Nurses with ADD/ADHD?

Nurses Stress 101

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Hey all! I was wondering if there are any nurses with ADD/ADHD out there who want to comiserate and support each other? I know I need the help/advice. It might also be a place for "regular" people (I hate the word normal) to come and read and understand what its like for us. Or ask us ?'s.

I'll start with an intro:p I'm 29, and I've had an official diagnosis for less than 2 years, but have been trying to find the answer (for what's up with me) for MUCH longer than that:uhoh21: :) I currently work night shift at a drug rehab and on call at a nursing home. I have a lot of trouble in staff meetings - sitting through them, being treated like a brat because I actually show some emotion. I had much difficulty in school, (I didn't know back then), not with grades but with social stuff. I almost got kicked out of school because of the problems I was having.

But its not all bad. I'm funny and creative and often am able to connect with my patients in unique ways.

So we'll see how many of us there are out there?:)

LOL:chuckle

What you wrote was so funny and so true. Thanks for your reply. It made my day.

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(this is my second attepmt to reply with quote. disregard the first reply)

What about moving! Ever tried to move to a new house and you don't have the slightest idea how to organize where everything goes??? I have a friend that organizes, tells me where everything goes and then I'm good to go. But to do it myself I'd end up with a huge pile of what-nots in the middle of my living room floor.

CLEANING! Aaarrrrgggghhhhhhh! I start off realizing a drawer needs to be organized. I go to put something from the drawer in the closet and I realize the closet needs to be cleaned and organized. I find a book from the closet that needs to be on the bookshelf and the bookshelf needs some serious work. By the end of the day my house is in chaos, I can't find a bloody thing, and my living room floor is up to the ceiling with all the stuff I'm organizing.

Ever see the commercial on TV talking about AD/HD? They flip through the TV channels at lightening speed to show viewers what the AD/HD mind is all about. They aren't doing it right! Not only do they go too slow they don't finish the thought of the channel before flipping to a new channel. I do!!! I have one thought, think it through just enough to move on to the next thought. 'Course, I think that's the case but problem is, I forgot my last thought. As soon as I remember what it is I'll be sure to put much care into that task.

Oh, and speaking of typing... anyone HATE proof reading? You already READ what you wrote, MUST you read it again? Heck NO! Go by the basic AD/HD standards, if it isn't spelled right then SOUND IT OUT! Is that really asking so much? Fun-e-tics darnitall! Sound it out!

LoL :lol2: That was very funny and so true. Thanks for sharing. It made my day.

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Thanks for starting this thread. I only have a few moments to spare this evening, but I am looking forward to visiting again soon. Just for the record, I was also a high school drop-out. I never even finished the 9th grade but passed the GED w/flying colors. Then I just sat on it for 15 years until I saw a special on MTV about ADD & college that sounded like my acedemic life so I got tested and confirmed my suspicions. I got meds and started college at 34. I wish someone would have picked up on my problem in elementary school. I love school and I currently have a 3.6. I did two semesters with meds and this last one without (I start clinicals this month and didn't know if it would be frowned upon in this profession so I wanted to see if I could make it without them). Sometimes I worry nursing might not be the best idea for an ADD'er but I am betting on the hyper-focus kicking in:) .

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GOD staff meetings are the worst. I either try and get super involved (and angry) about an issue and get in trouble or I sit there and doodle for about 10 minutes and then have to leave early. Treatment team or team conferences have never been good either, sometimes hours long listening to the same docter tell the same patient all his or her theries on why they are the way they are. I just want to blurt out everything I know he will say fast so it an be over with. I have to carry a notebook every where I go so I have something to do, write letters, draw, pass notes, whatever....

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oh Lord, the urge i get to dopeslap the back of so many heads in hopes of making them talk faster/spit it out.:)

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Specializes in Nursing assistant.

My poor husband. He claims that he rarely needs to finish a sentence, I am there to do it for him...They do say opposites attract.

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Hi, sorry I don't have time to read ALL these posts today, even though I'm not gainfuly emloyed. But I have to relate one of my horror stories. I was being treated for ADD last year (finally got an official dx). Strattera exacerbated my interstitial cystitis, so the doc tried Concerta. I took it for 2 weeks, and then stopped because I was feeling more aggressive and impulsive which increased my interpersonal problems on the job. Yes, my manager and co-workers were informed and supportive, but that only goes so far when the workload is putting everyone into meltdown. Anyway, 2 weeks later I found that my manager had audited most of my work during that two week period and found an incredible number of errors, ranging from the trivial ("she never complained about that before!") to the serious: e.g., I had entered some work as being completed when in fact I didn't even begin it. This was following on the heels of a few incidents where I made awful mistakes even though I was really trying. For instance, failing to report a patient who was apparently suicidal. I'm wondering if other people with either bipolar and/or persistent anger/aggressiveness have similar problems with stimulants. I've found some benefit from an online training program at http://www.brainsynconline.com. Also http://www.ADHDfree.com. has lots of info that may already be familiar to you. Anyway, I just wanted to make a little contribution - see you all later, Marie

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I'm wondering if other people with either bipolar and/or persistent anger/aggressiveness have similar problems with stimulants. I've found some benefit from an online training program at http://www.brainsynconline.com. Also http://www.ADHDfree.com. has lots of info that may already be familiar to you. Anyway, I just wanted to make a little contribution - see you all later, Marie

omg, mcf....someone w/bipolar and/or persistent anger/aggressiveness should never take a stimulant of any kind, as it only serves to induce more mania/aggression. i would go to a reputable psychiatrist and have him medicate you appropriately. you can write the apa and they will refer you to your state's apa (american psychiatric association). please, do not take anymore meds for 'adhd'.....

actually, here's a list of their directory; just find your state and email them:

http://www.psych.org/dbs_state_soc/db_list/db_info_dyn.cfm

with peace,

leslie

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thanks for your response - yes, I dumped the inadequate shrink who was supposedly an ADD specialist. I have many years experience dealing with my moods, including 10 years in 12 Step Recovery. Great stuff! The re-programming approach at the web sites I mentioned is most encouraging, as a drug-free treatment (hopefully!)of the roots rather than the symptoms.:singing:

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Specializes in ICU Case mgt. homehealth,subacute.

;) ]Here is my intro: any comments anyone?

Hello everyone! I received my Bachelor's in Nursing after hard work in 1991. I was 37 years old then.I am returning for another interview at a state prison where they had told me I would not get the job even though I interviewed well, because I am on probation for 2 mistakes in 1995. I was out of nursing for awhile and was reinstated in CA in 2004. I went to a nursing refresher school and worked in a LTC for 2 weeks. I love older people. I made a med mistake, was fired, and was diagnosed with adult ADHD. (I tried to tell doctors in the 80's and then again in 95 I had ADHD, they said no. I was also diagnosed in 99 with it, because I convinced a different doctor I had it. I went off the meds when my husband went to PA school because I thought maybe it went away and we could not afford the meds with no insurance)This is what caused the first two mistakes and the recent one. My background is ICU, home health, step-down and sub-acute. I was ICU for 3 and 1/2 years. I cared for prisoners there too. Suicide attempts. Lots of MVA's. I was CCRN 94-97. My favorite job was home health. I love teaching. I have looked for many jobs. The larger hospitals won't hire me because I am on probation. The smaller hospitals won't hire me because they don't have enough staff. The Blood Center would not hire me either.I need maximum supervision for the first 6 months. some of my newer friends are wondering why I continue to stay in nursing. My older friends and my former ICU team leader on nights, who will give prospective employers a recommendation for me, is glad I am returning to nursing. I cannot teach or work for travel agencies. I don't want to work in ICU or ER. I worked in a small hospital once and loved it, had a little bit of everything, back when I was good a t starting IV's.

Isn't it odd that they asked me to come again for an interview? They are not calling it a second interview but a new one. The first one had 4 nurses with one doctor asking me scenario questions.

I sent a fax, describing my situation, to Lois Capps in Washington. She is rep for Santa Barbara and a former nurse. She helped spearhead a bill that will improve the nursing shortage problem. I also want to contact Senator Cantwell in Washington State who understands about adult ADHD and wants to increase public awareness. I also have been emailing a nursing school teacher who has ADHD.

Any comments anyone?

granna94

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GOD staff meetings are the worst. I either try and get super involved (and angry) about an issue and get in trouble or I sit there and doodle for about 10 minutes and then have to leave early. Treatment team or team conferences have never been good either, sometimes hours long listening to the same docter tell the same patient all his or her theries on why they are the way they are. I just want to blurt out everything I know he will say fast so it an be over with. I have to carry a notebook every where I go so I have something to do, write letters, draw, pass notes, whatever....

I got in trouble once by the DON for spinning in my chair. You know, it was the kind that you push off with one foot and spin away to see if you can get dizzy. But you have to understand, first of all I didn't know the DON was in there. She walked in unexpectedly, obviously. Secondly, I wasn't the only one not paying attention to the video taped 3 HOUR long BORING inservice on safety in the work environment. In case you missed it that is THREE HOURS on what to do in a thunderstorm, tornado, flash flood, deep snow (We are in the desert for petes sake!), what to do if we find a strange unmarked package, blah blah BLAHHHHHHHH!! Others were making faces, some where doing those weird animal shapes against the screen, one guy fell asleep. I was spinning in my chair.

I got a long lecture on how expensive those videos are and I should have been paying attention.

Listening to her drone on made me wonder what she would do if I started spinning in my chair again. :p

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oh Lord, the urge i get to dopeslap the back of so many heads in hopes of making them talk faster/spit it out.:)

I know exactly what you mean. But I don't call it 'dope' slapping someone. LOL

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