:

Education and Practice, Autism and ASD, Registered Nurses

Conference Name

Leadership Summit 2014

Conference Host

Sigma Theta Tau International

Conference Location

Indianapolis, Indiana, USA

Conference Year

2014

Rights Holder

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Acquisition

Proxy-submission

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Leading the way for nurses to work with autistic patients

Indianapolis, Indiana, USA

Session presented on Saturday, September 27, 2014:

Purpose: Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) is a broad term encompassing a group of neurodevelopmental disabilities and the diagnosis of social communication disorder (SCD, DSM-V; APA, 2013). ASD prevalence continues to rise with one in sixty-four individuals diagnosed (CDC, 2014). Nearly twenty-five percent of Americans have a disability with nurses treating them in hospitals, clinics, and schools on a daily basis (US Census, 2012). While there has been much research about ASD, very few articles have been written about nursing interventions with a patient with ASD. How nurses care for patients diagnosed with ASD compared to those without ASD can be different. For example, the persons with ASD is startled by voice inflections, can experience sensory disturbances including sensitivity to sounds, odors, and touches. Many nurses may not be familiar with administering medications commonly prescribed for co-morbid conditions often accompanying a diagnosis of ASD. Furthermore, the registered nurse (RN) must be completely educated on the side effects and drug interactions between these medications because individuals with ASD are often prescribed more than one medication.