FAQ's

Here is a collection Of frequently asked questions, answers are found below, if you have any more questions or comments please let me know and ill do my best to answer them!

What is Asperger syndrome?

Asperger syndrome is a form of autism, which is a lifelong disability that affects how a person makes sense of the world, processes information and relates to other people. Autism is often described as a 'spectrum disorder' because the condition affects people in many different ways and to varying degrees. [NAS 2012]

Can you really be a nurse with Asperger’s syndrome:-

Yes, Asperger’s syndrome as a condition does not prevent someone from becoming a nurse, its associated traits may have an impact on nursing and prevent someone from being capable as a nurse due to certain demands the profession holds but in its self, Asperger’s does not stop you from becoming a nurse.

Will Asperger’s impact on your nursing care?

Certain traits of Asperger’s can impact on nursing as I aim to explain in my blog, however the is minimal to no effect on my nursing care towards patients.

I have Asperger’s and Want to be a nurse, what can I do to achieve this?

be honest and open with yourself, an assess what limitations Asperger’s brings to your life, if you honestly cannot be in the same room as sick/wee/poo ect then I honestly say that nursing is probably not for you. I’ve written a few blog posts on the positive and negative aspects Asperger’s bring to my practise and would suggest anyone starting out should do the same. Otherwise follow the normal entry pattern into nursing and try to build on your skills and maybe one day you’ll get there.  All posts related to nurses can be found here

What is it like to live with Aspergers syndrome?

There’s a saying which says that you’ve met one person with AS, great, you’ve met one person!  And this saying is true as were all different, there is not to aspie’s completely identical.  I aim to describe how I experience AS in my blog, however like we say were all different so I cannot speak for others

Do you have any other medical conditions?

Yes, dyspraxia, a condition that affects hand to eye coordination. More inform on how this affects me can be found on my blog.

Why do you have Asperger’s syndrome?

There is no known cause for Asperger’s syndrome with a numerous of suggested cause's. My mother and father are both autistic [dad undiagnosed] so I suspect I inherited it, however my siblings are not autistic.

I think you don’t have Asperger’s syndrome!

That’s not a question, it’s a fact that I have it, just like it’s a fact I have blue eyes.

What treatments do to take?

Day to day I don’t take any medication relating to Asperger’s syndrome or dyspraxia. As a child I had social therapy and cognitive behaviour therapy. In my opinion they didn’t work for me, but I’m sure they do work for other people.

What support are you given in work?

Work does not provide me with any additional support because of my Asperger’s syndrome because I don’t require any to do my job. I am aware they would however give me the days off I required for say seeing John barrowman in concert, therefore this is a slight adaptation but otherwise nothing that a neuro typical person wouldn’t also receive.

What type of school did you go?

I went to a main stream primary and secondary school. Mainly because I wasn’t diagnosed with AS till I was 15.

Any issues at school?

Many. Will labels my blogs relating to school as school if you wish to find out more

Do you wish you did not have Asperger’s syndrome?

Yes and no! I wish I didn’t experience some of the negative aspects of the condition but would keep the positives, more about my views on this can be found on this blog post!