Nursing students on medication

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We had a conversation at work today about nursing students that take medication to stay awake for school. I have seen students come from the university so drugged up on things like adderol. Do these students realize that they are putting patients lives at risk and do I have the right to say anything to my boss????? Why do these so called #1 nursing schools allow this????? Does the nursing boards not see what is happening????

Specializes in ER, Addictions, Geriatrics.
But I would like to point out that while you keep saying you are going to protect patient safety, you never did explain how this student was threatening patient safety. We weren't there, you were, so tell us?

That and... Who cares if he takes it to stay awake?? Is it really your business if he's taking it to stay awake? Not likely. It should be for the school to deal with. If he's not done any harm to his patients, then I don't see the issue.

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As a nursing student who is prescribed medication for ADHD and auditory processing disorder, I take great offense to this post. The OP's concern is that a student stated that they took medication "to stay awake". That came from the student. The OP wanted to know if they should bring this to the attention of someone due to the behavior of the student. Why would they not? If the student has the prescription legitimately, the situation will be resolved. If not, the situation will again be resolved. Don't read more into this than was posted.

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Specializes in critical care.
As a nursing student who is prescribed medication for ADHD and auditory processing disorder I take great offense to this post. The OP's concern is that a student stated that they took medication "to stay awake". That came from the student. The OP wanted to know if they should bring this to the attention of someone due to the behavior of the student. Why would they not? If the student has the prescription legitimately, the situation will be resolved. If not, the situation will again be resolved. Don't read more into this than was posted.[/quote']

So, you would NOT be offended if your preceptor told your nursing instructor that you were abusing a medication and your behavior was inappropriate? It would NOT offend you if your preceptor pointed out your hyperactive behavior and asked you how you manage to stay so "up"?

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Specializes in critical care.

Forgive me - those questions sound snarky, but I promise they aren't meant to. I am being serious. If my ADHD child or husband came home telling me that they were singled out for their ADHD symptoms, I would be livid.

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Okay enough bashing me. I have said this time and time again...the nursing student said that he was on Adderall to stay awake for clinicals not because of ADHD. If it had been that I would not of had a problem okay. If I felt that he was still acting irresponsible even though he had ADHD and even though he was on medicines yes I would still voice my concerns. But that was not what he said I took him for his words shame on me enough said.

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One question...isn't something like adderall when u have ADHD supposed to make more focused? Less hyper? Can it have an opposite effect on someone with ADHD?

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Specializes in NICU.
One question...isn't something like adderall when u have ADHD supposed to make more focused? Less hyper? Can it have an opposite effect on someone with ADHD?

He might not have taken it or it may have been wearing off.

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One question...isn't something like adderall when u have ADHD supposed to make more focused? Less hyper? Can it have an opposite effect on someone with ADHD?

Speaking from experience, Adderall doesn't necessarily calm down the hyperactivity. It gives a person the ability to better control the impulse to move.

And Adderall is not a wonder drug. It doesn't make them suddenly not have ADHD for the time they have taken it.

I am going to say this once more: unless you can provide specific evidence of the nursing student's irresponsibility, and can directly connect it to his Adderall, I will continue to tell you to stay out of it. ADHD is a medical disorder. There is no difference between a student on insulin or Prozac or Adderall or Synthroid. You have no horse in this race, so please, let the student be and stop making this some kind of crusade to save the patients from this supposed great harm from being treated by neuroatypical nurses.

There is no shame in being wrong. Being offensive and ignorant of neuroatypical disorders and the people who have them definitely is shameful.

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I'm a nursing student with ADD who takes adderall daily. I take an XR and then a short acting as needed. If I take the 10 mg boost that first 30 minutes I'm ready to run a marathon, super talkative, like I can feel it physically kicking in. And then I'm ok and focused and normal for the rest of my day.

There are a lot of people out there who abuse ADD meds, classmates constantly try to buy them off of me. But for myself and a lot of other people with ADD the medication actually makes us more safe, or more effective at our jobs.

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Specializes in Short Term/Skilled.
Adderall and ritalin are actually controlled stimulants similar to amphetamine (Adderall is actually a type of amphetamine), and don't necessarily provide simply "focus". In those with true ADHD, psychostimulants such as adderall and ritalin have an effect that is sort of paradoxical compared to the effects on someone without ADHD; the drugs appear to have more of a calming than stimulant effect.

When abused by those without ADHD, adderall and ritalin are used in the same way that amphetamines or other stimulants are abused.

And while I would argue that Physicians have unfairly stolen the title of "Doctor", a DPT isn't actually a Doctor as the term is generally understood.

YES. I take adderall for ADHD, and I describe it as "slowing my brain down". I am able to think clearly and not get distracted by every. little. thing. (I am like the dog from the movie "UP". squirrel.....squirrel....squirrel....) It doesn't have the same effect on me as it would for someone without ADHD. It is like I was wearing foggy glasses my entire life and someone just wiped them clean.

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Specializes in Short Term/Skilled.
One question...isn't something like adderall when u have ADHD supposed to make more focused? Less hyper? Can it have an opposite effect on someone with ADHD?

For me, I get much better impulse control and am able to focus better and think more clearly.

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To ixchel, yes I would be very offended if what you describe happened to me and I would have a major problem with it. But that is not what the OP described. They described a nursing student who stated that they took Adderall TO STAY AWAKE. I take my meds as prescribed, see my physician every four months for a med check and make contact in between as needed, am in contact with disability services at my school, and life goes on. Without my meds, I can not function. Plain and simple. I am in fact as the OP described this student. Does it mean he is taking a med that is not prescribed for him. No. But based on what he did say and what she in fact saw, I can not believe any practicing nurse would not be concerned. Very few at my school know about my disability and the meds I take. I have learned that these types of meds are favored among college students, especially during finals.

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