ADHD/ADD nurse

[shhnack]

Hello there! I know there has been a previous thread started on this subject, however it is pretty old and I wanted something more interactive to read and speak about. So, any of you out there been diagosed/self-diagnosed with ADD or ADHD? It would be nice to hear your stories, how you cope, what works, if you find that the disorder has affected every area of your life? Thanks for the input, can't wait-literally!!

Shhnack

[feelingbetter]

Hi: It is so good to find this link! I am a new graduate and I HAVE A JOB, at least for the moment. I have been working for 6 weeks. at a short term rehab. I like rehab and was very pleased to get the job... but my ADD and distractability has caused a problem. I have made a med error, no harm done but.. I know a serious offense.. I forgot to give a med... I lose track of what I am doing... I do take Adderall it did help me in school. I did get diagnosed by a credible hospital.

I have not told management and do not plan to.. I am now so anxious I keeping checking everything I do over and over.. I am literally taking it "Day at a time." Did I mention we all have 12 patients? I love this field, this is my second career but I don't want to get fired or GOD forbide hurt anyone.. I am so glad I am not the "only ADD nurse out there."

Thank you all

[danegerous, BSN, RN]

I apologize if I repeat anything, I just was not able to finish reading all of your posts, haha. (seriously, though). I'm a recent diagnosee with ADHD. I had gone through grade school and high school with good grades despite never studying, so nobody was ever suspicious. Although I was always getting into trouble for talking or being otherwise disruptive.

I got a bachelor's in graphic design, but that was easy being an ADHD-er. I have always felt my "stream of consciousness" and uncontrollable distractability were positives when related to my art.

But when I entered my BSN program, I began to realize that I couldn't just coast through it, I NEEDED to study! One clinical my teacher sat me down at the end for our final eval and asked if I'd ever been checked out. She said she was super impressed with my performance, but she wondered if my inability to stay focused was something more. So, I got tested...for six loooong hours. Turns out my IQ is 139 and I have adult-onset ADHD (although I think it was more adult diagnosed than onset).

So, now I'm a nurse. I have been able to really figure out a nice routine for myself. I have my time management down to a T and I am really rocking and rolling.

To be fair, I have been taking 30mg of Adderall XR for almost 3 years. I really feel like it helps a lot, but I get so manic-like. I take it right when I get out of the shower and on the ride to work i feel it kick in. I've lost like 20 lbs since being on it since I never eat. I feel like i can take over the world when i take it. I'm actually going to ask my doc to lower me to 20mg and then 15 over the next few months.

I think the main thing now is that I have an artificial need for it. Not like addict-need, but a feeling like it's my confidence, almost. Every once in a while I forget to take it and I still kick just as much butt. Then I remember when I get home and think..."oops".

Now a days, now that I'm on nights, I feel like I might be using it purely to stay up...that's the truth.

[unionnurse12]

Reading all of your post has really given me the encouragement that I needed to help push me through the final week of school. I have ADD and my pathophyisology teacher is very unwilling to help me. I will have to repeat the course and was very afraid that my disorder would get in the way of my dream but after reading all of the post I know I can make it!

Any tips for studying would be great. First semester is almost done and they stress just keeps on coming!!!

[etaoinshrdluRN]

Any tips for studying would be great. First semester is almost done and they stress just keeps on coming!!!

One of my problems is distractibility, and I find that the Pomodoro Method (using a timer, basically) helps me focus on whatever it is that I need to do and, because the timer is ticking, either reinforce the focus or re-evaluate the need to change to another task.

Another thing, if you are comfortable with it, is to reapproach the path teacher or the school and insist on accommodation. Don't let others' ideas of what is and is not appropriate or fair cut you off at the knees. Good luck.

[CanuckLPN73]

Anyone bring up their ADD/ADHD to their school?

I've been thinking about getting it documented....I know it's silly...but I'd really like to be able to ask my professors if, if I sat in the back of the room, if I could crochet. I've found if I keep my hands constantly busy, (while on my meds, obviously) I'm able to absorb EVERYTHING that's being said. In my CNA class I just highlight my book, lol...but with longer classes, I need something more. And doodling doesn't work and writing will distract my brain haha

so yeah. Anyone have themselves "listed" with student disability or whatever the case may be?

I listed with Student disabilities and to my shock and horror many students are (including many nrsg students)!! Not necessarily with ADD/ADHD though...everyone has something different. They said it depends on the year, but this yr there are many nrsg students whereas another yr there may only be a few.

I dont look at having ADD as being a disability but for school purposes I decided to use all the help I could. The nice thing is that they helped me apply for a grant so Im hoping...they are absolutley wonderful in the disability office and have many ways of helping. Im using the disability for exams so I get longer to write than others. Im also using it to help with essays, and this coming semester will be looking at tutoring...:)

[AScottRN11]

I'm glad I found this post and hope I can maybe help a few people out as well as get a little advice myself! I am a 26 y/o adult ADHDer. My kindergarten teacher wanted to hold me back because I wouldn't sit still or pay attention...DUH, and no one saw that as unusual? Needless to say I went many years without being diagnosed and it took until I was about 19, I think, till it was official. All though elementary, middle and the first half of high school I was in all advanced classes with honors grades, still not sure how that happened but I have read about the overcompensation ADDers do to hide their disorders. Anyways, I am graduating next month from the most demanding/difficult ADN program I've ever heard of and throughout the program, regardless that I'm on meds, I've definitely seen a lot of negative sides of the disorder but I've overcame them the best I could. I am not on the right meds but the ones I can afford. I'm currently taking Adderall instead of my usual Adderall XR b/c I no longer have any insurance.

Ok, not to get side tracked from my original thoughts (we tend to do that ). As a student, I have had to find ways to adapt along the way to be successful. Only 12 of our original starting class are actually part of our graduating class (that's how difficult it is, many people fail at least one class) and yet with the disorder I have succeeded with a lot of hard work. I found a good way to study my last semester that I wish I would have known all along, so I thought I'd pass it on.

It's called "mind mapping", kind of like concept mapping. It sounds so simple it's crazy but it's so useful as an ADDer. You take a white piece of printer paper and put the subject in the middle in a box, let's say the nursing process. Then you take one part, let's say Assessment and branch off from there and box it. Then you would put like 2 lines off from there and put objective and subjective and off of each of those etc...etc...Then you go back after you went through all your info on Assessment and go to the next think Diagnosis and put in a box off another line coming off of nursing process and continue in the same manner. I tend to write smaller which helps to get more info of one topic on one page and I also would color code it, like take a disorder and anything that would be a nursing diagnosis would be purple, nursing intervention off of something would be pink, a medical intervention green, etc...I would pretty much take pages of notes and able to those on one sheet on one page. Which is definitely less overwhelming then a ton of pages to distract you. As you keep doing them things start being able to connect on your sheet and you start finding ways of connecting the information in ways you never thought possible! I only learned how to do it in my last rotation in Critical Care but it was an invaluable resource for my education to come.

Sorry for such a long post, we tend to do this w/ ADD but hey, you gotta work with what you're given! I have also found a book called, "You mean I'm not Stupid, Lazy or Crazy" for adult ADDers and it is becoming very helpful. It takes a lot of work, time and adaptation but nursing school is possible. Next step, getting this nurse residency position that is the opportunity of my lifetime and adapting into the RN role!

Anna