what unit is best for ADD type?

[mh356, BSN, RN, EMT-B]

Hi everybody,

I need some opinions. I have ADD, the day dreamer type and less than one year experience as a nurse. I started my career wanting to work in IMC but my preceptor told me I was too slow and I always felt like my best wasn't good enough. So now I work in med-surg and have 4-5 patients and it is always very hectic and I feel like I am pulled 10 different directions. But my manager thinks I am doing well. I just don't think this is my "niche."

I am really a detail oriented person. I get distracted easily. I'm a slow learner-I admit it. But I am also a perfectionist. And I get bored very easily.

I used to work as a tech in the ER before nursing school and i loved it. thats what made me go into nursing school. So my question is where do most ADDers work? Our brains must be a good fit somewhere.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[loricatus]

I swear that more than 3/4 of the nurses that I have encountered in the Emergency Room have ADHD. It seems to be the best place to accomodate this disability. Actually, I think I am hindered by not having it; &, I know it when I see it because my spouse has it. PACU might be another option because of the quick turnaround time.

[HM2VikingRN, RN]

Inpatient psych is another alternative

[Simba&NalasMom, LPN]

Home health, maybe? One visit at a time would lessen the muti-tasking factor...

[penelopelp]

You said that you liked being an ED tech. Have you thought about working in the ED? I'm not a nurse yet, but I am also ADD inattentive type. The ED has always appealed to me. I get bored if there is too much routine, so I thought that would be a good place. CICU also interests me because you can focus more on individual patients.

[Granuaile, ASN, RN]

Home health, maybe? One visit at a time would lessen the muti-tasking factor...

I too have ADHD (mixed type!) and find that home health drives me crazy because it's not "stimulating enough." I have read and it seems to apply to me that people with ADHD thrive in chaotic &/or fast paced, hectic environments.

[Simba&NalasMom, LPN]

I too have ADHD (mixed type!) and find that home health drives me crazy because it's not "stimulating enough." I have read and it seems to apply to me that people with ADHD thrive in chaotic &/or fast paced, hectic environments.

Hee...yeah, I have ADD too and the challenge for me is finding something that doesn't bore me to tears and yet isn't too chaotic that I feel like I'm sinking. I definitely don't feel like I thrive in utter chaos, but I do know that I have to keep busy.

[Kimber7RN]

I have ADHD, mixed type. I worked in all areas of OB over nearly 20 yrs. L&D, Triage, Hi-Risk Antepartum, Out-Pt Antepartum Testing NICU, (Mother-Baby or as it used to be called:) Postpartum & Normal NB Nsy. I found myself bored after a yr or so in the Postpartum & Normal NB Nsy/Mother-Baby areas.

I found L&D, Triage, Antepartum Testing & NICU my favorite areas. I liked the challenge & fast pace. I was a Charge RN for many yrs then a Manager & Dept Director. As a Manager/Director I noticed that ED & L&D RN's seemed to have a lot in common. They were generally happy & successful in cross-training if they decided to change specialties.

In some facilities there have been huge pushes for RN's to cross-train within the various Perinatal Subspectialty areas. I found during that experience; Even if one had a skilled experienced Postpartum or Nsy RN that really didn't have a desire to work in L&D &/or didn't have the personality type it was a much more difficult & less successful process.

[singleprego]

I have ADD and I find that Chronic Hemodialysis is great for that. The chaotic environment of my clinic is great for my ever moving mind.

[McGwillis]

I think that surgical services may be best for me, and I feel the same way that you do, having ADHD and working on a busy hospital floor with 5-6 patients.