Special needs nurse

shell54m · Sep 14, 2004

This is my favorite spot on this site. I too am a specail needs peds nurse. I have done this for 9 years now and cannot think of anything better. Over the years I have worked in homes helping care for these children. I have seen them come so far with simple tasks and find this the greatest reward ever. After losing my first peds pt that I was with for 5 years I decided to get my RN so that I can expand my role as a nurse in this feild. I do feel I have 1 of the greatest jobs in the world and would never second guess my decision.
I did see that someone posted a seminar in Texas for next year. I would love to go, so if anyone has any info please pass it on to me.
Sandy
"To the world I may be but 1 person, but to 1 person I may be the world" unknown

Hi, My name is Michelle. I am currently enrolled in a nursing program and I am considering specializing in developmental nursing. Is that what you do? Would you mind telling me a little about it? Thank you-

Michelle-

depedsnurse · Sep 15, 2004

Hi, My name is Michelle. I am currently enrolled in a nursing program and I am considering specializing in developmental nursing. Is that what you do? Would you mind telling me a little about it? Thank you-
Michelle-

Hi Michelle,

I am currently employed by 2 nursing agencies. Both of them deal with special needs children, a majity of them are trach and vent dependent. My main shift is with 1 child, in their home. I am responsible for any care that they need:trach care, gtube care, medications and other treatments that is prescribed. Being in the home you work closely with other nurses on the case, the Drs (several specialties), and the family. I hope this helps and if you have more questions just send me back a message. I can even give you more personalized info depending on your degree. Its been a great choice for me.

Sandy

DDRN4me · Nov 1, 2004

hi..I have been doing both homecare and working as a classroom nurse for many years...depedsnurse, getting my RN was a great help..many more opportunities to care for those fantastic kids...Michelle, see if you can do any practicums with special needs kids..it will convince you either way! best of luck to both of you!!

savvy_23 · Nov 2, 2004

Hi Michelle,
I am currently employed by 2 nursing agencies. Both of them deal with special needs children, a majity of them are trach and vent dependent. My main shift is with 1 child, in their home. I am responsible for any care that they need:trach care, gtube care, medications and other treatments that is prescribed. Being in the home you work closely with other nurses on the case, the Drs (several specialties), and the family. I hope this helps and if you have more questions just send me back a message. I can even give you more personalized info depending on your degree. Its been a great choice for me.
Sandy

Hello I am also a nursing student and a parent of a special needs child. I am wondering what credentials do you need to become a nurse for special need children?

DDRN4me · Nov 11, 2004

Dear Savvy..You already have one of the best qualifications...the love of these childre n, and the understanding that they are children first!!! my best advice is to gather all of the knowledge and expeience`you can , and then praoctice! W orking in homecare or a faiclity or a school will expose you to all kinds of people with different issues, and just research those issues one at a time! I worked as an LPN, now as an RN (AD) and am currently studying for my BSN. the more education I get, the more i love it!! I also subcribe to magazines and journals...Exceptional Parent is a great help, along with the standard nursing journals..best of luck to you!!m

kagray3 · Jun 14, 2011

Hi! I'm in my final year of nuring school and desperatly want to be a special needs nurse/work with special needs kids. Where can I go to find an agency thats reliable?

mercurysmom · Aug 12, 2011

If you're looking for work with kids and families but not necessarily private duty or school nursing, Early Intervention is worth a try. I had to resign in 2005 due to illness, but EI was my "dream job" and I could easily have stayed there until retirement! My duties included day care development screening, intakes, multidisciplinary developmental assessments, service coordination, monitoring visits, transition to the public schools, and lots more. My favorite part about EI: once I'm in someone's home, for the next 60 to 90 minutes I don't have to think about anything or anyone but this child and their family! Amazing.

Here are a few resources with more info (regulations differ a bit from state to state)

http://nichcy.org/babies/effectivepractices

http://www.earlyintervention.org

http://www.firstsigns.org/treatment/EI.htm

http://www.cec.sped.org/am/template.cfm?section=Home The Council for Exceptional Children (offers competency program and accreditation to EI clinicians and ECE's)

Good Luck!

MM

cjhester0407 · Sep 1, 2011

Hey!

I love to work with special need individuals!! I just graduated highschool I am attending a community college, I was going to be an EC teacher but do not really know if I want to do that. When I told people that I did not want to they were kind of disappointed because they said I have a gift working with them. So then I saw where there are "special needs nurse". Never heard of this before can you go more into detail for me this may be something that I am interested in.

Thanks.

mercurysmom · Sep 1, 2011

Hi! There is a certification program available from the Developmental Disabilities Nurses Association: http://ddna.org/ However, I personally don't know any nurses who work 1:1 in homes and schools who have this certification. (I've met a few people with CDDN who supervise local group homes, but that's it.)

Each state Early Intervention program offers certification. Actually, here in MA all clinicians, regardless of specialty, are required to complete the certification within 5 years of their hire date if they work more than a certain number of hours per week. For info specific to your state, check here: http://www.ehow.com/how_2089376_become-early-intervention-specialist.html

Good luck! :)

Marisol87 · Jan 19, 2012

Hello,

I barely discovered TODAY about this field of Nursing and I am so very very happy I stumbled upon it! I never new it existed! I am starting nursing school in March.

My twin sister has Cerebral Palsy and I've always known that I want to work in a field that helps special people in need of medical care. She is now 24 years old and I know that there seems to be a serious lack in services for Special needs people as they grow into adulthood. The daycare programs we have experienced with her were horrible and we went through a very hard time after she had experienced some abuse due to lack of supervision at this facility that promised a fun, social, and healthy environment. She has been staying home with my mom for the past 2 years since the ordeals and we feel like we have nowhere to turn.

*Is there any way that a Nurse with a DDNA CDDN certification can open up their own business for a daycare facility for adults with special needs???

This is what i want to do with my life. I want to dedicate my life helping adults like my twin sister so that I can help prevent the abuse and disservice I have witnessed.

Marisol87 · Apr 18, 2012

Anyone out there have experience working with developmentally disabled adults?