nsuchsland

I was diagnosed with ADHD at 45. I knew I would be a nurse in high school. When I could not afford to go to nursing school I went in the US Navy to become a hospital corpsman knowing I could become an LPN/LVN. The hands on training was perfect for me. (Navy basic training was hard but didn't last long). I grew up in CA and worked there after being in the service for many years as an LVN. I knew I had ADHD long before an official diagnosis. I was told by my son's counselor that I exhibited signs of adult hyperactivity when he was diagnosed at 8 with ADHD. I was called the whirling dirvish as a child. I got an official diagnosis at the recommendation of one of the pediatrician's in the outpatient clinic I worked in because I drank so much soda for the caffeine. I take short acting adderall and it works well for me. I went back to school at 51 taking prerequisites for nursing school. It took me 4 years then did 2 years of nursing school for my ADN. I passed the NCLEX-RN the first time and moved to NC to work (I have 2 children and 4 grandkids here and my daughter wants more children). I just recently changed jobs at 59. I still work in pediatrics and I love it still. I used a lot of audio while in school. Some books I had would have audio questions and answers, some would read a review of the text. I also used iTunes U a LOT! It's free and there are thousands of both audio and video classes. I would look for similar classes and listen in the car. I worked full time when taking the prerequisites and part time during nursing school. I commuted an hour to work during all this time. During nursing school I was in my car 3-4 hours a day when I had class or clinical as nursing school and clinicals were 50-60 miles from my home. I stayed at school to study to avoid the worst traffic. Knowing my learning style helped me but also using audio for my traveling time was a big help, even though it was not my best learning avenue. I would listen to the same thing many times as my mind would often wander but eventually I would learn it. I never had any learning accommodations but some classmates were given extra time for tests (which in no way would affect how good a nurse they can be). I have the advantage of loving nursing, so have often found the hyper focus of ADHD helpful. I love kids and always knew I would work with them from an early age. For years I was also the ADHD coordinator so worked with this population setting up evaluations and follow up appointments and was able to do teaching adding a unique personal perspective. It helped me when in nursing school. I loved school and my job but every class needed a new approach as each instructor is different. Some were more interesting and better teachers. Some were so bad I had to do a lot of supplemental learning. My love of computers helped me be more organized. I used Dropbox and Box extensively and put all my work there so it didn't matter if I forgot anything, it was always accessible. I used digital books for the same reason. I also was able to use a service during nursing school called Learning Ally a place where books are read by volunteers to be audio books for those with learning disabilities. I did not learn about this until my last year of school but it helped then when I had trouble finding other sources of audio I needed. The website is learningally.org. Since it is for disabled due to copyright laws, it requires a note from your doctor which they have at their web site. They have audio of thousands of books and textbooks. It took listening to things many times but it helped more than reading. It may be it helped because I was doing 2 things at a time since it only really worked when I was driving. If at home or at school, I would listen to music when I studied which also worked for me. I found that studying for the NCLEX-RN worked best when I did it from an app, a few questions at a time here and there throughout the day. The advantage of going to school to be an RN later in life was I had a better knowledge of my ADHD and how it affected me. I knew more how to help myself through. Since school I tried going off medication and found it was still more difficult to manage life without medication. I am not sure why people think they have to survive without medication for ADHD. We take medication for a high BP which needs to be for the rest of our life. It is OK to take medication for ADHD when it works. I recommend everyone with adult ADHD read Delivered From Distraction by Dr. Edward Hallowell.

I only had trouble getting my first RN job because I didn't want to commute. I also still had a good job as an LVN in CA so could afford to be picky. I ended up moving to another state where I was planning to move eventually anyway. I was 58 when I got my first RN job. I just changed jobs at 59 and didn't have any trouble getting hired.

I was an LVN for many years. I went back to school at 51 for my prerequisites and entered an RN ADN program at 55, graduating and passed the NCLEX at 57. There were many students in my class over 30 and another student who was just a couple years younger than me. You are still very young, go to school. You have the advantage of being more mature than some of the younger students.

This is a couple of years old, I hope you went for it. I became an RN at 57. It took me 4 years to do my prerequisites and then did 2 years of nursing school for my ADN. I just got a new RN job at 59 and will be going back to school to get my BSN.

If you really want to do it, then go for it! I would recommend doing an RN ADN program. It is only 2 years. I was an LVN in CA for many years. I went back to school when I was 51 did 4 years of prerequisites and then 2 years of nursing school, graduating at 57. There were many people in my class who had no medical background. One of the guys who had not been in the medical field previously was just a couple years younger than me. He now is an RN at a school. Since CA has higher pay they have more RN to choose from so getting a job was harder. I was planning on moving to North Carolina eventually I moved sooner rather than later and got a job at 58 as a new RN. I just changed jobs last month to a better paying job and I am 59. I love my job and don't plan to retire for a long time. I worked full time doing the prerequisites for 4 years and cut back to 20 hours for RN school. My job worked with me for my hours they also provided benefits for all their employees 20 hours and more which helped. If you really want to do this you will find a way to work your current job or a different job around school. You get older whether or not you go to school so I say go for it.

I was an LVN in CA for many years. I had to take prerequisite to go back to school to be an RN. I didn't do the LVN to RN bridge as the school I attended stopped doing it the year I was accepted. I was glad I did the 2 years as I needed the extra time and credits for my ADN. That being said the main difference between LVN/LPN and RN is the why. It is not just task oriented like an LVN/LPN. It does take a mind shift, yet having th LVN/LPN background does help. I am very happy I did an ADN program as they have more clinical hands on experience than BSN programs. I worked 20 hours during nursing school and drove 3-4 hours a day on the days I went to school. I listened to audio helps from ebooks and used iTunes U classes for the subjects I was taking and it really helped. The extra audio helped. It was tough working and studying but it is doable. You may have an easier time accepting help from your parents. The amount of studying is pretty intense and not having to work can be helpful.