ADHD Nurses-what area do you specialize in?

Nurses Disabilities

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I would very much like to hear from other nurses with ADHD/ADD!

What area of nursing do you work in? What do you love about it?

I appreciate all who take the time to answer :)

Thanks

I add I am still a student, but I want the hustle and bustle of a busy ER.

I think that it will be good for me because I will have many patients with different problems.

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I'm an RN supervisor at a 120-bed subacute facility, and I have ADHD; I'm fairly well managed on meds; however, with my crazy schedule at work, sometimes I'm unable to get to my doc appts and have had to go without my meds sometimes for a few days, not easy and certainly increases anxiety and exacerbates my ADHD Sx's. It's a struggle, but I think overcoming ADHD and being successful is a great example for others who think they can't do jobs that involve a lot if concentration and responsibility.

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I haven't read all the responses here, but I recently found out I have ADD (thanks to nursing school--my brother has it, but we are TOTAL opposites--never occurred to me I would have it) and REALLY struggled the first semester of nursing school. Barely passed, but I did. I think I'll be fine in the next three if I pass the hardest first! However, any advice is great. I'm sick of my professors giving me negative feedback during evals, such as "slow down, take a deep breath, relax! stop being anxious, stop talking so fast!" blah blah. This is who I am, and I don't want to conform to society's norm just to fit in, but it's tough. I also work as a CNA on neuro (med surg-like) and feel that some nurses just don't "GET" me. I'm sure I come off as flighty. Any advice or helpful hints to make it through nursing school without completely losing my confidence in ME would be greatly appreciated.

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I have ADHD and specialize in ER nursing. I believed that this was the best specialty for me, as did my psychiatrist at the time. At 41yo and years of experience, I have learned that the ADHD-ER combo has its pros and cons. The fast-paced and rapidly changing environment was a blessing on many levels: I was allowed to constantly run around, burning off energy, and never forced to sit for any period of time (as opposed to OR nursing); my short attention span was supported (as opposed to ICU nursing); and I was never bored (as opposed to all those clinical rotations in Med/Surg in nursing school). When I was younger and had far more energy to expend, I worked in even busier ERs where I'd hit the floor running from the beginning of shift to end, and my "personality" went unidentified and never became an issue because everyone was too busy to notice that I was different.

Here are the cons: Long-term exposure to highly stimulated environments such as ER eventually breaks down the psyche of anyone with ADHD. On the suggestion of my psychiatrist, I took a position in an ER with a far lower census... and was forced to come out of the closet, so to speak. Experienced ER nurses have the ability to identify the s/s of mental illness and chemical dependency. And you know that we, as ADHD nurses, LOVE that the world ties these two very different disease processes together. Because of the slower environment of this ER, where nurses sat around waiting for patients (something I could not do), I continued my energetic path by helping the techs stock, helping the unit secretary with phones/paperwork, and even helping EVS clean. These actions landed me in the DON's office, accused of questionable behaviors consistent with impaired nursing and chemical dependency issues. Even though the DON cleared me of any wrongdoing, the stigma was present among my peers, and eventually, I resigned.

I have since returned to school to get my BSN and accepted a part-time job in a clinic. It was a very hard transition, but I did it. And today, I have no idea where to go from here.

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Any advice or helpful hints to make it through nursing school without completely losing my confidence in ME would be greatly appreciated.

@ohellemarie Check out George Glade, APRN's book "The Stimulus Driven Brain." He's a psych APRN practicing in an urban ER & he also has a psych practice where he coaches ADD/ADHD students & professionals. His book is a great place to start - it's written for the ADD/ADHD college student. It's full of practical tips & advice for organization, study skills, etc. By the time you're done with that, his book on the ADD/ADHD professional should be out. His podcast area is also fairly useful, especially the one detailing the 'Good, the Bad, and the Ugly' of stimulant meds.

http://stimulusdrivenbrain.com/

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Specializes in ER, Trauma.

Some time ago, a thread formed, may even be a different site, asking the difference between ER and ICU nurses. There were many responses, some quite involved. But the real gem was the simplest answer. ER = ADHD, ICU = OCD.

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I have Adhd; I was first diagnosed in 1998. I have been an RN for a little over two years now, and I work as a VA in a hospital in the medical/surgical unit. I like working the night shift because of my Adhd. I stay better focused on nights. I have since gotten another updated test to confirm my ADHD to my employer. I have had some problems where I have made mistakes in my charting and forgotten to scan a couple of meds through our barcode administration. I was put on a PiP program for five months. It's a performance improvement program. I was pulled off of my nights and put on days with a mentor. I had to meet with my Nurse Manager every two weeks for 90 days. Now the meeting was supposed to be nondisciplinary. She was very harsh. She made fusses over very little things. When I corrected some of the mistakes that were included in charting, my nurse manager continued to come up with new problems that didn't seem to bother her before. Many of my fellow nurses letters on my behalf that I have improved enough to be put back on my reg shift. My nurse manager knew in April that I had ADHD. She is trying to get me fired for practice issues. I am on administrative paid leave till they make a decision on whether they keep me or not.

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Specializes in ICU /Cardiac.

I am so glad to have read these posts. I have ADHD but am also OCD, and I work in a small hospital ICU. I beat myself up all the time for things and often question if I am in the right field/dept. I have always struggled with insecurity throughout my life (I have been in therapy and understand why). I will be 40 this year and have decided that this is the year I will no longer feel bad about my flaws, and I am taking a more assertive approach to my life/career. My advice to anyone.

1) not only complete your continuing education but routinely continue to review systems etc. as well as ACLS etc. The saying "knowledge is power" is true, and in my case, Knowledge is confidence. Plus, I have a little/mini journal notebook (yes, it's color coordinated as well) that I have made my own notes/cheat sheets on regarding things I've seen and cared for, etc. By using my own notes/language (personal shorthand), it's easier to recall.

2) I have a few co-workers that I'm close w/ as well as my manager, that understand my "issues." I'm fortunate in that they are encouraging and have never made me feel inadequate. Which, honestly, is a constant fear I have, mainly because I have such high expectations of myself. (Story of my life, LOL) .thanks to everyone for sharing their issues/advice. I appreciate them!

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Specializes in Operating room..

I work in the OR! Great place for those with ADD!

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lelequet said:
Personally, I have a hard time keeping up with the fast pace. I am in an adult day care where it's a little smoother until I know what I'm doing cause one day, I get it, and the next, my nerves take over, and its as I've never acquired the skill.

This is how I am, too; the faster pace sometimes sends me into overdrive and super-distractability. Especially if I'm on a wonky schedule and can't get 5-6 hours of sleep, my mouth begins running on its own, and it doesn't matter what I do; I forget EVERYTHING.

School nursing has worked out well for me because it's the same schedule every week (well, except holidays and snow days!), and I know I'll have meds at 7:15 and q30 mins from 11 am-1 pm, so I can plan special programs around that. But beyond that, I have no idea what or when something will come through my door! It's enough structure that I can make my lists and plan my day and have time for all my double-checks, but it's still got enough variance that I don't get bored. (And when I do, I am able to find something to do.)

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Specializes in Emergency Nursing.

ER, is a perfect fit. I would be too bored. I did ICU rotations during my orientation, and I was so bored. ICU was too OCT and not enough chaos, haha

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Reading through the responses just floored me! I'm ADHD inattentive, currently in nursing school, pulling high honors. I was really worried that once I graduated, I would have a hard time finding work. A big thank you for all who posted. You really gave me confidence that it will work out.

That said, I was an LNA before entering school, and I loved LTC on the Alzheimer's unit. Always something, always a challenge. It really kept me focused. The only struggle I had was with coworkers. I'd really like to go into hospice care once I get my RN.

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