Do you get bullied often? Easy to cope?

[cerda394]

I am going into the nursing field, but I am prone to being bullied. I'm a male in my 20's, I look 3 years younger, & I have ADHD. I've been bullied a lot in high school until I started college I am forgetful sometimes and can even be a slow learner. I do have A's in all my college course work even though I have a hard time remembering directions like in lab. My family is in the medical field & it does intrigue me. Do you have any experiences to share and how you coped with it? I hope I get through without being stomped all over. Being a slow learner and making mistakes makes it easier to be targeted. Not going to give up though.

[BSNbeauty, BSN, RN]

Do not allow people to Bully you. People only do what you allow them to do. Stand up for yourself.

Now if I can just take my own advice but I digress....

[caliotter3]

If you are making A's in college, it sounds to me like you have gone a long way in learning how to adapt. Suggest that you take a CNA course and do some work in a LTC facility. Believe you me, you will learn how to stand up for yourself or you will disintegrate. That would be a good place to learn your assertiveness skills so you can practice before you start out as a licensed nurse and are responsible for directing employees. Congratulations on your good progress in school and good luck with your endeavors.

[RunBabyRN]

Have you found ways to overcome these challenges (slow learner, difficulty remembering directions) in the workplace and in school? I only ask because those are important in nursing. Nursing school (and nursing as a career) is very fast-paced, and in nursing, being able to follow directions and remember multiple steps and tasks is all stuff you encounter every day. I wouldn't be worried about bullying, but coworkers may get frustrated with you if they keep having to go over the same stuff with you or feel they can't count on you to get things done. I can be forgetful, too, and I have found that writing everything down works very well for me. I use color coding on my "brain sheet" (a sheet with your patient info and all of your notes for the day) to ensure nothing gets missed.

There are a lot of nurses that look very young, so I wouldn't stress too much about that element. Have you ever shadowed a nurse? It might be worthwhile to really get a feel for what it's like.