ADVICE, PLEASE: RN with a Certificate in Autism Spectrum Disorders??

Have you tried an ICF MR facility? Many facilities provide services to children. Try your state site for long term care providers that should provide some links to potential employment in your state. Does your state require the BSN to apply for school jobs?

You may consider looking at the local preschool providers such as Headstart and More at Four type programs sometimes these providers need a contractual Health Consultant to organize or perform screenings, to help find medical services, and to help the organization to abide by the state and federal health requirements to receive funding continued funding.

Headstart and similar programs like to see the additional credits on preschool classes & care, can pick up through local comm colleges.

ICFMR services are great to learn about folks with various disorders, some more medical and some with more behavioral diagnoses. In the facility I work we have 16 group homes, and the ages range 6 -75. The homes have 3 or 6 beds and the children's home is regulated for 6-21yrs but efforts are in place to ensure proper placements with the current ages and diagnoses of the residents. I have worked with a lot folks with autism over the years at various ages which has be rewarding and sometimes very challenging when working with aggressive clients. I was trained, "shut up & structure up" we use a lot of picture schedules and less verbal stimuli.

I began doing some consulting work at a local Headstart here in NC a couple of years ago and really enjoy that too. The administrator for the Headstart is an old coworker from the group homes, so that was my entry. I have had a couple providers contact me for services (More at Four) and such but really couldn't work it into my schedule. See if there are health advisory meetings in the local communities and find out who the chair is and contact them as they are usually recruiting community members and that would also put your name and interest out there. Also, check with the hospitals and see who provides inhouse psych services and which of those accept patients with MR/DD as you will find many kids with autism are functioning with cognitive deficiencies (certainly not all). Most hospitals in NC will not accept older behavioral patients with MR/DD, I sometimes have better luck getting the children in to a "regular" psych unit during crisis for stabilization though, it can be a real matrix to find good care.

The power point would be very interesting, would love an update... my official training was in 1997....so i am sure I am a little dated...good luck, with the search.

Yes, try your local MRDD group homes. Or better yet-maybe a day program where there would be a few other nurses. I've worked in this field in the past and if this is truly your interest, you would be a Godsend.