Can I Take Adderall as an RN?

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Hi there, new grad RN here. I recently got let go from my first nursing job after 8 weeks of orientation because I wasn't progressing enough. I was already very depressed and struggling each day at work. I was showing up but found myself completely overwhelmed. This week I had a Drs. appointment and was surprised to hear her diagnose me with ADD and prescribed a low dose of Adderall. To be honest the thought of taking it makes me nervous as I don't know how I feel about this new diagnosis, and I also have a lot of anxiety in general but if it will help I am willing to try I guess. I am wondering though about whether I'm allowed to take Adderall as an RN? Can a hospital refuse to employ me even if I have a prescription? I'll be looking for a new job, so I'm just wanting to be informed. Thanks in advance.❤️

Specializes in Med-Surg RN.

Davey Do he had this bearded Viking & I had the pink llama. Everyone else has Christmas badges.?

 

 

images.jpeg
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care.

yes you can.

I had no idea, nor even considered the idea, that I had adhd. and getting treated made a world of difference. 

I was on a slew of anti depressants, anti-anxiety meds, and some docs wanted to try meds for bipolar disorder. been on prozac 4 times, zoloft twice, lexapro, ativan on and off, xanax, seroquel, trazdone, wellbutrin, and more... and that went on from ages 17 - 25 with few to no benefits, and many side effects.

once a doc decided to eval me for adhd at age 25 (five years ago), im off most med, and currently just take low dose anti depressant daily, anti-anxiety med PRN, and then depending on the day, I'll take either my long acting or short acting stimulant meds (adderall). 

friends, significant others, and family will not always accept this. but it doesnt matter - you need to do what is best for you. and if those meds work, then thats awesome. there are many nurses on medications. as long as you have a provider who is prescribing them for a diagnosis that is appropriate and you are taking them as prescribed, youre fine. 

id encourage you to take a look at this video. it was very helpful for me and very real. I hope it is helpful for you too 

 

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Peds ED.

Your mileage may vary but my anxiety improved on stimulants for ADHD: struggling and then feeling bad about struggling with “easy” things for others was a huge contributor for me.

I’ve started multiple new jobs on ADHD meds. Make sure you are compliant with your prescriber and have an active RX while you take them. When you get called by the drug testing company they will want your RX number. 

And as an aside, I’ve found med surg and inpatient nursing in general to be terrible fits for ADHD, at least mine. ED is where it’s at- a specialty couldn’t be more tailor-made for ADHD.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).
On 1/7/2022 at 3:33 PM, SNgirl21 said:

 but my family is not the most accepting when it comes to mental health issues, so I don't really share these things with them, 

While it is sometimes mis diagnosed as a mental health disorder, the diagnosis of ADHD is complex medical diagnosis. While some psychiatric medications may be helpful to those severely effected some cases do not require any medications. Just as we are now learning that autism is a medical diagnosis the same is true for ADD/ADHD. 

Inaddition to following treatment recomendations from your provider I would encourage you to read all you can about the disorder and to follow @Davey Do's advice for self care. Relaxation and meditation, along with a healthy lifestyle, exercise, sleep, nutritious diet, etc. None of this things can hurt and you will be one up on the DX.

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med-Surg RN.
On 1/10/2022 at 12:56 AM, BeatsPerMinute said:

yes you can.

I had no idea, nor even considered the idea, that I had adhd. and getting treated made a world of difference. 

I was on a slew of anti depressants, anti-anxiety meds, and some docs wanted to try meds for bipolar disorder. been on prozac 4 times, zoloft twice, lexapro, ativan on and off, xanax, seroquel, trazdone, wellbutrin, and more... and that went on from ages 17 - 25 with few to no benefits, and many side effects.

once a doc decided to eval me for adhd at age 25 (five years ago), im off most med, and currently just take low dose anti depressant daily, anti-anxiety med PRN, and then depending on the day, I'll take either my long acting or short acting stimulant meds (adderall). 

friends, significant others, and family will not always accept this. but it doesnt matter - you need to do what is best for you. and if those meds work, then thats awesome. there are many nurses on medications. as long as you have a provider who is prescribing them for a diagnosis that is appropriate and you are taking them as prescribed, youre fine. 

id encourage you to take a look at this video. it was very helpful for me and very real. I hope it is helpful for you too 

 

Thank you!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Geriatrics.

What’s more unsafe … taking a medication to help you focus and be aware of critical changes with your patients or not taking the med and being all over the place ? I say, take your meds! No shame in things you can’t control. If you were a diabetic taking glipizide would you worry about taking your prescription? Hang in there, I support you!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med-Surg RN.
6 hours ago, vintagegal said:

What’s more unsafe … taking a medication to help you focus and be aware of critical changes with your patients or not taking the med and being all over the place ? I say, take your meds! No shame in things you can’t control. If you were a diabetic taking glipizide would you worry about taking your prescription? Hang in there, I support you!

Thank you vintagegal. I'm just worried some people might not give me a chance either way. I hope that I can find something that works for me. I'm just afraid, what if I can't ever do well enough?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Geriatrics.
20 hours ago, SNgirl21 said:

Thank you vintagegal. I'm just worried some people might not give me a chance either way. I hope that I can find something that works for me. I'm just afraid, what if I can't ever do well enough?

We all have these feelings when we first start out, it’s normal. You will miss things, you will think to yourself “man I should have done this instead of that”. And that Will continue throughout your career. After all, we are human, we are not perfect. We just do the best that we can with what we got. Hope this helps!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Nephrology Home Therapies, Wound Care, Foot Care..

I’m an RN, and I take Adderall. I couldn’t be as good of a nurse as I am without it. The purpose of the med is to allow your brain- which is wired differently- to function normally. It allows me to remain focused, organized, and provide the highest level of care possible. It also  helps me not to hyper focus- which isn’t a problem for everyone with ADHD, but can be for me.  
 

Don’t worry about drug screens. They will detect it and contact you FIRST. You will provide a great photo of your pill bottle showing your name, date, drug and prescriber. By doing so, you have legitimized the finding, that info is not released to your employer or school. You pass your screen. 

And as far as your family not being supportive- oh well. Not their concern. You were smart enough to recognize a problem, get appropriate care, and deal with the issue. Good for you. That’s part of what will make you a good nurse.

Please don’t do not for one minute think this makes you “less than“. You are not, you’re setting yourself up for success by taking care of your own business. 

 

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med-Surg RN.
On 1/13/2022 at 12:53 PM, vintagegal said:

 Hope this helps!

Thank you❤️

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med-Surg RN.
21 hours ago, AngelKissed857 said:

I’m an RN, and I take Adderall. I couldn’t be as good of a nurse as I am without it. The purpose of the med is to allow your brain- which is wired differently- to function normally. It allows me to remain focused, organized, and provide the highest level of care possible. It also  helps me not to hyper focus- which isn’t a problem for everyone with ADHD, but can be for me.  
 

Don’t worry about drug screens. They will detect it and contact you FIRST. You will provide a great photo of your pill bottle showing your name, date, drug and prescriber. By doing so, you have legitimized the finding, that info is not released to your employer or school. You pass your screen. 

And as far as your family not being supportive- oh well. Not their concern. You were smart enough to recognize a problem, get appropriate care, and deal with the issue. Good for you. That’s part of what will make you a good nurse.

Please don’t do not for one minute think this makes you “less than“. You are not, you’re setting yourself up for success by taking care of your own business. 

 

Thank you ?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment