RN Jobs working with children who have ASD

[kayjo23]

Hello All! I'm a RN and currently work as a substitute school nurse / Behavioral Support Staff (BSS) at a private school for kids who have behavioral or medical needs. Most of the kiddos there have behavioral issues or have been diagnosed with Autism.

I have took over some of the Discrete Trial Instruction in the Life Skill Elementary room and now my supervisor would like me to train in Intensive Teaching.

In other words I'm going more towards special education teaching.

My Question is: What kind of jobs could I find with my RN degree/license and my training with teaching children with autism?

At the moment I'm not making enough money to pay back my student loans and I do not feel any room to move up where I am at.

Any thoughts?

[hope3456, ASN, RN]

I worked with a lady who got a job in a Psych facility for children - I believe that we're there pretty much long term.... not sure how common jobs like that are.

[Cobweb]

I believe every state has some version of the CAP programs (Community Alternatives Program), which helps developmentally disabled kids to remain living at home while advancing their education. You might look at something like that. Also, state health departments are almost always looking for nurses. Hospital pediatrics, or a pediatrician, might also be good employers. It probably wouldn't take much for you to get a teacher's certificate, if you want to teach, although I don't know about special education requirements. They used to have a program where people with a degree in another field could get a teacher's certificate with a few extra classes. There are camps for kids with autism, and those camps might appreciate a nurse.

Good luck :)

[Cobweb]

I nearly forgot to add that about 25 years ago, I worked for an agency that specialized in pediatric patients. They nearly always had autistic kids on their list.

[LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN]

I have worked in Peds for 8 years, mostly in the community: Home Health (which included accompanying children to school), and a Pediatric Extended Day Facility, or medical day care. We have kids with autism spectrum, CP, ADHD that have co-morbidities in addition with children who have medical needs with and without milestone delays. I was able to whether pediatric acute care because of my background; specifically critical care.

The best way to put things in perspective, especially with working with children, is you will find that children and people with DD do need nursing care, and that doesn't leave.

If you want to continue to work with children, you can try home health, camps, as well as residential settings for children. Home health is really flexible, and you will find the complex care and developmental aspects of the children to be a more holistic setting, if that is something you are interested in.