A curated selection of recent academic publications exploring neurodiversity, nursing, and healthcare.
- Revealing Gaps: Analysis of Nursing Faculty's Awareness of Neurodiverse Diagnoses
CONCLUSION: Most nursing faculty know some neurodiverse diagnoses, but few know the breadth of diagnoses considered neurodiverse. The mention of conditions not typically considered neuro-diverse highlights the need for professional development. Inclusive teaching strategies and empathy are essential for supporting neurodiverse students and fostering their success.
- Neurodiversity in Nursing: Time to Talk About This?
J Clin Nurs. 2026 Jun;35(6):2579-2580. doi: 10.1111/jocn.70240. Epub 2026 Feb 7.NO ABSTRACT
- 'Until You Get the Diagnosis You're Forever in Limbo'-Parents' Experiences of Waiting for an Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Assessment With Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services
CONCLUSION: Parents recognised the pressures on services to offer timely support; however, their well-being could be substantially improved by more clarity around wait times, as well as more effective signposting and support from services concerning the assessment process. This may help alleviate some of the stressors associated with their child's assessment journey, such as feeling responsible for their child's difficulties and the burden of supporting their educational needs.
- Comparing methods to measure wearable device adherence for physical activity monitoring for persons with autism: A prospective observational cohort study
CONCLUSIONS: Using HR-based measures of adherence may underestimate device use in individuals with ASD, potentially setting unrealistic expectations for continuous wear. Step-based metrics provides a more inclusive and pragmatic approach for assessing WD adherence in this population, with implications for future intervention design and evaluation. This study highlights the need to tailor WD adherence definitions to the behavioral and sensory profiles of neurodiverse populations. Further study is...
- Assessing Paramedic Confidence and Competence in Responding to Individuals with Neurodiversity: A Scoping Review
CONCLUSION: Given the unique role of the paramedic in contemporary health care, this study contributes to the discourse around appropriate levels of training for paramedics, as it highlights gaps in the literature associated with neurodiversity specific paramedic training.
- Improving the Venipuncture Experience in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
CONCLUSIONS: Improvement in individualized care, patient and family preparation, clinician preparation, and system design can optimize care of children with ASD undergoing venipuncture procedures. An EBP process model and multiple targeted implementation strategies may facilitate the adoption of interventions to support these children.
- Competency-Based Education as a Catalyst for Inclusion: Practical Pathways for Supporting Nursing Students
CONCLUSION: By embedding inclusive practices into nursing education, faculty can foster equity, dismantle systemic ableism, and build a workforce that respects the full spectrum of human ability.
- Facilitating Culturally Safe Conversations Around Substance Use Disorder and Contraception to Provide Inclusive Care for Neurodiverse and Neurotypical Populations
Nurses are vital to facilitating patient-centered discussions on alcohol use, substance use, and contraception, yet they face significant barriers to effective communication, including time constraints, stigma, and implicit bias. This article presents an inclusive framework to support culturally safe, patient-centered dialogue, with attention to neurodiverse populations, including those with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. Drawing on the Model of the Five Principles of Cultural Safety and the...
- Beyond the Monitor: Integrating Family Expertise Into ICU Care for Patients With Autism Spectrum Disorder
CONCLUSIONS: Families of autistic ICU patients navigate multifaceted roles as advocates, interpreters and emotional supports within a culturally complex landscape. Their experiences reflect a need for more inclusive, autism-informed and family-centred critical care practices that respect both neurodiversity and cultural context.
- "University stress" exploring the potential impact of an immersive art experience on a college campus
There is growing interest in the effects of immersive art on wellbeing, which engages multiple senses and facilitates deeper engagement. University settings, particularly during high-stress periods like exams, are increasingly emphasizing mental health interventions to combat rising rates of anxiety, depression, stress, and suicidal ideation. This study investigates the potential of a fully immersive art experience to positively impact mood and reduce stress in a university setting. Pre- and...