Good fit for ADHD LPN?

[AmyLooV]

I'm a pre-nursing student who is slated to start LPN school in august. I've been recently dx'd with ADHD (predominately innattentive). I realize that I'm potentially limited in my career options. Are there any career tracks that would work well with an ADHD nurse? Am I setting myself up for failure?

[Coolbean12]

There is no such thing as setting yourself up for failure. I too am ADD if you look at some of my posts, specifically the one where I talked about my NCLEX experience you will get a glimpse into my struggles of studying for the NCLEX. I would be lying to you if I said that nursing school was easy but then again I do not think it is easy for anyone (if it is, then damn them!!!! haha!) Hopefully you have medication and if you do, utilize it. There was a point where I thought I didn't need it anymore and decided not to take it right before an important exam, BAD IDEA. Wait until after you've become settled in a job, after your comfortable in your career to stop (my opinion at least) I found that organization for me is a HUGEEEE problem and continues to be and with that comes deadlines, I unintentionally put things off and unfortunately this is not a profession where this is an option. I have learned techniques to help myself with this but I have yet to master it, this is something I struggle with but I am getting better. You need to realize your strengths and your weaknesses and address them from the beginning. I will also tell you this I had a bachelors degree in a totally unrelated study (Journalism) and the way I studied at my 4 year school was TOTALLY different than how I studied for Nursing.. I CHANGED EVERYTHING when it came to nursing school, I learned how to study before last minute, how to make charts to organize myself, how to use to "ORGANIZED TRAPPER KEEPER" and how to use tabs for my books.. and even color code my high lighters.. All these methods are methods I never utilized until nursing school. Find what works for you and go with it... But Don't give up just because you think your at a disadvantage, you will find lots of threads on here with people who have similar issues :) Good luck!

[k31kozumi]

WOW! It is almost like I wrote that myself! :)

If there is a will there is a way.

I did have a clinical instructor ask me why I thought I could be a nurse since I had ADHD???!!!! I had to school her right there and then but I still was shaken up after that. I shared that with my next clinical instructor who was open about her ADD (can u believe it :)) and she taught me a lot!! Know your strengths and follow your passions.

Since then I have no problem being open and teaching whoever I need to in my path and I have had great success and fantastic references because I am confident now!

Good luck to all

There is no such thing as setting yourself up for failure. I too am ADD if you look at some of my posts, specifically the one where I talked about my NCLEX experience you will get a glimpse into my struggles of studying for the NCLEX. I would be lying to you if I said that nursing school was easy but then again I do not think it is easy for anyone (if it is, then damn them!!!! haha!) Hopefully you have medication and if you do, utilize it. There was a point where I thought I didn't need it anymore and decided not to take it right before an important exam, BAD IDEA. Wait until after you've become settled in a job, after your comfortable in your career to stop (my opinion at least) I found that organization for me is a HUGEEEE problem and continues to be and with that comes deadlines, I unintentionally put things off and unfortunately this is not a profession where this is an option. I have learned techniques to help myself with this but I have yet to master it, this is something I struggle with but I am getting better. You need to realize your strengths and your weaknesses and address them from the beginning. I will also tell you this I had a bachelors degree in a totally unrelated study (Journalism) and the way I studied at my 4 year school was TOTALLY different than how I studied for Nursing.. I CHANGED EVERYTHING when it came to nursing school, I learned how to study before last minute, how to make charts to organize myself, how to use to "ORGANIZED TRAPPER KEEPER" and how to use tabs for my books.. and even color code my high lighters.. All these methods are methods I never utilized until nursing school. Find what works for you and go with it... But Don't give up just because you think your at a disadvantage, you will find lots of threads on here with people who have similar issues :) Good luck!