NURSING CARE IN ASSISTANCE TO CHILDREN WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER: CHALLENGES AND PERSPECTIVES IN FAMILY CARE

Abstract

Considering the growing prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and the complexity it imposes on health services, it is identified that nursing practice lacks care systematization and faces training gaps. It aims to map and describe the role of nurses in assisting children with ASD and their families, identifying areas of practice and practical challenges. To this end, we proceed to an integrative literature review, structured in six stages, with searches in the LILACS, MEDLINE, BDENF, and SciELO databases, resulting in the analysis of 7 studies that met the inclusion criteria. In this way, it is observed that the nurse's role is strategic in early screening (especially in childcare), in multidisciplinary care management, and in supporting families who are overburdened and have fragile support networks. Which allows us to conclude that the main barrier to excellent care is the "lack of training and updating" of professionals, indicating the urgent need for curriculum reformulation in undergraduate courses and the implementation of permanent education programs.