Pre-Nursing Students with ADD

Pinoy2.0 · Jan 30, 2006

I think ADD can be somewhat curbed through behavior modification. If you're in college, most 4 years have a mental hygiene or counseling you could go to that may help you. They would probably be the best to tell you.

Note: Mental health isn't only for *looneys. :)

Rocky_LPN · Jan 31, 2006

i am a nursing student and i very much do have add, which makes it so hard for me to focus. I have considered adderall, however i am aware that alot of college kids use this as a recreation drug and i dont wanna look like a drug seeker when i present to the Doc. Im only 21 and i plan on many more years of school once i finish my RN but i have got to get control of this. :uhoh3:

carolinapooh, BSN, RN · Jan 31, 2006

Hey folks,
I've already introduced myself previosuly. I'm 19 & doing all my pre-reqs to get into the RN program but I'm having trouble because of my ADD. I self diagnosed myself & I'm positive that I have ADD as all the symptoms are present in my condition. I fear this will be very detrimental for my nursing pre-reqs. I have trouble engaging in my studies without my mind switching to some other thoughts. I have no desire to resort to any medication at all & I plan to find any means that'll offer a natural remedy for ADD. Are there Nurses or students who have been dealing with ADD? If so, how did you deal with it? And if someone has treated it through natural means (no medication), can you please share that remedy.

I'm pretty convinced I have it, too. And I refuse to take drugs for it.

I took my prereqs at a community college, but I go to a nearby university library to study at night. That really helps me. Plus, it sort of inspires me to keep working, because their program is one I really want to attend.

If I'm not at home, and it's just me, my laptop, notes, and a book, I have an easier time focusing.

NurseDaddy2006 · Jan 31, 2006

I have ADD. I found out when I was 34. I'm 40 now.

I viewed meds as a crutch for a long time, but now have come to accept that I need them. Do I take them regularly? No. Do I see a difference when I'm not taking them? Absolutely.

Fact is, the only way I can do as well as I am in school is with the assistance medication provides. Is it everything? No. It serves to quiet the noise in my head that distracts me, aids in my focus, and prevents me from acting on the impulses that I spent 34 years getting in trouble for. Does it curb them all? No. Do I still have trouble? Yes. After all, 34 years of the same ADD-driven behavior creates patterns and habits that can be tough to undo. Change can happen, though it's slower than I'd like. Spend 34 years being a social, academic, and career misfit, and the damage is done. I try, I really try. 6 years later I'd say I've made good strides.

I started with Ritalin. I didn't like it. I'm taking Straterra now. It's not the answer to everything, but it helps. I did a lot of work on being aware of my own behavior, and it was very tough to do. But at least now I can relax and stop being my own worst policeman, and have gotten better at identifying the behaviors that cause me trouble and I can curb them most often right after they start, and sometimes before.

My academic and employment career was laced with frustration, ridicule, boredom, stress, and failure. I never fit in anywhere. My self esteem suffers til this day. It's getting better, largely in part to my success in returning to school, earning a 4.0 GPA, getting accepted into a tough nursing program to get into and stay in, and now I'm two weeks into the last semester of the program and I graduate in May.

I have found numerous ways to study, including retyping my notes over and over, labeling diagrams over and over, flash cards, and lately, I have been reading my notes over and over while walking around my neighborhood. I now have a treadmill for those inclement weather days. I find that if I give my brain something else to be responsible for (forward motion as in walking) then it is easier for me to focus on what I'm reading.

My suggestions to any serious student with the notion that they've got ADD are:

a. If you haven't already, get a real, official, definitive diagnosis. You can't treat what you just "think" you have.

b. Accept that your brain functions differently than that of the average individual. I do not use 'normal' because to me, there is no such thing.

c. Talk with a professional about options available to assist you. Meds are one of them.

d. Accept that needing medications is part of having a disorder. They are often abused by people who have a friend that hands them out, but actually needing them should cause no feelings about looking like a drug seeking addict. Medications provide your brain with the chemicals needed to help it along, just as insulin helps a diabetic manage glucose levels.

I for one wish I did not need meds, but the fact is I do. I wish I did not need BP meds, or Cardiac meds, or meds to control sugar and cholesterol and triglycerides. But sadly, I do, because like ADD, these other issues have been genetically passed from my parents to me. I have not begun the medication regimen for those things yet, because I really want to try diet and exercise, but like my attempts at unmedicated behavior modification to control my ADD, I may resign to just taking the meds and keeping my body under control as well as my mind.

If I think of more, I'll add it later.

ND

(edited to add specifics and reword a few things.)

Rocky_LPN · Jan 31, 2006

I have ADD. I found out when I was 34. I'm 40 now.
I viewed meds as a crutch for a long time, but now have come to accept that I need them. I do I take them regularly? No. Do I see a difference when I'm not taking them? Absolutely.
Fact is, the only way I can do as well as I am in school is with the assistance medication provides. Is it everything? No. It serves to quiet the noise in my head that distracts me, aids in my focus, and prevents me from acting on the impulses that I spent 34 years getting in trouble for. Does it curb them all? No. Do I still have trouble? Yes.
I started with Ritalin. I didn't like it. I'm taking Straterra now. It's not the answer to everything, but it helps. I did a lot of work on being aware of my own behavior, and it was very tough to do. But at least now I can relax and stop being my own worst policeman, and have gotten better at identifying the behaviors that cause me trouble and I can curb them most often right after they start, and sometimes before.
My academic career was laced with frustration, ridicule, boredom, stress, and failure. My self esteem suffers til this day. It's getting better, largely in part to my success in returning to school, earning a 4.0 GPA, getting accepted into a tough nursing program to get into and stay in, and now I'm two weeks into the last semester of the program and I graduate in May.
I have found numerous ways to study, including retyping my notes over and over, labeling diagrams over and over, flash cards, and lately, I have been reading my notes over and over while walking around my neighborhood. I now have a treadmill for those inclement weather days. I find that if I give my brain something else to be responsible for (forward motion as in walking) then it is easier for me to focus on what I'm reading.
My suggestions to any serious student with the notion that they've got ADD are:
a. If you haven't already, get a real, official, definitive diagnosis. You can't treat what you just "think" you have.
b. Accept that your brain functions differently than that of the average individual. I do not use 'normal' because to me, there is no such thing.
c. Talk with a professional about options available to assist you. Meds are one of them.
d. Accept that needing medications is part of having a disorder. They are often abused by people who have a friend that hands them out, but actually needing them should cause no feelings about looking like a drug seeking addict. Medications provide your brain with the chemicals needed to help it along, just as insulin helps a diabetic manage glucose levels.
I for one wish I did not need meds, but the fact is I do. I wish I did not need BP meds, or Cardiac meds, or meds to control sugar and cholesterol and triglycerides. But sadly, I do, because like ADD, these other issues have been genetically passed from my parents to me.
If I think of more, I'll add it later.
ND

Thank You

NRSNFL · Feb 2, 2006

Hello there,

I know this forum is for the men out there but if it helps, both my husband and I are in school. He has ADD and has been clinically diagnosed. He currently takes ridalyn for his treatment and there is a significant difference, he doesn't take it all the time (not on the weekends) or when he is off from work...but if he doesn't take it when he has work, bad things happen. He works in a pharmacy and he makes errors. When he takes his medication (which he DOES prefer to take it) he's smooth sailing. So don't frown or be nervous about treating something you have limited control of. Treat it, fix it and move on being better and more confident knowing especially as a student, it is one less thing to worry about. Hope this helps

Leda · Feb 2, 2006

I too, am aware this forum is for men, however based on experience as a nursing educator I urge you that if suspect you have ADD/ADHD please get evaluated by the appropriate practitioner. I've encountered many nursing students with ADD/ADHD and the ones who were successful were the ones that were being treated. This does not mean all were taken meds, but all were evalulated and provided with a plan to support their success.

Those students that did not acknowledge/accept the help and treatment available were not as successful.

Please keep in mind that nursing school and the profession of nursing requires focus and concentration. Therefore a nurse with ADD/ADHD must take steps to get this focus and concentration to be a safe nurse.

Please don't self-diagnose get evaluated so that you can accomplish your goals. Your quest to be treated naturally is perhaps possible, but in order to receive the appropriate educational services offered at school, you'll need an appropriate evaluation to document your condition.

Best wishes for success.

narcissistic · Feb 3, 2006

Thanks guys for all your input, and thank you Leda for sharing your insights. so for those people with ADD, do you guys have any "special" effective study techniques to work around your ADD? I still don't want to take the medical route for this so I wanna know if there's some kind of study technique to get through this.

Gompers, BSN, RN · Feb 3, 2006

i am a nursing student and i very much do have add, which makes it so hard for me to focus. I have considered adderall, however i am aware that alot of college kids use this as a recreation drug and i dont wanna look like a drug seeker when i present to the Doc. Im only 21 and i plan on many more years of school once i finish my RN but i have got to get control of this.

You won't look like a drug seeker. You can't just go to any old doc and ask for ADD meds. You will be referred to a psychiatrist for extensive testing, and only after analysis do you get prescriptions for meds. You also usually don't get to "pick" what med you go on - the docs decide what would work best and will try you on several possibly before you find something that works.

My husband and his best friend both went through this process in the last couple of years. Neither is crazy about taking medication, but they can't deny that it's made a huge difference in their lives. They do so much better at work and school. They also see a therapist 1-2 times a month and a psychiatrist every 1-2 months, to be re-evaluated. The therapist helps them work on exercises to help their concentration and things like that. But they weren't in a place to start that therapy until they were medicated and were actually able to focus on the behavioral treatments.

There is no shame in taking psychiatric medications when they are necessary.

ScooterSan · Feb 23, 2006

Hey Gang,

I am a newbee to the site as a member and I work as a Pharmacy Technician. I have high aspirations on obtaining my ARN (Assoc.Deg RN) within the next 2-3yrs. I am 25 and 100% XY Chrom. and yes ladies, I love football. My decision to go into nursing is one where my college studies have brought me full circle to it. Now, after 5 years of habitually changing my major/college etc. I finally realized the one constant in all of my previous attempts. Health Care that is dexterous and challenging with a high pt contact that actually pays a living wage.

However, in the back of my mind I have concerns because I too have borderline ADD/ADHD tendencies. My regular NP has started me on 18mg Strattera 1qd. which has definetly helped me keep my game on. I could probably benefit from a stronger doesage, but I also have tried other tactics to strengthen my mental energy. Tactics such as martial arts w/ emphasis on meditiation such as Tai Chi and relaxation techniques of Qi Gong. Also doing things such as my severe addiction to my Playstation allow me to challege my mental energy and allow me to stay more focused at work, and in a pharmacy (particulary one w/ high volume) that is critical). My wife of 4yrs has noticed a major difference in my attitude and capabilities and think they are major improvement in my overall demeanor. She thinks I could definetly make a good RN but has told me if I go this route...study your damn tail off and no more PS2! :saint: I am glad to see that I am not the only one with concerns on males w/ ADD/ADHD considering Nursing. The submittions have been very helpful and I hope mine helps to others.

ScooterSan

danigirl58 · Feb 23, 2006

hi im just going to say that i know that this thread is in the male nursing section but thought that i would put my two cents in :)

i have a learning dissability and know how hard it can be to learn and do things when it seems like theres a huge obstical in front of you. that being said i also have a male friend that i entered my bsn program (a 4 year program that has taken us both 6 to complete) with that does have add. he knew that he had add but did not get himself diagnosed until late in the program. he is a briliant guy but his proocrastination and at times lack of foucus truelly affected his work as well as his marks. when he was diagnosed the school worked with him and his dissability (he was able to get exam accomidations where he would be able to take a break in the exam to help calm/relax his mind... given more time to take tests). the school also help connect im with supports that were able to help him deal with add. he also is on med's to help deal with the add and truely a person can tell when he has not taken his medications :chuckle

he is now a month away from graduating from the program and its mho that being diagnosed and getting the supports truely helped him complete the program.