[MisMatch]

Originally Posted by tigerfanRN

I have wondered for years if I had ADD but never brought it up to anyone. I have several of my co-workers confirming my thoughts. Amphetamine abuse is so common I don't know how to approach a doctor about this or even what kind of doctor to go to. can anyone help?

I would suggest starting with your family/primary care physician. They usually won't make a diagnosis, but can recommend someone. Another option would be a psychologist or psychiatrist. I would suggest trying to find one who specializes in ADD/ADHD. While a psychologist can make the diagnosis, they can't prescribe medications. There are many medications available to treat this, and not all are amphetamines. In addition to medication, I highly recommend counseling by a psychologist, who can work with you to develop behavior modifications to overcome the challenges we face with ADD/ADHD.

You will find a lot of helpful information at the CHADD (children and adults with attention deficit disorder) website. Their website is: www.chadd.org. Best of luck to you!

[funsizedliv]

I first posted on this thread almost a year ago exactly. I was failing out of nursing school at the time. Well, I ended up working my butt off and passing and graduating. So I got a job at a nursing home, it was the only job that was offered to me. I was excited and thought it would be perfect for me because repetition is the best thing for me to be successful.

I started just after passing the NCLEX, and everyone was very encouraging. Several of the staff told me that they were impressed with my work and were surprised that I was a new grad. Well, they decided that they would cut my orientation short since I was doing so well.(or because it saved them some money..). I had one week of orientation which included passing meds and documenting. Nothing on admissions/discharges, or any desk work like calling the MD's and getting orders. So with my minimum of training, and complete lack of experience, a few mistakes were made because no one bothered to show me what I was supposed to do. My boss knew that I have ADD, and that I would need some extra help at times. She agreed to help out, as she does with everyone, and she suggested to me to stick with one task until its finished and not get pulled away so I didnt forget to get back to my task. None of my mistakes were serious, no one was ever put in danger, and I never caused harm to any of my residents. It was more like I would get some lab results in and get pulled in seven different directions before I get to call the doctor, and once I get back to the labs, its past 3pm and its too late to report anything. After some of my incidents, my boss would tell me that she would want to talk to me, or she and the ADON would have a meeting with me to figure something out. I would approach her, and ask about the meeting, but these meetings never happened. She would be too busy.

So fast forward to the present. Yesterday one of my residents needed his PSA levels drawn. The lab never showed up, but before I left for the day, I left a message with the lab that we needed that lab drawn and it was a stat order. So I get to work this morning, the lab was still not done, but the girl from the lab was there and I asked her to draw the stat lab because it was needed for his urology appointment that morning. So I inform my boss about the lab issue, she is upset with the lab and tells me to make sure I get the results. I call the lab a little later, and the results are not in, but they tell me that they will do it right away. I check the fax machine shortly before the resident has to leave, and still no results. I mention this to my boss, but she doesnt say anything. Too busy. Later on in the day, my boss asks if I got the results to the doctor. I told her that they never sent them. She wanted to know why I didn't call the lab. I honestly didn't think to call again, since they said it would be sent out STAT. She said I was going to be in trouble with the MD since I didn't send the resident with the results. So I call the lab, get the results, and make sure the MD is notified.

This is where she asks me if nursing is what I thought it would be, and "what is going on with me" since I'm making mistakes. She said she cant keep covering for me and checking to make sure everything was done right.

I haven't been working there for 4 months yet, and my boss tells me that she doesn't think its going to work out with me working there. After all the time she was sympathetic and said she would help me. She said that I have made too many little mistakes, and now its coming up to her having to fire me, though she says she doesn't want to. I told my her that I made an appointment with the assistant director of nursing to see what we could do. She said that she feels its too late for that and she doesnt think this is the right fit for me. I bawled my eyes out for the whole ride home. I love this job, and all of my residents, not to mention the damage to my self esteem. I have to worry about not being able to hold down a job because of my ADD.
I feel like I'm trapped in the same nightmare that I was in during school. I thought I had finally succeeded at something, but then failure crushes me again.

I am terrified that I'll never be able to support myself because of this, I just rented an apartment with my boyfriend because I thought I had some job security, but that flew out the window.

[romiia]

1st off,
Thank you so much for your honest sharing and what I'd
call a rather hard lesson to learm as a new nurse & new graduate nurse, I might add.

I cant even begin to pretend to have an easy answer or advice as to what you might do now.

like you were saying, no one was harmed and I feel you can be proud of all your accomplishments & also your un reliquishing efforts to make that job work for you.
Remember we are all human & if a nurse ever tells you he or she has never made any mistakes as a nurse, ha,ha
just know one thing, (they are lying through thier teeth)----big time!!!

My suggestion, is to pick yourself up,
dust your self off & get back on that HORSE! so to speak!

Also, it might be a good idea TO TAKE AN HONEST LOOK AT what part you played in the whole spectrum of things.
in other words, do a self inventory. Not so much to beat yourself up.
but to just make sure you have your eyes wide open.

It sounds like, from what you wrote, you made some really honest mistakes that really any and all of us make.
Perhaps this particular place, might not be a place where you'd want to work any way! not exactly a teaching hospital is it!

think about what doors might be open now!
hope i didnt over simplify what your are going through or went through.
Just know your not alone and that there are nurses out there, who are
more than willing to extend some support. not every nurse, mind you!!!
but the really good ones, the ones that you'd want to work with & work for are worth seeking out. And think about what kind of person would you really want to work for any way? Dont worry about job security.
if you have a nursing license, you will always hav job security!

~ good luck to you~

lin

[funsizedliv]

Thanks for your support. It's helpful that there are ENCOURAGING people, let alone nurses, out there.

[MisMatch]

Funsizedliv,
I'm sorry that this has happened to you. I'm also confident that, given your determination to finish school, you can overcome and find another position.

As romiia stated, take a look at where/how your mistakes happened, along with how the challenges of ADHD relate to them. Are you challenged with time management? organization? forgetting tasks? Once you identify these areas, I would highly recommend finding a psychologist trained in ADHD or an ADHD coach. They can help you look at the challenges you faced and help develop tools and modifications to overcome them.

Also, are you on any medications for ADHD? If not, you may want to look into that. Medication is not a solution or cure, rather one tool that can help you focus.

Please keep us posted!

[1Way2Go]

Hi all,

I'm starting to work on a nursing skills manual with lots of pictures included, along with the steps of each different skill. I think this will give extra help in learning the skills due to my ADD. Anyone have any other suggestions or tips for nursing students with ADD?

I will post my manual when I'm done with it. I'm hoping to finish it over the Christmas holiday.

Thanks!

[1Way2Go]

Hi all,

I'm starting to work on a nursing skills manual with lots of pictures included, along with the steps of each different skill. I think this will give extra help in learning the skills due to my ADD. Anyone have any other suggestions or tips for nursing students with ADD?

I will post my manual when I'm done with it. I'm hoping to finish it over the Christmas holiday.

Thanks!

[jh479352]

Hi,That's a great idea and wish you all the presence of mind. Does any one know why we loss some much stuff. If there is anyone out there that can relate to this topic and has some suggestions I would appreciate it alot.

[1Way2Go]

I've found there are certain triggers that cause be to be more forgetful at times than other times. Certain stresses, people, and probably more that I'm not aware of. Most of the time I'm not like this, but when it starts happening now, I know to look for what is triggering it. Hope that helps

[nurse2b2010]

Originally Posted by teeituptom

ADD and ADHD are widely abused diagnosis's

now the Have also AAADD...Age Activated Attention Deficit Disorder, shuckins I just thought I was getting old.

GOSH, you made me laugh so hard my sides hurt! But I can understand and sympathize with others who have trouble in that area. Being a person with Bipolar, I do understand the nature of not feeling "normal"! Then I think . . . . who wants to be normal?! :O