Can someone with add , adhd and that has a learning disability go to RN school?

thenursemandy · Sep 18, 2013

I have worked with QMAs and nurses with ADD. They for the most part are successful and able to complete their duties. That being said, other nurses will notice the ADD symptoms : whistling, tapping, rushing around frantically, getting easily side tracked, misplacing things. etc.

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide · Sep 18, 2013

A lot depends on whether your ADD is controlled on meds, and what kind of learning disability you have.

You'd do well to talk to an advisor at your local community college and take a couple of classes to see how it goes. You'll also want to consider working as a CNA for awhile, because you'll learn how to handle rapidly shifting priorities and gain organizational skills.

Wishing you the best of luck. It's an uphill battle to be sure, but it's worth a try. :yes:

lhflanurseNP, APRN · Sep 18, 2013

Good grief! My husband went back to medical school at 40 and graduated with honors...he has ADD/ADHD and dyslexia. There is a lot you can do if you apply yourself and if it's something you really want.

xoemmylouox, ASN, RN · Sep 18, 2013

You can always start as a CNA and go from there. Perhaps job shadowing a few nurses? You learn coping skills and if need be seek treatment from your MD.

ixchel · Oct 10, 2013

I know this is a few weeks old, but I have a student in my BSN cohort who has learning disabilities/needs and the program has been accommodating of him from day one. I'm not sure of all of the accommodations he's had but I do know he goes to a different place to take his exams. I think what will be important for you is to read through the forums and see if you feel you can handle the typical challenges with typical school accommodations. You will have a very large volume of work due each week, and I imagine that might be your hardest struggle. A conversation with the doctor who treats your ADHD would be a good idea, too, so you can do a good review of your symptoms, identify trouble zones up front, adjust medications as needed, and develop a plan for your more challenging days.

Dream big, and go for it, love. My son has ADHD and I hope with all my heart he stays ambitious into adulthood. It's easy as a child to have ambition, but I can see after feeling "restrained" through childhood, that college will feel like a daunting and arduous task. Go for your dreams, and get help along the way.

elkpark · Oct 11, 2013

People can do all sorts of things they set their minds to. However, one thing to be aware of is that, while Federal and state education laws require, basically, that schools do whatever they have to do to help people with various disabilities get through the educational program(s) of their choice, regardless, employers are held to a much looser standard. They are not required to provide all the accommodations that schools are required to offer, just to make "reasonable accommodations." When I've taught in the past, I've seen students going through school with lots of accommodations when it seemed pretty obvious that the individual was not going to be able to function in the profession/occupation once s/he graduated and was no longer being helped with every little thing all day, every day, which doesn't really seem fair or helpful to me.

I'm not suggesting that is the OP's situation -- just that, in addition to thinking about whether one can get through school, one also has to think about whether one will be able to function in the occupational role successfully after getting through school.

Best wishes!

yoga pants · Dec 4, 2013

You absolutely can go to nursing school with ADHD! I struggled in school with ADHD my entire life until finally my parents realized I might have ADHD and sought treatment for me my junior year of high school. I'm pretty sure I graduated high school with less than a 3.0 GPA...it was really bad! However, this month I will be graduating cum laude (GPA 3.5-3.69) with my BSN. Nursing school was definitely a challenge, but it was not impossible! It was not as hard as I thought it was going to be. If your ADHD/ADD is controlled then you'll do fine. However, you MUST know how you study/learn best. I never made below a B in any of the pre-reqs or in my nursing school classes and my goal was usually an A. I was also in a sorority and I had a job as a patient care tech at a hospital throughout nursing school. It is possible! Believe in yourself and stick to your goals of being a nurse. Don't let ADHD hold you back! You can do it! Good luck! :)

DermottMcSorley · Jan 8, 2014

Went through nursing school with ADD about 30 years ago. Most of the academics were relaitively easy for me,school was one of the hardest things I've done. Yes it is doable,as others have said as well. It will test your determination though.

b.anchondo · Jan 21, 2018

ABSOLUTELY! First though ask yourself this. Is this something I really want to do? Or is this something i'm doing to fall in suite with my families expectations? I created this profile to simply answer this question for you. Don't let anyone tell you what you can or cant achieve because of bull crap labels. If you want it bad enough, you can achieve it. Take it from me a 10th grade drop out with dyslexia and ADHD born from a bipolar 15 year old alcoholic mother with terrible family dynamics. I took the aptitude test when i got my GED at 22 it basically said "hey you should be a nurse" so when i told everyone what was doing they basically said "uh huh, ok so what are you really doing" so started with "you should have not dropped out of highschool courses" in 2009 applied for a slot in a 30 student 11 month LPN course. I didnt get in. One week after I got the news i received a call. they needed to fill one slot and asked if I would still be interested. apparently they had gone through the 12 other alternates i was lucky number 13! how was i to know the the RN i took the CNA challenge test was so impressed with my CNA abilities she remembered my name out of 200 other applicants. So as a 29 year old single mother of three with a mortgage car payment ADHD and dyslexia can do it, I have confidence so can you. here is my favorite quote its written by Brandy Anchondo LPN (hey thats me!) Don't live down to to expectations and labels people give you, live up to the the possibilities and determination of of those who have inspired you." mon-friday 8am 4pm school 7pm - 12am homework Saturday homework. Sunday flash card (my daughter wrote them out for me) and helped me at 15 years old study. P.S. alot 15-30 min everyday for crying and "i can't do this" followed by "oh yeah, watch this M@$%!%$!!!" I passed NCLEX in 86 questions on the first try no accommodations requested or used or medication.

CloverPark, RN · Feb 1, 2018

Hi! I just came across this post and was wondering if you decided to go to nursing school? I hope you did, because someone with ADD/ADHD can DEFINITELY complete nursing school and even EXCEL!! I am living proof! Graduated at the top of my class!