Yes, I know that is alot to ask but in our profession, it's mandatory. I'm am really struggling with these problems and have for years, but I haven't found real answers that work. I'm sure there are some RN's that ADHD and can function. Any help, references, advice etc. i'd be grateful to you. Thank you in advance.

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I sought help from a psycologist. He used cognitive and behavioral therapy on me. I eventually was able to start handling my responsibilities better than ever. It just took time for me to adjust to the change without getting frustrated as frequently as before.

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I'm an RN too...well, I WAS one--now I'm a stay-home-mommy of 2 little ones. I "retired" at age 28! lol

I didn't know I had ADD until a couple years ago, and boy did that diagnosis shed a lot of light on the difficulties I often had as a nurse--especially in the hospital.

I was almost always overwhelmed with way too much going on at once, too many things to remember that actually did have Life/Death importance...I'd get so stressed out that I couldn't keep everything straight and I used to wind up in tears frequently. It felt like I was always in "panic" mode, trying to be so diligent to prevent missing anything, yet no matter how hard I tried to remember and coordinate everything, (and we know that in Nursing, everything HAS to be perfect or else a patient could die!) I just couldn't seem to hold it all together. And I felt horrible about it, because I really WANTED to do a great job.

Prioritizing properly, organization, and returning to things I was distracted from were things that I really struggled with. Having things constantly changing was overwhelmingly chaotic for me.

I really disliked the politics of dealing with management, in general. Early in my nursing career, I interviewed for a position on a sub-acute floor of a hospital. (A 15 bed unit with one RN and one Assistant) I was offered the job, and I accepted it, happily--it would have been great for me. When I showed up to begin, I was informed that I would be working on a really acute Medical floor instead, NOT the Sub-acute unit. (She had completely deceived me, as they were apparently desperate to staff that medical floor!) The floor was always understaffed and the nurse:patient ratio was usually too high, etc. Often they would spontaneously float a nurse to a different unit for a shift, which scared the hell out of me. I remember being sent from my regular Medical floor to pretty intense Cardiac floor, and it was horrible; I didn't have the Cardiology expertise a nurse needed to do a good job there, but they didn't have any concern for me being in over my head--it really stressed me out! I was completely miserable for about 6 months, and then I insisted they switch me to the sub-acute floor or I was leaving. They had a policy that a new hire needs to work on one floor for a year before transfering, but I insisted that because THEY made the "mistake" in putting me on that floor, they better straighten it out or I'd leave; they agreed to transfer me to a Sub-acute floor of the affiliated Orthopedic hospital. That was better for me, and I worked there for about a year and a half. Then one day the manager there floated me to a Post-op floor, where I was responsible for a large load of highly acute patients--several of them requiring blood transfusions, tons of PCA's, and tons of IV's, etc. I was overwhelmed with it, and was terrified of ever going there again. A couple weeks later the manager wanted to float me to the main hospital, to the Cardiac unit, but it ended up the unit didn't need a nurse after all. I turned in a resignation letter and left hospital nursing altogether at that point!

I did homecare for a while after that, and really enjoyed it a lot. The first position I had was the "RN Supervisor," and I would drive around (listening to my music all day!) to make supervisory visits with the clients to make sure the assistants were doing a good job, do physical assesments, etc.

My final job as an RN was also in homecare, but rather than driving to multiple clients I had just one client, and did direct hands-on care with that same client each shift. It was great in that I always knew what to expect, and I was able to develop a great routine which enabled me to be very efficient. I also liked the "home" aspect of it...I wore comfy clothes and walked around in socks, and really got to know the family well. I loved that part of it! The drawback was that it could be a little boring with the same old routine, but I liked knowing what to expect, and I made up for it by bringing lots of interesting reading material and music. :) [edit: I just remembered one time when I set up my ventilator patient on the vent before I went home, I heard the next day he was having some breathing trouble in the middle of the night...turns out I FORGOT to turn the oxygen on! ARGH! He was ok, his mother noticed it quickly. I'll never forget how scared I was to realize I had done that, though.]

Basically, I LOVED the patients and I was very good with developing therapeutic relationships with them--my personal attributes of being caring, compassionate, and friendly were a perfect fit for Nursing. On the other hand, my difficulty with prioritization, organization, distractablity, etc made Nursing very difficult for me at times.

My plan now is that once my kids are in school...I'm going to become a Lactation Consultant! I already know I'm gonna love it!

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i found working in the Emergency room was the way to deal with my ADHD rather than an acute med surg floor or ICU/Or etc. I found that the way my ADD/ADHD works is I am very distractable with the ability to hyperfocus so the flow of patients made it easier for me to work here than having to remember that time organization that is needed for many of the acute units. I never liked being in the community because I just don't have the personality for it. I hate to drive due to the constant heavy traffic in thsi area and I tend to drive with the sights rather real direction.so if a familiar landmark is changed I am totally lost. I have worked a ED manager and I couldn't do it without my secretary and friend who kept me focus about what meetings were comming up and what I needed to bring . She was the most organized person I know. except proably my husband. (That another story) I find with ADD you need to work to your strengths and since I can usually do 2-3 things at once. It is only natural for me to work in the ER. I did MDS for awhile and still do it perdiem ; but it was the most BORING!!! Job ever. I have a very hard time sitting still for long periods. I love psyche and it only because I really want to pick your brain. And love the pediatric ED because children are geniune and never lie about what they think or feel while the older patients tends to say what they think will get to go in first or conviently forget to tell you something. Teens will usually try to omit something but if asked in front parent otherwise they tend to be upfront if they feel safe with you. I love teaching so I find a very captured audience. Nursing has so many avenues tp pursue my advice be honest with yourself and play to your strengths. Now if I could just apply the energy to clean my room.

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I have read every one of your responses and have mixed emotions. I am a middle aged woman who wants to become a nurse. I am taking prerequisites now. I have gone through the nursing assistant classes and will take my state certification exam. I have a Bachelors but it is in business admin. I have ADD and have always been passionate about tending to the sick. I took care of this passion by volunteering for many years. My Mom who is a retired nurse but still works per diem has ADHD. She was a ER/Trauma nurse and was very good at it. My job in HR was boring so hence the complete career change. At first I was scared I might forget or make a horrible error but realized that with add/adhd we can be the most focused of people but only when we are "passionate" about it. I volunteer at the hospital as a NA but feel judged already. I strongly suspect that they (head nurse (s) )have access to my records and have noticed a change in attitude. I have not made any errors and have received high praise from patients and most nurses. My question to you all: Have you been judged in a negative way because of your ADD? I have not told a soul but they can check my records via computer. They can also check for medications I am on as well. I volunteer at a army hospital. My fear is applying to nursing school, and applying for work and then they find out.. We live in the year 2008, and with advances in medicine and technology why is hard for people to advance?

Best regards

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I let my nurse manager know that I was ADHD and handed her a book to better understand the way I think and she found it to be very interesting. Then she said if their is ever anything that I can help you with that let her know. I went home feeling very good about this and she gained more knowledge about ADHD. It worked out for the both of us.

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