ADD/ADHD possibly, what dept would fit me best?

[babblingbrook]

I'm pretty sure I have Attention Deficeit Disorder of some degree. My son was diagnosed with severe ADHD a few months ago. Now it has made me realize that maybe some of my difficulties w/sustaining focus for long periods of time, listening to conversations and being able to retain the info, etc might be something other than just me. I've completed 3 degrees so I assumed it wouldnt' be possible, but then I think back to how hard I had to work to get them done, how difficult it was to sustain attention in class, etc.

I'm an RN and have tried out NICU (found it too intense as I got anxious and forgetful during high stress situations) and now Psych. Psych I find rather boring except for the times when I can connect w/a pt on one-to-one and help counsel them. I've only had my RN about 2 years and never did Med/Surg b/c I felt it wouldn't be a good fit b/c of having to keep track of all the patients. So now I'm trying to figure out which departments best suit ADD/ADHDers. I love teaching patients and it was the highlight of NICU to teach the parents and relieve their fears regarding their preemies.

Any suggestions would help.

Thanks!

[AltaEnfermera]

I was dx with ADD-impulsive/inattentive type 2 years ago, and can relate to a lot of your experiences. I struggled with every specialty I tried, simply because it was either too intense or too slow to keep my mind on task; the best fit I found was during my time as a traveler, when I worked in a prison clinic. It was essentially triage/clinic appointments, but having a set number of patients to see in x amount of time and a patient population who had essentially no health education kept my mind stimulated without throwing me into meltdown mode. I would love nothing more than to be able to do it full time, lol.

Now that I'm stabilized on meds, I find a lot of things to be easier (e.g paperwork, focusing on tedious tasks, dealing with crises, etc). The best recommendation I can give you is to talk to your doctor and find out if he/she deals with adult ADD; if not, ask him to refer you to a psychiatrist, preferably one who specializes in adults with ADD. I empathize with your situation; I remember how hard it used to be to get through a shift, having to manhandle my brain into doing its job, feeling physically used up from exerting 3x the effort to get the same result as everyone else. Adderall didn't fix the flawed ways of thinking/coping that I developed to compensate for ADD, but it's eliminated the physical aspect and made it possible for me change them. :) So bottom line: Talk to someone. ADD is not something you should have to "just deal with" or try to work around. Although some people may be able to do so and flourish, I know that I can't, and looking back at how hard it was to get through nursing school, work, daily adult life, I wish more than anything I would have recognized it a looooong time ago!

Best of luck :)

[hiddencatRN, BSN, RN]

I'm not working yet but as a student I loved every moment I spent in the emergency department. I found the constant shifting of priorities, new patients coming in, developing diagnoses, etc very stimulating and exciting, even when the cases weren't particularly "flashy".

It's interesting that you mentioned that you love the teaching aspect- my mom is a teacher, and she and I have the same attention span/distractibility. She always talks about how the classroom environment kept her on her toes and held her focus. It's pretty amazing to see how different she is in the classroom setting versus the home setting, so I think a good fit is important for ADD.

[Leelee2]

Med-surg, or wound care nurse

[Sparrowhawk]

I work in LTC and it's perfect for my ADD

[RN9742]

I have recently truly realized I am ADD, I used to joke about it all the time though! Still being a student I cannot really tell you what department will work best, but structure is by far one of the most important things for me. I think you could likely make any department work for you if you take the time to make it a good fit. Making lists will help keep you focused on what needs to be done in faster pace departments! It really is about utilizing those time management skills.

I also take medication for my ADD, and I have found it helps me A LOT most days, although I still have some days I struggle greatly staying focused. Changing the way you approach tasks will help on those days!

[Mike A. Fungin RN]

ED. There's always something new.