How to cope with poor memory

[morningland]

I'm a floor nurse on a busy med/surg ortho floor. Been doing it for four years and I love it... more or less. My memory has never been great, but over the last year it is deteriorated to the point that I am really alarmed. I can't remember pt history, admitting dx, things like that to save my life! I really rely on having my computer in front of me or having it written down.

I've actually seen my PCP over it and had a freaking head CT, which was WNL. Anyways, does anyone out there suffer with this? I am great great great with tasky, floor stuff but man on man this memory issue has always made my job harder then it seems it needs to be.

I also have been treated for ADHD, the meds didn't help at all.

[vanilla bean]

I have *never* had a good short-term memory. If I make a point to try to commit something to memory, I'm good, but at work...forget it. I have to write everything down. It takes me a little longer to complete tasks during my shift because I have to jot down notes, but I have figured out a way to keep everything I need at my fingertips (on my brain sheet). I have a system (and shorthand) that works for me and is invaluable to be able to answer questions by patients and staff, and at the end of my shift to be able to write a note and give report.

Hope your health is well, but just commenting to let you know that there are work-arounds for this type of problem. Best wishes.

[jadelpn, LPN, EMT-B]

Not medical advice per AN TOS, but perhaps you need a second opinion.

[SubSippi]

I have an AWFUL memory, I've been notorious for it since I was little.

I over compensate to the point where I appear really organized and on top of things. I write everything down, always, and when I round with the docs I have to make a special sheet for that. I have check lists everywhere, for everything. If I have to do oral care q4h, I have a spot with three spaces, and I don't cross anything out until it's charted.

It might take a little extra time to write things down, but I'm hardly ever behind. Having everything out in front of me makes it easy to organize everything I have to do, and I'm way less likely to have to make multiple trips into a patient's room.

It's annoying, and I've always been SO jealous of people who can just remember things off the top of their heads.

[VivaLasViejas, ASN, RN]

I've always had to write everything down. I am the sticky note queen! My memory is like Swiss cheese and has been since my 30s. I think some of it has to do with the fact that I have bipolar disorder and the meds I take to tame it have memory issues as a side effect. But as I said, my problems go back to way before I was diagnosed and treated so I can't blame everything on my illness or the meds.

I would definitely get a second opinion on the possibility of ADHD. It's sometimes hard to diagnose it in adults because we find ways to compensate. If you're also easily distracted, it makes the case for ADHD stronger. Of course we can't diagnose you over the Internet but definitely look into getting that second opinion.

[iluvivt, BSN, RN]

That is a tough problem! I so depend on my killer memory that I do not know how I would function without it. I always tell my boyfriend what he ordered the last time we were at a restaurant, "You had the the trout a plancha and I had the filet with a side of roasted vegetables". If I have to repeatedly use information or if I am testing I will use mnemonics that I construct and have been doing this since grade school,long before I even knew it had a name.

I sent you a PM!

[lavenderskies, BSN]

Any chance you have small children or have other sleep disturbances? My short term memory was perm. zapped in my 30's after a long drawn out bout of post partum anxiety and ensuing severe insomnia.