Georgia Autism Conferences

A nursing and medical health care blog dedicated to special needs providers!

Comparison of autism treatment programs in Georgia and Nevada

It is clear that both Georgia and Nevada have well-developed programs for individuals living with autism. Both states provide access to various resources and assistance to those in need. Despite the similarities between their programs, there are also some distinct differences. Further information provided by:

Nevada Autism Center

7730 West Sahara Avenue #115

Las Vegas, NV 89117

(702) 660-2005

Access to Research-Based Treatments & Interventions

Both Georgia and Nevada have comprehensive programs to support those living with autism. For example, in Georgia, the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD) provides access to various research-based treatments and interventions. These include Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA), cognitive behavioral therapy, speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, specialized diets, and psychopharmacological medications.  In Nevada,  the Division of Public & Behavioral Health (DPBH) also provides a range of treatments and interventions. They provide access to ABA, cognitive behavioral, speech and language, occupational, physical, nutritional, and crisis intervention services.

Funding sources

Regarding funding sources, Georgia Autism treatment programs are primarily supported by the state and federal government and private donations. In comparison, Nevada has implemented a unique Medicaid waiver program to help fund services for those living with autism. This is known as the ATAP, allowing individuals with autism to receive approved treatments and interventions while their families maintain certain levels of income.

Licensing Requirements for Professionals

Georgia and Nevada both have stringent licensing requirements for professionals providing autism treatments. In Georgia, these include DBHDD-approved qualifications such as a bachelor’s degree in psychology or education, Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) certification, or other approved credentials. In Nevada, providers must be licensed by the State of Nevada or possess a nationally recognized certification.

Acceptance of Insurance Providers

Insurance providers also vary in Georgia and Nevada. In Georgia, most insurance providers cover the cost of autism treatments such as applied behavioral analysis (ABA), occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, etc. However, some may not provide coverage for psychopharmacological medications. In Nevada, the same applies alongside Medicaid waiver programs that are available for individuals with autism who cannot obtain insurance coverage.

Key difference

While Georgia has recently made strides to expand its services for people with autism, Nevada has had more comprehensive services and strong networks of support in place. For example, Nevada has programs such as the Autism Treatment Assistance Program (ATAP) that provides monetary assistance & training to families for services and therapies, as well as a statewide autism registry that provides critical data about the demographics of individuals living with autism. Fundraising and advocacy efforts in Nevada have also been successful, establishing a statewide network of autism service providers.

Ultimately, both states are doing a great job of providing services for individuals with autism. With the help of specialists, therapists, family members, and other providers, treatment for autism can be successful. For more information about autism treatment in Georgia, contact the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities at 1-800-715-4225 or visit their website at http://dbhdd.georgia.gov/ In Nevada, for more information about autism treatment and support services, contact the Nevada autism treatment program at https://www.nevadaautism.com.

References;

Georgia Department of Mental Health. (n.a). Retrieved from: https://dbhdd.georgia.gov/be-dbhdd#:~:text=DBHDD%20services%20are%20accessible%2024,(800)%20715%2D4225.

Nevada Division of Public Health. (n.a).Retrieved from:  https://dpbh.nv.gov/

Department of Human HealthATAP. https://adsd.nv.gov/Programs/Autism/ATAP/ATAP/

RN vs CNA: What’s the Difference?

Lots of people who are considering a career in nursing have wondered what the difference is between various specialties. The truth is that it can get pretty confusing, because there are so many different things that a nurse can do, it can seem like the options are limitless and in reality—they almost are! With that said, people who are just getting started with their research often consider the two choices of becoming a CNA or an RN but don’t really understand the difference between the two. Let’s take a look at those differences.

A CNA is a Certified Nursing Assistant, and typically has a limited role compared to an RN, or Registered Nurse. CNAs also typically earn less money, and don’t have the same training as RNs. Their career choices are also more limited. When you read that, you’re probably thinking—why would anyone want to be a CNA then? Well, the nice part about becoming a nurse aide is that you don’t have to be in school for that long. CNA training lasts a matter of months, where you’ll need to be in school at least 2 years to become an RN, and that adds up to a lot of time and money compared to becoming a CNA. The typical responsibilities of a CNA include taking care of patients and assisting other medical staff with simple things like transporting patients and taking basic medical measurements.

Registered nurses are able to take on a lot broader range of responsibilities and typically assist doctors. Although some RNs can actually earn a “nurse practitioner” certificate and see patients in a limited capacity in the same way that a doctor would see patients. As stated earlier, the options for RNs are nearly unlimited, where the options for CNAs are typically restricted to direct patient care under the supervision of an RN or doctor, and there isn’t much room for expansion into other areas without pursuing more education. CNAs can work at a number of facilities, including hospitals, nursing homes, private homes, and other similar places. RNs can work at a much wider range of places, including specialty clinics.

Hopefully this gives you an idea of what to expect from each career and an idea of what your daily responsibilities will be like. The most important thing to take away here is that as a CNA your training will be shorter, and your tuition will cost less but you won’t make as much money and your job options will be more limited. As an RN, your schooling will be longer and more expensive but your job options will be broader, and you will earn more money.

How Long do CNA Classes Typically Last?

I’m not sure what it is with college students these days, but for some reason it seems like people don’t really enjoy school anymore. I remember actually enjoying my time in college, rather than just trying to get it over with, but oh well! Lots of students who are thinking about going to school to become a CNA have a number of different questions on their minds. Among those questions, one of the most popular ones is—how long do CNA classes and programs typically last? The good news is that compared to other medical certification and degrees, getting a CNA license is probably one of the quickest, and in general it only takes a matter of months (not years).

The classroom portion of the course is typically taught at a community college, private school, or nursing home, and this usually takes a couple months to complete. Some schools may offer accelerated programs, but students in those programs may also be required to attend classes more frequently. So, if you’re someone who can only attend on the weekends, it obviously may take you a lot longer to complete than someone who can attend class every day.

Once you finish the classroom portion of your training, you’ll typically have to complete the hands-on portion, also known as the clinical section, or simply “clinicals.” This is where you learn the skills you’ll need to actually work as a CNA. These skills include anything and everything that you’ll use to take care of your patients. You’ll learn how to transport a patient, how to take medical measurements, what to do in an emergency, and things like that.

After you complete the skills/clinical portion of your class, you may be ready to take the state CNA test (provided that you pass both the classroom and skills portion of your course). It may take a little time to apply for a test date, and once you have that you may be able to show up to a testing facility on your specified date and take the test. Assuming you pass the test, you may have a short delay in between getting your results, and actually being listed in the Nurse Aide Registry for your state (for more information on this, check out CNAclassescentral, one of the best resources on the web for this kind of info). All in all, you may be able to complete this in as short of a time as a few months, or as long as 9-12 months or more. The length of time it takes to finish is dependent upon a number of factors like local regulations, the specific program at a school, individual factors, and other various things. If you want to find out how long it would take you, one of the best things you can do is to get in touch with local schools in your area that offer training, as well as the department of health in your state or whatever agency regulates CNA certifications where you live. That way, you’ll have the best idea of how much time it may take.

Getting Your CNA Certification Online: Is It Possible?

There’s no doubt that today, more than ever, people are struggling to find a good balance between their work life and home life. For students, this adds another factor into the mix; the idea of trying to balance work, regular life, and school. This raises the question—is there anything that can be done to free up time? Well, if you haven’t been living under a rock, you know that now many classes are able to be taken online, including classes in many medical programs.

If you’ve considered becoming a CNA, but are short on time, you might have wondered if you can actually complete your CNA classes online. The answer to that question isn’t as simple as you might think, but it’s not incredibly complicated either. The truth is that you can take a percentage of your CNA training online, in certain situations, but this depends upon a number of factors.

First of all, it depends upon where you live. If you’re someone who lives in a state that doesn’t allow cna classes online, then you’re unfortunately stuck. It’s up to each individual state which classes they allow people to take online, and which classes they don’t. Some states allow students to do their, and others prohibit it. One important thing to note is that no matter which state you live in, you won’t be able to take your entire program online. You might be thinking that this isn’t fair, but unfortunately that’s the way it is, and there’s a pretty good reason behind that. The reason is that you can’t learn all of the medical skills that you need to be a CNA over the internet. Imagine trying to learn how to transport a patient, dress a wound, take blood pressure, or even something as simple as someone’s temperature without having ever done it in person. It seems silly, doesn’t it? Yet that doesn’t prevent people from assuming that something is wrong with the rules when they aren’t allowed to take all of their classes over the internet.

So, hopefully that sheds some light on the idea of taking CNA classes via the internet, and what the basic options are. In another post, I’m going to cover how to locate a reputable school, and some things to look for in a good school, as well as signs that indicate a school isn’t reputable, and you should stay away. Check back soon, because that’s going to provide some great information!

Information About Finding a Job as a Nurse Aide

One of the most common concerns for college students is whether or not they’ll be able to find a job upon graduation. This is a concern that’s fairly widespread among students, regardless of their major in college or career choice. It’s important to note that no matter where a person attends school, or what they do, there’s never any guarantee of finding a job or employment. It is unfortunate that some students or people may be led to believe that jobs are easy to find, but that isn’t how it is in the real world. Sure, some people may have better luck finding a job than others, in terms of time, but the truth is that finding a job may be difficult, and this may be totally independent of where a person went to school or any other factors.

If you’re lucky enough to get a job interview, there may be some specific things that a person looking to hire you as a CNA may want to know. First of all, they’re may to ask a lot of questions to try and determine your character. People who are in the nursing and medical profession need to be individuals with high moral standards because they are working with vulnerable people. If you seem like someone who won’t be patient with those in need, you may have a harder time getting hired as a CNA. Your interviewer may also want to know where you’ve attended school, as well as what your experience level is—are you fresh out of school? Or have you worked as a CNA before in other places?

The person conducting your interview may also ask you questions to determine how you’d act in certain situations. This is a common interview practice to get an idea of the decision making capabilities of potential candidates. Keep in mind that there’s no specific right answer for a lot of these questions, but you just want to be yourself, and answer honestly, but also be proper and professional. After your interview, it may be a good idea thank the person conducting your interview for their time, and follow up a few days later with an email that thanks them once again, and reiterates why you’re a good candidate for the job. After that, it may be a good idea not to send anymore messages or make anymore calls, just wait to hear back, and if you’re the right person for the job, they’ll likely let you know on their terms and time frame.