Nursing with Asperger's ... :/

[AnonymousDeleted]

So, I have been a certified nursing assistant since 2009 and it is honestly the only career I've ever had. I have a love/hate relationship with my profession, as do most of my peers. However, I am strongly interested in further study despite the fact that I've put it off for so long.

I've had problems in the past, and have been fired from my past 2 employers, one was an assisted living facility that I worked at for 8 months that fired me for 'general poor performance' after writing me up for several things all at once out of nowhere. I'll admit that I've always had 'people problems' and it pretty much boiled down to that. My next job was much better, working as a patient care technician in a hospital setting for a few months on an orthopedic floor at night for a few months where I ran into some minor issues, and I agreed to switch to days on a med-surg floor, but was terminated for being a no call no show after about a year. I had a habit of working overtime or trading shifts with other people who would bully me and give me the **** end of the stick. I still have no idea how it happened and am 100% sure it was an honest mistake or I was purposely set up by someone. I was very proud and loved my job, it devastated me to lose it.

Currently I am working in a long term care facility or nursing home and continue to have people problems. I've been here for about 2 years, which is quite an accomplishment for me. I have made no enemies, but I'm pretty sure I'm generally disliked. I really hate this job and would love to be a tech in a hospital setting again, but I've gotten comfortable in the fact that I've survived here for so long.

For as long as I can remember, I've always had the preconceived notion that other people don't like me, and I'm not exactly sure when or how that started. I always went through life not trusting people, or wanting to share things about myself with others. It has been brought to my attention that I definitely have eye contact problems, which is a trademark of those affected by asperger's. Also, I have very few interests but am an expert on a handfull of topics. Unfortunately those all happen to be topics that aren't generally socially accepted as appropriate to share with others: I am into the occult, an avowed athiest, bisexual and extremely into left hand path philosophy. Let's just say that making friends isn't easy and leave it at that. People with asperger's have very poor social skills but are said to be nearly intellectual geniuses and excel in careers so long as they are tailored to fit the few interests that they have.

I am without a doubt sure that I suffer the condition and I fit the bill perfectly. My dad does too, but I've never discussed it with him and I'm pretty sure he's probably never even heard of it, but I'd like to think that's the origin of my problems. I would very much like to pursue treatment but I need some reassurance that it'll be worth it. I've read that social skills training is the best that there is to offer, and maybe treatment to reduce my social anxiety as well.

I need to hear from other people who are already diagnosed... is it hard to be diagnosed as an adult? What are the advantages of being clinically diagnosed? Would you disclose it to your employer? Do you regret disclosing?

What should I know before going through with this? I just cant take it anymore.

[Pangea Reunited, ASN, RN]

I don't know about any of the other stuff, but if that's your real picture, you should take it down.

[AnonymousDeleted]

Why exactly? I have noticed that most people don't use photos around here. Is there any particular reason?

[LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN]

I would caution "self diagnosing" yourself; try seeking professional assistance in combating your social anxiety and managing it.

Be gentle to yourself; I believe there are a few posters here with similar issues and will respond.

Best wishes.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

Why exactly? I have noticed that most people don't use photos around here. Is there any particular reason?

Number one reason: ANONYMITY

Allnurses.com is the largest nursing website of its kind. It's a small world, and perhaps one of your coworkers or managers might see your photo. You do not want current or potential employers to be put off or disgusted by disclosing too much information (example: posting a real picture of you as an avatar while discussing your problems with social skills).

[TerpGal02, ASN]

I suspect I am somewhere on the aspergers scale althought my special interests are a little more socially acceptable LOL (dogs, organic gardening, and psychopharmacology lol). I've always had trouble with eye contact but I've trained myself to do it because it's polite, sarcasm goes totally by me, I don't pick up on jokes a lot, I take everything literally. I have certain orders I have to do things in, there are sensory things that bother me and certain sensory things I find comforting (ie ketchup or salad dresiing left on a plate and I touch it totally grosses me out. Loud sounds bother me. I tend to "space out" in large crowds of people). I was really shy and awkward as a kid, I still am to an extent. My therapist today asked me if I thought these were the results of trauma (I was bullied severely and am a sexual abuse survivor) or developmental. I told her probably a little of both. She asked about sensory stuff when I was small and I recalled that getting water on my face freaked me out. Like going into full blown hysterics when my mom had to rinse shampoo out of my hair because I was so afraid of getting water on my face. So I haven't been officially dx'ed but my therapist thinks it's a possibility.

I have found work settings to be ok as far as relationships with my peers. I'm polite, cordial, and get my job done. I AM def a "fake it till you make it" type of person. Bit I still have issues worrying that people don't like me and I have to remind myself to smile otherwise my affect looks pretty flat and people ask if I'm ok.

[chrisrn24]

I work with a girl who I suspect has a social disorder and slight mental retardation. Sometimes she's a big awkward with patients but for the most part she is a good worker.

I would suggest speaking with a doctor and getting involved in social skills classes - learning what to talk about and what's not okay to talk about. Also learning to pick up social cues is helpful.

[jose2010]

I'm also a cna and know what u r going though... I was once thought to have aspergers and went to a psych doctor and was told I have social anxiety.... I know that got me fired from my first job ever but have been put on meds that help out a lot and have been able to keep a job as long as I have....

[cowboys22]

I have high functioning autism and I'm a cna. I got diagnosed by a neuropsychologist and it was covered by my insurance, but not every insurance company pays for it. It costs several hundred dollars to be tested so if your insurance won't cover it and you don't have a referral, you may be out of luck. The only benefit for being diagnosed is that it allows you to file for disability if needed. I would never disclose anything to my employer, having a stigma associated to you makes working difficult and they might find a random reason to fire you.

Try working around what ever you may have. Since you lack social skills you should work 3rd shift as a cna and I find overnight shifts with homecare to be very easy. You only work for one person and for most of the shift they are asleep, you also work alone and have no coworkers which is nice too.

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

Wow, I can't imagine how stressful it is for an Aspie to work in healthcare. My Aspie (dx at 16) offspring is a software engineer - very appropriate career field which has proven to be quite successful. I know that the social skills 'thing' and inability to sense emotional nuance are serious issues, but I would imagine that the lack of consistent structure & having to cope with a dynamic priorities/schedule... would be complete deal-breakers for an Aspie.