ADHD Nurses-what area do you specialize in?

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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

Specializes in ortho, hospice volunteer, psych,.

I don't have to add, but my husband has been diagnosed with ADD/ADHD, ODD, and OCD.

His odd diagnosis is based on his childhood and college behaviors. He isn't a nurse; he's

A college professor can frequently guess which of his students have similar problems.


No area suggestions. I was a psych nurse before I became disabled. I just wanted to encourage you.

You to keep taking your meds as ordered because it really does make a difference in your ability.

To concentrate ad accomplish your goals and be sure to take them on time.


Good luck!:hug:

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Specializes in ED.

I'm ADD, and I'm OCD. I'm starting nursing school in the fall. Making sure to take your meds DOES make a huge difference. I was so ashamed to seek help, but I had to because it just kept getting worse & worse and was affecting school. I still don't like for people to know because I get judged. It's something that I seriously can't help.

It's funny that everyone has said ER, medical-surgical, and critical care because those are the units that interest me. Glad I'm not alone in my struggle. I just hope the SON doesn't look down on me or judge me for it. I'm scared of that.

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k31kozumi said:

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.

This is a response to the student with ADHD who is starting her nursing program this fall. One of my roles as a nursing educator is to work with students with disabilities. Our program has a team that works with the student and their advisor from disability services to help the student be successful. It is scary to register with disability services and tell your teachers you are registered because of the concern that we might discriminate against students with disabilities. Here's my advice:

  1. Register with disability services. They are very helpful.
  2. You don't have to reveal your "disability label" to your teachers. That is none of their business. It is helpful, however, to tell them how your disability affects your learning. "Sometimes I get anxious when someone watches me do a skill," or "Sometimes it is difficult to focus." Work with your disability advisor and the teachers to help the teachers understand your learning style. When teachers don't know a student has ADHD, they sometimes label the behaviors as lazy, unfocused, etc., and blame the student rather than supporting learning.
  3. Use exam accommodations. They level the playing field but don't give you an unfair advantage.
  4.  Remember that most nursing educators want you to be successful.

Best wishes.

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Specializes in ortho, hospice volunteer, psych,.

While you have absolutely no obligation to share "the level of your disability," your professors can't help you.

Or make things any easier for you unless you're honest and aboveboard with them.


My husband is a college professor, and he will help any student he knows who has any type of problem learning, but

He can't always do his best if he doesn't know at least the basic problems because he isn't a mind reader.


He's taught students who distract easily, and they often take their tests in a quieter place, such as the library.

He's let a couple of kids turn in recorded papers because they were in a severe car accident.

He didn't call on one girl who had severe panic disorder and OCD in class because it would scare her so.

He had a young man who didn't want anyone to know he was severely hearing disabled, and my husband didn't

Figure out that was his problem until after Halloween. by then, he was on the "d f list," and when he got the

Assistance he needed, he got straight "as."


Your instructors and professors aren't being nosy; they just want to help you do your best.

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Personally, I have a hard time keeping up with the fast pace. I am in an adult daycare 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 it's like I've never acquired the skill.

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I'm so glad I found this thread. I'm not a nurse yet, I'm starting school this spring, and I'm worried about how my ADHD will affect my studies in nursing classes. How did you guys cope with things while in school?

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hi, i am also a new grad and started working at a med surge floor. I know exactly what you mean. It is so frustrating to go in and out of the room because I keep forgetting things.

Charting is also so frustrating because I forget to do them, so at the end of the day I have tons to chart

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I gave myself plenty of time to study, including "mind-wondering" time. I would re-watch lectures in my own time, and when my mind wonders, I would replay it.

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Specializes in hemodialysis, home health, SNF.

Somebody mentioned they have severe ADHD - I probably have severe ADHD - combined type because I wasn't diagnosed until three years ago at age 63. I had problems with most nursing jobs - lost at least 15 over the years - probably made hundreds of medication errors. I've had several specialties. I was a dialysis (Hemo) nurse for 16 years and did home health for 7 - home health is good for someone with ADHD because you only have to focus on one patient at a time. I'm working two days a week in a small nursing home -I get SS and no pension since I never worked anyplace long enough to get one (by the way, I'm working with chronic pain). Who could live on SS? I've been diagnosed with depression by at least 5-6 therapists. Then, finally, my boss diagnosed me - I got diagnosed by doc quickly - put on meds which helped - then quit that job shortly after because I was sure I was going to be fired. From age 63-65, I had no med insurance - no meds (remember - medicare starts at 65) and worked part-time. It was scary - I have several medical problems. Then, I finally went on medicare - have med. Advantage plan -HMO. I restarted the Vyvanse I had been taking - but was forced to stop because my med insurance no longer covered it. So now, I take generic Adderal - which helps, but it's not perfect.

1
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I have always had symptoms of ADHD, and for the most part, I credit it to my success in school. Behavior modification and diet regulations really helped. I recently left my medical-surgical position, and while there, I noticed my symptoms affecting my performance. The longest I've had a job is two years; I tend to get bored and find a more interesting position. I was just hired to a position in Critical Care, and I'm worried that, while I will finally have a position that can hold my interest, my symptoms of ADHD may limit my performance or, God forbid, endanger my patients. Any advice on how to handle the critical care setting with this level of impulsivity and distractibility? It's a night shift position which I hope will help. I tend to be able to focus more on night shifts. I'd like to avoid meds in the long term, but Im is not opposed to them in the short term if they're needed to get me to a point where the behavior therapies can start working.

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Working the er, where things have to be done now, other nurses would say, "don't jump when they order something. "I needed that; it was my little secret; even when I began taking Concerta, it got better. But I still needed to do everything stat.

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I have been an RN for 28 years now and have worked in a variety of settings over the years, chronologically; NICU, cardiothoracic surgical ICU adult, Newborn Nursery, NICU again, postpartum, lactation consultant in private practice, and for the last 12 years LDR. Now, at age 50, I have been diagnosed with combined-type ADHD. What a fantastic relief! This diagnosis has enabled me to recognize that my strengths exist, in part, because of my ADHD, and has allowed me to identify the things that I am not as good at while developing strategies to cope more effectively. For example, I have noticed that I am far more capable and confident when working in a higher acuity environment that is highly STRUCTURED than a floor nursing environment with many competing patient tasks and priorities. I have no difficulty managing my own critical situations because I am structured and organized within my own bed space, but I feel completely inept if I join in to help a co-worker because I don't know where to start! Now, when everybody is running to help, I know that the best place for me is covering the board, watching tracings, and covering for those who remain in the crisis area. Win-win. My stress level is now so much less, and I am much better at my job! I also find that my social anxiety issues fall into place with my new understanding of myself. It is a whole new ball game! Best wishes to you, and good luck. Long and fulfilling professional career. It can be done! Develop strategies and routines that work for you. Consider a therapist to work with you for professional development support, or perhaps engage a life coach. Find the strengths inherent in your ADHD, and dare I say, enjoy them! Good luck in all you pursue.

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