Caring for the Child With an Autism Spectrum Disorder in the Acute Care Setting

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