Student Nurse with ADHD

TessaMae · Sep 4, 2009

IMHO I have it and I didn't tell them. I could have used the extra time too but for me the cons outweighed the benefits. i suggest you make a list of the potential outcome pros and cons of telling your school and make a decision based off that. In my school you need to go through disability services (it is failry simple) but unfortunately there is a stigma that goes along with it right or wrong and I just didnt want a label or any reason for a professor to know me other than the quiet student that sits up front.

Should I tell my nursing school I have ADHD???
I have been debating this issue for a while now. I am currently in nursing school and half way through med surg. I have ADHD and on medication. I am a good student and I always sit in front and what gets me through is recording the lecture and going over the power points. Over and Over. And, online practice quizzes/informational groups. I don't read the chapters that often, I just don't learn that way. I actually don't even have the book! I am not trying to be a rebel I just study my own way. I told this to my teacher who asked me how I studied for my tests when I met with her and she got furious! She said "do you want a nurse that just studies what they have to and not be well rounded" I said you wanted my honest opinion and I gave it.
However nursing school is starting to get very hard and I barely passed the first half of med surg. Actually 40% of my class failed it and have to retake it. But not me. They are very strict on giving us only 2 hours to take our tests and finals and that is not enough time! I am always stressing over the time during tests and I never finish early. Our new school policy which just started is NOT being allowed to record our lectures because we "won't be able to record on the job" when we are talking to doctors etc. Which is bogus.
So, finally my question: Should I tell my nursing professor I have ADHD?
I don't want them to use this information against me. I just want to be able to have extra time taking the tests/finals and be able to record the lectures. I do not need any "help" during clinicals, I do very well in clinicals. I should also state that I made a "medication error" my 3rd day in clinicals. Well, my school stated that we are not allowed to give IV push, they only told us this once before; and it was a long time ago. So, at clincals the nurse I was working with didn't know either and together we drew up the medication and I pushed it. I told my clinical teacher after and she said that I will probably be suspended. Long story short, since I am a good student, they gave me another chance. I just had to write some papers and was on "probation" for the rest of the semester. That was last semester, and I don't want them to think that I can't handle nursing, or that I won't be a good nurse because I know I will be. Any suggestions? On how to approach this situation? Should I just not say anything? I could also contact my school's dept for disabled students and get set up for accommodations. I don't know if I need to go that far.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

CECE,RN · Sep 4, 2009

Tell them, if you know the material and only need a little longer to show what you know. They won't discriminate against your disability. We had a guy in our class who got to come in and start his test alot earlier than the rest of the class because he had a disability. If anything, instructors helped him out more because he also needed a totally quite environment, free from distractions and even got to test in a different room, alone. He was in my study group and we even went over material many times just to accomodate him. It's really no biggie, you can't help that you have a disability and it's not gonna hinder you in nursing, you just simply need more time with test and such. Even the NCLEX accomodates people who need extra time on the test, so just tell them and submit the required information to allow you to show your worth to your instructors, especially if they see an increase in your grades.

May I suggest you also study using more than just the instructors powerpoints and lecture, because the main goal is passing NCLEX, not just getting by your instructors exams. When NCLEX comes around you really do need a broad foundation of nursing knowledge to pass. Good luck. :typing

elkpark · Sep 4, 2009

If you're going to tell anyone, it should be your school's disability services office (or whatever your school calls it), not one or more individual professors. The only reason to disclose this to anyone would be because you're requesting special accommodations for your disability, and that typically needs to go through the central disability services office (and that office will inform your professor(s) what special services/treatment you're entitled to).

Chapis · Sep 4, 2009

ditto what 'elkpark' said.

TessaMae · Sep 4, 2009

I think it is easier for someone that is not living with something like this to say to tell them. In a perfect world I say tell em! In a perfect world, I say they wont treat you any different that is illegal. Unfortunately, this isn't a perfect world and unfortunatly sometimes people treat you differently even when they shouldn't. If it was we would never have descrimination cases. I would have loved to go to disability services and get extra time on my exams, I could have used it but in my situation I just did not have enough trust in the people at my school to not hold it against me. Not just the nursing faculty but also my fellow nursing students. What would they think when I am not there in the same room as everyone else taking my exam? I just didn't want to have to answer the questions or deal with it. Maybe you are type of person who doesn't care about that sort of thing. I think that if you feel that it wont affect you negatively, go for it! It will probably really help.

aminv · Sep 4, 2009

hi

i always got half hour more than other students. i came from India so i had language issue and i told them about it so they gave me extra time to finsish test and quiz. if you dont want tell them you can put in word like you have learning disability, so it takes time to learn new things , so if they can give you some extra time.

boggle, ASN, RN · Sep 4, 2009

I agree that you should work through your schools disability office. Accommodations for extra time and quiet rooms for exams were quite routine at my school. I would hate to see the few barriers your ADHD present keep you from success in nursing.

As far as not reading or owning the text, I think that is an really unwise practice. Lectures are supposed to enhance and help you understand the concepts better. The basic material is something you are responsible for reading and knowing before you come to lecture. If you only have the lecture material, you are missing part of the picture. (by the way, the office for disability at my school has readers to help with students who had trouble with comprehension and deciphering the written material).

I'm glad you had a second chance after the IV med error. That was an immediate dismissal error in my school. Is the restriction on students giving IV push meds in your nursing student handbook or syllabus? If so, being told only once that you may not give IV meds was plenty. You will be held accountable for all the written policies you have been given both in school and in the workplace. (The office for disabilities may be able to help you with a reader for those too.)

I hope this all works out well for you. Good luck!

Pinkpea11 · Sep 5, 2009

Thanks CECE,RN. Good point about being prepared for the NCLEX. I bought the book. Next week I'm going to find out where the student disability coordinator is at my school.

Pinkpea11 · Sep 5, 2009

Thanks boggle. Your right about the books. So I got it. I needed to face the fact. It was just stressful for me to know that I have to read a book that I can barely carry! ha. It's going to take me so long to read all those pages, but I want to be a good nurse and I knew I couldn't get by forever by just listening to the lectures and reading the powerpoints. And as for the IV med error. No it was not in the syllabus. That's half the reason why I didn't get suspended. The other half I believe why is because I was with the nurse the whole time, and I wasn't by myself. But trust me after that incident, they made sure to remind Everyone about the no IV pushes! They also said I have a perfect record at school and I am a "good student." Thanks for your insight!

canadiangradschoolrn · Sep 5, 2009

I also have a disability. Anxiety disorder. I have never communicated this to anyone because of fear of being discriminated against. However, its pretty obvious as my hand shakes sometimes when performing some nursing procedures. I just dont want my disability to be the focal point of my nursing career. However, I must say, it affects me more clinically rather than in the classroom. Hence, I havent been in exactly the same situation as you are. What I do know is that when people know you have disability they use it to discriminate against you and they start judging your competence.

I support what elpark has said. I will start with the disability office rather than the nursing professors. They will be able to guide you. If it is really affecting your learning, you should definately tell someone. However, be very careful who you tell as rumors spread within nursing faculty quite easily and you dont want people to label you as such. About your reading, this shows that you really need support. Once you connect with the disability office, they will be able to guide you on appropriate measures to take. I have also found listening to tapes and watching videos are helpful. Go to your nursing lab and see what videos they have.

Again, I would say, start with the disability office.

eclecticlife · Sep 5, 2009

I have ADD and I have not told my school. I struggle with studying as does anyone with the condition. However I have to say, I work at it. I have the books and have even been known to read from them. Lecture handouts and powerpoints are not enough, not in nursing! Barely passing sounds like it has more to do with not enough resource material than nursing school.

Its hard to motivate yourself, I know. Nursing books are dull as ditch water for the most part. They are wordy and take pages to get to the point, I get it! But supplement them w/ NCLEX review books, and your lecture notes and take a breath!

Then switch off the TV, cell phone, tell your friends and family you are not at home... or whatever you have to do to actually focus. Time when you take your meds.

I chose not to 'tell' my school, although I don't hide it either. I have discussed it with a lecturer when the subject of ADD/ADHD meds came up in conversation, and even given the name of my neurologist to some one from school. BUT I try to work without extra time because for me (and this is just my oppinion) taking extra time for exams is fine, but when it comes to nursing our patients and colleagues won't... so for me I just better get used to having to challenge myself and my time management and my brain!

Try working up a more focused study plan as a first step would be my suggestion, but again this is all just my oppinion. I don't mind people knowing but I don't want it to impact my academic career anymore than it already has!