Terminated because of my Attention Deficit Disorder

[LPN&momof3]

Just needed to vent a little. What a rough day today, I was terminated today because of may ADD. I made this clear with the DON when she was terminating me if it was based on my work performance and she said Yes. I have just recently been diagnosed and started on meds and still trying to find the right dosage. She is aware of the diagnosis and I reminded her of this again.

I am upset and hurt and she was not willing to work with me on this until I got my meds straigthen out. She has said before how I am such a strong nurse and I can do the job but I just need to be more organzied and have better time mangament. Now she does not want to work with me on this.

Thanks for listening.

[morte, LPN, LVN]

Sorry, this is not a new onset just increased. I have had my TSH and hormonal among many other things tested recently so this is not what it is. I have had this problem for years mentioned bits and parts of the ADD symptoms I have had especially the concentration and my doctor didn't really do anything until I said this is serious effecting my job. I didn't know it was ADD at the time.

ah, good for you......i just dont like to see the forest missed for the trees, lol

[sbyramRN]

Have you ever thought about working in an ER? I know several nurses with ADD that thrive in the ER environment.

Good luck with your situation.

Peace

Well, I work in the ER, and if she cannot handle time management as a floor nurse, there is NO WAY she can handle time management in the ER.

[LPN&momof3]

Well, I work in the ER, and if she cannot handle time management as a floor nurse, there is NO WAY she can handle time management in the ER.

I'm not a floor nurse I work in a nursing home which is a whole different environment. They do not hire LPN in the hospitals in my area.

[yelnikmcwawa]

The problem I see, is that the symptoms of ADD are very subjective, and so it may be difficult for you to prove that your time management and organization is directly and ONLY caused by ADD. There are times when an employer must accomodate an employee with a disability, but what would you have suggested your boss do to accomodate you??? Bottom line...if you can't get the work done in a satisfactory manner, then you're just not right for that position.

Hopefully you can find the right medication to help alleviate your sympotms, but I will tell you this much: ADD treatment is WAY more than just medication. Untreated adults with ADD have often learned a lifetime of poor habits, and simply adding a daily pill to your regimine won't fix it. You may need some cognitive/behavioral therapy to help you learn more efficient ways of working and completing your ADLs.

I'm not trying to sound mean, but the harsh reality is that you can't just blame ADD on your work difficulties and expect that it'll all get better in a few months after you've tinkered with medication...you have to look at the problems, analyze what needs to be done, take your meds, and learn new sequencing.

Not many employers have sympathy for ADD diagnoses, and I don't see that changing any time soon. There is no adaptive equipment or "time of" they can emply to assist you, and so it all needs to be your own personal work, and this can be frustruating for employers. Especialy employers who have patient's lives at hand. If you state your ADD made it hard for you to focus, who's to say that the next day, that lack of focus wouldn't manifest in a med error???

Sorry this happened to you, and good luck!

[leslie :-D]

I'm not a floor nurse I work in a nursing home which is a whole different environment.

but you still need solid time mgmt skills in ltc, yes?

afterall, you're passing meds to many residents within a specified time frame.

i agree that it's definitely going to take personal, deliberate strategy on your part, to make this work.

is time mgmt the only concern your employer has?

leslie

[morte, LPN, LVN]

devils advocate here, where any of your coworkers have to stay and do work,BUT DID SO OFF THE CLOCK?

[SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN]

I would think long and hard about retaining an attorney, especially if, as you say, you live in a small town type of area. You'll be nailing your own coffin shut.

[yelnikmcwawa]

I would think long and hard about retaining an attorney, especially if, as you say, you live in a small town type of area. You'll be nailing your own coffin shut.

Yeah, what she said!

Not to discourage you, but I don't see how in any way you'd have too much of a case. The lawers of your employer will rip you to shreds and your boss will tell the judge that you simply couldn't get your work done. It's not like you have multiple sclerosis and they could have offered you a desk job and a back cusion. You couldn't get the job done in the timeframes they expected, and there is not much they could have done about it... You can't be lenient on timeframes in patient care.

[sharpeimom]

i hope you won the lottery to depend on an attorney for everything!

while i am not an attorney, both of my parents and several others in my family were, it sounds as though you need one. often an attorney will take a case pro bono if they feel strongly enough about how unfairly the person was treated or what their family situation is. don't start with someone advertising on tv or the radio. get a recommendation from your doctor if she has had patients in similar situations and/or call your county's bar association (call your county courthouse and get the bar association's phone number) and ask whom they would recommend. you might well have to go out of town or out of county because ultimately you want someone in disability law or at least someone who has tried that type of case before. a call to your legal aid services (for low income clients) if you qualify, might also be a place to begin because in nonurban areas like this, the lawyers rotate down a list to provide coverage and often trade cases if something out of their area of usual practice comes their way and if the case is in certain areas like disability law. they may well take the case on a contingency basis (if not pro bono) which means they get a set percentage of the winnings, if there are any, and nothing if you don't win. so if that word comes up, don't panic. hope some of my random thoughts help. good luck.

sharpeimom:paw::paw:

[BabyLady, BSN, RN]

That's awful. I can't offer any constructive advice, but it sounds like discrimination to me. You'd think that they would offer help rather than sacking someone, especially in an industry where the whole purpose is to help people. Sounds like the DON is very uninformed about your condition, like many people.

Technically, it isn't discrimination if the disorganization and time management was affecting patient care.

The OP didn't say exactly what happened....so I'm not assuming, just suggesting.

The facilities first obligation is to protect the patient.

[LPN&momof3]

Technically, it isn't discrimination if the disorganization and time management was affecting patient care.

The OP didn't say exactly what happened....so I'm not assuming, just suggesting.

The facilities first obligation is to protect the patient.

Actally the disorganization and time management was NOT affecting patient care. I was putting my residents first making sure they were safe and answering alarms. I was staying over doing the charting that I was not able to get to during the shift because of all the extra stuff they have been throwing at us left and right to do. My work was completed during my shift except any charting I was not able to complete.

[morte, LPN, LVN]

Actally the disorganization and time management was NOT affecting patient care. I was putting my residents first making sure they were safe and answering alarms. I was staying over doing the charting that I was not able to get to during the shift because of all the extra stuff they have been throwing at us left and right to do. My work was completed during my shift except any charting I was not able to complete.

....and this is why i asked if you coworkers had the same issues, but had been working OFF the clock......when something happens that doesnt make a lot of sense,...follow the money