PURPOSE: This article explores the challenges that patients with autistic spectrum disorders (ASDs) face when hospitalized and provides assessment strategies and plan-of-care suggestions for nursing caregivers. CONCLUSIONS: With a high prevalence rate of medical comorbidities among this population, such as gastrointestinal complaints and seizures, nurses are likely to care for hospitalized patients with an ASD. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: For a child with an ASD, hospitalization can be an overwhelming sensory and cognitive experience. Nurses equipped with an understanding of the unique needs of a child with ASD can tailor the plan of care to reduce patient and family anxiety, optimize treatment goals, and reduce the stress of hospitalization.
PURPOSE: This article explores the challenges that patients with autistic spectrum disorders (ASDs) face when hospitalized and provides assessment strategies and plan-of-care suggestions for nursing caregivers. CONCLUSIONS: With a high prevalence rate of medical comorbidities among this population, such as gastrointestinal complaints and seizures, nurses are likely to care for hospitalized patients with an ASD. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: For a child with an ASD, hospitalization can be an overwhelming sensory and cognitive experience. Nurses equipped with an understanding of the unique needs of a child with ASD can tailor the plan of care to reduce patient and family anxiety, optimize treatment goals, and reduce the stress of hospitalization.
Authors: John J McGonigle; Joann M Migyanka; Susan J Glor-Scheib; Ryan Cramer; Jeffrey J Fratangeli; Gajanan G Hegde; Jennifer Shang; Arvind Venkat Journal: J Autism Dev Disord Date: 2014-05
Authors: Giulia Perasso; Gloria Camurati; Elizabeth Morrin; Courtney Dill; Khatuna Dolidze; Tina Clegg; Ilaria Simonelli; Hang Yin Candy Lo; Andrea Magione-Standish; Bobbijo Pansier; Sandra Cabrita Gulyurtlu; Adam Garone; Hester Rippen Journal: Front Psychol Date: 2021-06-29