milksgalore

Yes, my instructor has noticed, and she doesn't know what to do either. I use a timesheet, she reminds me about things, etc. But still, in the moment, my mind is just a whirlwind, and she, nor I, know what to do. I really think that I just need more practice...but there is only a limited amount of practice that I could have in this specific type of setting, unless I become a CNA. But that's too late for now to pass this course in time.

I used to have the problem of trying to do EVERYTHING. But then I learned that that just makes me anxious, so I learned to break things down too. It was a good habit to pick up haha. I'm glad that it has worked for you :).

Yes, yes, it does take time to get better at it. And I have certainly gotten better at this overtime. Unfortunately, I am taking longer than other students and in the allotted amount of hours of the curriculum to learn in time in order to pass the course. But I will still do the best I can. *Le sigh*

Haha, as soon as you mentioned cardiogenic shock, I began to panic. But as soon as you broke it down--you are right, I realized how basic it can really be. I'll practice remembering that in times of anxiety!

Thank you so much! I wholeheartedly agree about the chaos of certain floors. That's why if I could be a nurse, it would be be in a more structured and stable setting. Unfortunately, I must surpass this current obstacle in order to become one in a less acute setting! ?

THank you so much! I will take a look at all of them! Although a brainsheet (I've been working with one) will help me organize my day, the problem is that everything including the day's shift and everything within is a whirlwind for me. So do you have any advice on how to calm the whirlwind in my mind DURING a time of chaos, like say...if an acute situation were to occur. WITHIN that situation, I am running around like a headless chicken, and even if I write things down, I just can't get myself to THINK CLEARLY. ? Any advice for then?

HAHA, that is such a great point. I really appreciate that you are giving me a response from the instructor's perspective. It really gives me a different set of eyes rather compared to another student's response. OK, so it is all fairly simple, but I am perhaps making it to be much crazier than it really is. So just get the basics! To think it through and apply what you know...yeah, that's my problem in the clnical setting! For some reason I freeze and I /don't/ know...but perhaps I do, I just need to learn to think in stressful situation. I will try to remember this post during those times. Thanks!

I wish I had outside additional practice! And thanks, I will try to think in CONCEPTS. That's a huge problem of mine-that I often hyperfocus TOO MUCH, I will think too much about what's the next two steps that I must do, rather than the next seven, which is the concept. Rawr! But it will probably help if I think of it as the concept, rather than the next 7 steps, which seems easier to manage than thinking of it in steps for some reason. Thank !

Have you had any off days where you are tired or haven't been exercising, so even with the medication, you ADD still takes control of you? What do you do in those cases? What else do you do to help you in clinical or in other non-test or classroom settings?

I feel like I may be incompetent because I will find myself not being able to apply the theory knowledge to the clinical setting. I will not be able to connect point A to point B. It's like I just become dumb and clueless.

My jaw began to hurt with Adderall too! I found myself clenching my teeth in my sleep! What did you do to get through nursing school, especially med-surge? How did you manage the chaos outside and inside of your mind? Did you find anything else that helped you with your ADD and clinical? Most of the stuff that I've looked up about ADD students and nursing school regard test taking and in-the-classroom solutions...but clinical is real life, and there's no sugar coating the workload there.

Thank you! How about when you are WITHIN one of those tasks? Like doing an assessment? I know that you don't have ADD, but sometimes I get lost in doing something like that haha. I end up hyperfocusing. Have you found other ways to control the clutter? Are you still disorganized or are you now organized since you've made yourself a timeline?

I have taken medication: Ritalin and Adderall. Ritalin used to work veeeerrrryyyyyyyyyyy verrrryyyy well for me...when I was 18. Then when I started to take it again a few years later, it stopped working! My doctor said that my metabolism must have changed for its therapeutic effect to go awry. ! I do have a timesheet, and it helps...but my timesheet is so messy! It helps a little, but it doesn't solve the problem. Though, I am working on revamping my timesheet to make it a bit neater, like switching from pen to pencil (my 1st clinical instructor didn't let us write in pencil, so it became a habit). Even though I could organize on paper, I just feel like I could be unsafe and frantic with my mind being all cloudy. I wish that there was a solution to that...

Yes, I have done this. In fact, I am pretty efficient when it comes to the hands-on stuff, such as skills and medication giving. My problem is my MIND-I just get to lost in the fog!

Thank you. I've used Adderall which has worked a little bit, but when I've taken it consistently, it started to lost its effectiveness. In fact, it began to make my ADD worse. It felt as it if was making me dumber! So I stopped taking it. After a few months break from it, I will try it again to see if it works. As for other med options, they were a bit pricey, so unfortunately I can't try other ones Have you tried a solution other than with medication?