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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I am an LPN trying to become an RN and would like to meet a successful nurse with ADD who could coach me or give me some advice.

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First realize there so many different roles for nurses. I am a ER/trauma nurse who loves the pediatric ED . I feel the most interest and have a special connection with the kids that I don't have with the adults. However never liked or cared for the Labor/delivery area of nursing. . You will know what areas hold your interest. I also have worked outside the hospital setting in prison and MDS both jobs I felt very bored and quickly. The prison stint felt like I was a prisoner; and after awhile I would feel like one of the prisoner and was so suspicious of everyone because you really need to be careful what you say to them, they take notice of everything from the hair to the way you carrying yourself. So if you have a tendency to tell someone too much about yourself quickly this isn't the place for you....Otherwise depending on your education the world is your oyster; and the education from diploma, BSN etc is not that difficult to obtain. Remeber ADHD can work to your benfit ; and it doesn't have to get in the way. Work to your strength so if your creative be a school nurse , if your hyperaactive the ER is the place to be. If you can hyperfocus and like computers MDS is right up your alley. Don't become paranoid about things ; not everyone gets everything the first time. . If you have a liscense that means you have the knowelege to be a nurse ; the certificates and things are all after the fact. No one expects a new nurse to know how to read EKGs or know ACLS or TNCC things, it takes time and education which is ongoing for your entire work history. Never be afraid to ask a question if you are unsure because if you do something that you are unsure of it will be your A-- handed to you. Work as a team and it will find it will go easier for you . Any help be free to ask Nurse for 25 yrs and counting

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good to see some hopeful advise. i'm 48 w/3 children still at home. worked part time as a paramedic while they were growing up. perfect profession for a addc. full time didn't seem to fit with my husband's sched, so i went to nursing school. i knew the floor would never be my strength, but did ok for clinical. i accepted a position in a community icu. this hospital orients us for one month on a floor, one month in a step down unit, now i'm in icu; their goal time to finish orientation is 3 months of in the icu. i, too, have trouble staying on time, or on task. it takes me a long time to chart, i'm very careful with meds. i wasn't diagnosed till much later in life. my older birth children have it, so i went through the screening process. i chose icu thinking that a smaller pt. load would be easier for me to keep track of, but i'm constantly falling behind, if i get pulled away, returning to my previous task is hard. even if i write a "to do" list, the stuff leaves my head. i know that part of my problem is just being a new nurse, i work 3 12's. i'm not sure whether i'm more bothered by possibly choosing a job that's not a good fit or having to work and leave the kids on their own at the end of the day. my confidence is very low, and each day i go to work i get overwhelmed, stuck and very down on myself. right now i just want to quit. my oldest is heading off to college in a couple of years; i'd like to contribute to his education, at least a little. would love to hear some ideas!

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Sounds like you might need an area like ER. I tried to get on at the ER in my city but their weren't any openings. That's why I chose Med/surg. I knew that it would prepare me for any department that i wanted to work in. You become excellent at all of the procedures that you will need to eventually do anywhere else later. Good luck with finding your nich.

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I've been an RN for 15 years and have found several tricks to help me with ADD traits. I agree with all the previous comments about finding the area that fits your particular ADD strengths, but sometimes it can take a while to figure that out. I think I knew right off that I could not do ER or ICU cuz it would be too distracting for me and the intensity would be too exhausting as I am a very mellow person and enjoy a different kind of nursing. Eventually I discovered that I did best in an environment where I had only one patient at a time but I could develop long term relationships with my patients, an area that was mentally challenging, but did not have too many time constraints or precise medications/tasks to remember to do. Yes, there are areas like that!

I found psych a great fit because the LPN passed the meds and I could spend a lot of time interacting with the patients with few time constraints. The only problem was getting to work on time. But that is one of those areas that has to be your niche, cuz often nurses either love it or hate it. I am very easy-going and non-judgemental and so I loved it. Also it is definitely never boring so that really kept my ADD interest and focus.

I did work successfully in the staffing pool for 3-4 years, going to multiple med/surg type floors depending on the need. There certainly was enough variety in the 6-8 floors I covered to keep my interest. And you avoid a lot of politics when you aren't affiliated with any one floor. To survive I learned to be hypervigilant. I carried around with me a 3x5 card on which I had written the general rules I needed for all the floors and a small section for each floor's unique rules or protocols, all written as concisely as possible so not to be wordy and overwhelming. Many floors already had a small hourly schedule that you shared with your aide/tech that you taped to the counter or cupboard door to write IV, PO, PCA, CBC, turn, etc at the appropriate time, which I rechecked about every ten minutes. I kept my own blank copy in case a floor didn't have them available. I also created my own color-coded ADD-friendly report sheet, with a large section for each patient divided into smaller sections, with a specific place to write everything. I had a special section to write patient requests cuz I knew they would be the easiest to forget. Extra pt-specific tasks that had to be done during the shift were underlined in red and very important patient information in another prominent color. The sections were divided in such a way though that I couldn't get the patients mixed up, not too many colors to be overwhelming, and also was not too confusingly cluttered. By the end of the shift that thing was ragged as I checked it and double-checked it frequently. I didn't write anything more than anyone else, I just organized it so my brain could remember it so much easier. And I found that if I set up my schedule and cheat sheet precisely at the beginning of the shift I did pretty good, and amazingly never got anything mixed up or forgotten (I am sure I forgot someone's ice water at some time, but the really important stuff didn't get missed). I did often get behind on charting however since that wasn't blocked in anywhere, sometimes staying extra to finish it. I still had problems getting to work on time but I didn't work one floor often enough in a row for anyone to notice, and with nurses giving report to several different nurses, if they didn't see me walk in late they just assumed I had been getting report from another nurse. Amazing how we can twist circumstances around to cover up some of those ADD traits. Also I think it is likely that things were changing after 3-4 years that made it harder for me to be continue to be successful considering my ADD, such as higher patient load, and so I chose to move on.

My most ADD-friendly job, for my particular ADD strengths and weakness was in a hospital-based wound care clinic. One patient at a time, a mental challenge to discover what must be done to heal the various wounds, certainly a lot of interesting variety. Being on time was still the big problem. I had one incredible manager that I think recognized my ADD symptoms cuz he had ADD himself, and he sat down with me and said, "what can I do to help you be successful?" And we came up with a plan that gave me some leeway with the time that I came in, and I stayed late to makeup that time. Pretty amazing I know. Unfortunately, the next manager was not like that, and I finally had to "resign in lieu of termination." But the good news was that I could then move on to an area even better suited to me. From there I went to a job being completely in charge of the wound care program in a care facility, and doing independent consulting work on the side. Both areas where I have so much more leeway to set my own schedule, but enough limits that I am not immobilized by too much time to get things done.

Didn't mean to write a book, but just wanted to share that it is possible to succeed as an RN with ADD. I think part of that is finding what will work for you, but also knowing when to move on.

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I always worked in a ED so it wasn't difficult for me to be organized; and organization isn't the real nightmsare for me unless I find the task so boring and mind nubbing. The problem for me is the my mouth, I tend to say what I am thinking no matter how much trouble it gets me in. I recently had a run in with my boss. She is the most anal person I ever met. Also I felt the things she wanted me and the other nurses to do were just to make her look good. The most recent for me I had very unstable baby and told her I would not take another child in the pediatric room. unless she was prepaared to start my lines and give my meds. I wasn't really nice about it. I was fired the next day when I went in and she used sick time I had used when I was haing anxiety problems with my daughter. saying I used too much time off. The most difficulty thing for me in nursing is watching what Isay. I have patients who absoultely loved me. It not the patients that I tend to mouth off to it is my manager. Now I am looking for a utilization review job. I love to investigate and can hyperfocus when I am interested. I wish I had a manager who knew ADD/ADHD when they saw it.

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I too have ADHD, I was unofficially diagnosed as a child although becuase that was in the early 80's it was not taken seriously because "only boys have that problem".... Yeah, I was the one who just couldnt focus, the child who was said to be so smart if only I could sit still long enough to get something done. I am in my 30's now and was officially diagnosed when I was 24, I always knew I was different though. Give me chaos and I can get things done, multitasking...perfect. One task in a controlled environment....good luck, I just cant do it. I love being an Emergency nurse, it works with my disorder and helps me to be productive. Many people say....how do you do it, and I ask them the same thing? It is difficult for people to understand unless they have been there, they will say things that make you feel like you have a problem but in reality we are highly functioning, maybe even more functioning than people without ADHD. No, I can not sit and read a book....but I can do 10 things at once while chaos is all around me.

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Hi all the nursese with adhd I just lost my second nursing job. I've strugled with adhd for all my life, but wa diagnosed approx `13 years ago. I got into nursing school with accompdations. I was welkl supported there. D8id fine acedemically during school, but was nervous with clinical. I should say to reframe: I have been a nurse for 3 years, but I have not found the riht job being a nurse with adad. There is a place for me... they say. I just haven't found it. I will say I am a person with strong determination, and I don't do anything in life east. I am 53, divorced, two girls, house. and now I am an unemployeed nurse. I did try acute med/surg that was way too intense and crazy. I did color colde my cheat sheet which helped some. but function in that enviornment was very crazy making. I then moved onto an ambulatory surgery center in the PACU. This helped because i could focus on 1-2 patients at a time. But the mistake I made was to tell my boss I had ADHD. Big MISTAKE. She completely distroyed me, abused me verbally, belittleed me infront of my coworkers. because I had a perceived weakness, and I wasn't the perfect nurse. I since have more understood the culture of nursing. I got a book and I hightly recommend it to any new nurses. The book is called Ending nurse-to-nurse hositlity: why nurses eat their yong and each other. This book has heped me protect myself emotionally, intellectually, I have always thought people would help me with my disability. WRONG. I have overcome many of my ADHD sympoms, but still struggle with anxity, low self esteem. Because nurisng is so competitive I feel that I need to protect myself and work around my own symptoms but contining to identify my symptoms. Also I need more support that is why I decided to look at this website again and get connected. I am applying for a Triage RN position now were I will have set hours and not as much floor work. I am worn out. I need a break so that I can get my life back in balance. As far as revealing ADHd in workplace. I would really caution it. It backfired on me. Any comments anywone can help me with thanks

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I am thinking that home health may be a good fit for me. I tried the med/surg floor trying to manage 4-5 acute pt, then PACU at a ASC. That was too much on very busy days also, and with a boss that ADHD or personality disorder or what every who could not stand having hired a adhd person. so now i am unemployeed. i a tired, and need to find a job that is not so demanding that i have nothing left at the end of the day. i am thinking that home help would be less distracting, and i dont have to deal with the politics so much. that is deal with all the other ocd perfectionist nurses while i a struggling to stay a float.

one symptom that keeps re-occurring. Here it is -- maybe someone can help me. my boss will tell me something important. I hear her, I acknowledge it. But then later i space it. It is almost like I have a delete in my brain when it come to attending to that piece of into. here is an example: I ordered all the meds for the ASC. my boss told me that we need to keep preservative free maracine for the dr's that do epidural sterioid injections because they are injecting into the spine, and we also need maracine non-perservative. I spaced out the preservative free because it wasnt on the order sheet. then the doctor needs the PF one day and I haven't ordered it. so there is no PF marcaine for the doctor. No medication at all that is peservative free. a predicament!!! She told me - i acknowledge it but i space it. problem any answers on how to deal with this problem?

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I'm up way too late and have an important job interview in the morning. But, I swear that sometimes my Adderal doesn't clear my system entirely and I wind up way too hyper to sleep, even with the med I have for that. I had a really hard time finding the right job when I graduated 11 yrs ago. I job jumped from subacute to chronic psych to corrections, with several shortish stints either working for a LTC facility or doing nights through a staffing agency. Throughout the whole first year I had a really hard time. I thought that was normal, my friends complained too. Then my unit manager at the chronic psych place decided I had ADD, she knew the type as her 2 daughters had it big time. I read Driven to Distraction buthen just "accepted it". I didn't want to take "speed" b/c I had an anxiety disorder and thought they would make it worse. Finally when I was 28, after my first marrriage ended, I told my psych nurse (I'm also bipolar type2) that I wanted to treat it. She was like "Finally!!" We tried several drugs and still switch the doses around. We just found out that I wasn't tolerant to my meds, that lithium makes them less effective! Anyways, I tried everything I could as far as specialties. I was living nearer home and my mom works at one of Boston's major teaching hospitals. Her attitude was basically that real nurses did acute medical or they weren't "good" or "real" nurses. I took a job in a resp ICU for a yr but stunk at it even more than the other jobs. Too much happening at once and all that. They wrote me up a first, second, third time for small stuff I'd missed (I don't THINK I missed anything big but who knows. I was fortunate enough to be laid off when a new company bought them out. I got 6 mo unemployment, and I sat around, watched TV, smoke way too much pot, and seriously considered quitting nursing. I had been burnt out but hadn't known the signs. I thought. And thought. And thought. Then it occurred to me that the only job I succeeded in was the psych one right out of school. I was lucky enough to be recruited to a hospital that was free standing but corporate owned. I got the adult unit charge position on overnights. I've tried to do mostly nights b/c it's slower paced, and I'm a night owl anyways. I was there for a total of 3 years and made the stupid mistake of leaving for something that was no the job described. In the middle my dad had a severe psychotic break and I put him there knowing that he'd do well, but that made it almost impossible to go back, as he says "It's my place to be crazy". I just finished a contract with the VA, in the mental health walk in clinic. Never before have I seen a clinic where someone could wake up, decide to see a shrink, and then go see one without an appt. Of course the new guys had to go through me at first for the 2 hr eval so that the MD's didn't have to spend the time. I was good at it and the vets liked me. We didn't play the whole "I'M a professional and therefore not the same as you" deal. The other RN's weren't thrilled that I got along so well with the vets, but the doctors kept telling me and my boss how good the assessments were, and the vets sometimes refused to see the other nurses if I was available. Not cool, and I let them know, but when you have dry mouth and one nurse gives you sugar free hard candy every time you come, you know which RN is thinking of the you as an individual. Sometimes we'd have so much fun they'd think I was yelling but I was usually laughing. God forbid though, if they gave me someone with ADD. We talked up a storm while I somehow did the assessment. I would tell the doc that I thought someone needed testing for it and he'd have me write the referral for him to sign. He knew I had it and could tell the difference b/t ADD and alll the stuff that looks like. My contract was to be extended for 6 more months, but the VA system cut the nsg budget and has ahiring freeze. I got feedback on another interview from last week (thumbs down). Apparently I don't make eye contact and they had all the complaints sbout issues in the articles on the site. I'm making a list for my clipboard to remeind to me to make eye contact, etc So, in the long run, psych is the best for me. I'm a talker, and dealing with people who have brain issues is great. So even though my mom still makes remarks about the whole "real nurse" thing I blow it off. I'm good at psych. Better than people w/o ADD. I'm sticking with it.

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I’m an RN w/ ADHD. The symptoms have been part of my life as far back as I can remember, but the diagnoses came in 1994, when I was in nursing school. It explained a lot of things & I first realized I was not really a dummy, but it’s been a struggle to keep jobs (that can make me feel like a dummy). I keep reminding myself that many successful people had ADHD, but sometimes it feels like I'm crazy & that no one will understand. I know there must be successful RNs w/ ADHD in this world that have found their niche. I need some feedback please. After graduating from nursing school in 1995, I worked some, had my 3rd child, & decided to be a stay at home mom. I eventually went back to work, gained some experience, lost the job(s), found new different types of nursing jobs & kept trying. I became a single parent & worked as much as I could under my circumstances (still loosing jobs), & somehow managed for a while amidst the chaos. I lost everything but my kids, survived the divorce process, & left the nursing field for several yrs d/t stress, illness, & disillusionment w/ nursing (but w/ possible plans to someday return). I’ve had to try & coordinate a lot of different things, which have been overwhelming. Between all this, it felt like my nursing skills had gone "kaput". I’ve had no family here, other than my kids (now only my 12y/o daughter living at home). I’ve taken Dexedrine for several yrs, but don’t have health ins now. I've found that, even if people do believe ADHD is real, some think that one "outgrows" it in adulthood. Of course, that’s not the case! I've learned some coping skills, like making lists & breaking things down into smaller pieces. Trouble is, things build up & it never seems to end when you're trying to do it all by yourself. Sometimes I can hyper-focus on a task & do a good job & sometimes I’m so distractible that every time I get interrupted, I have to start over again. I can work hard & be good at multi-tasking when I know how to do something. I’ve also had to learn not to be too hard on myself, as that only makes things worse, & to focus on what I DO want, rather than what I DON’T want!

I love many aspects of nursing & enjoy helping people, so after getting somewhat stabilized after a bad divorce, I decided to give it another shot. Last year, I completed the Nurse Refresher course & clinical to update my nursing skills. I got a job at a nursing home, which was very difficult for me, but I liked many things about it too. I learned a lot & was becoming more confident in my role as a nurse again. After the Nurse Refresher course, & working again, many things came back to me that I thought were gone. Well, now I’m back to square one & looking for a job again. It’s been a long, hard road & I’m tired of trying to convince others that I'm not lazy or making excuses. I wish there was such a thing as an IEP for employment. I’m a strong & tenacious person, & do not give up easily, but this has been so difficult, that I’m wondering if I should permanently go to another job field (I do not want to). I try my best. Sometimes my best doesn't seem good enough. I’ve realized that ADHD is a part of me that I’m not going to get “rid of” it. I have no health insurance & no job right now! I really want to find a nursing job that I can keep. I KNOW there has to be nurses out there, who have ADHD, who have found their “niche” in nursing! I want to know what’s worked for them. If you are reading this, maybe you can identify. Thank you for reading & for any feedback.

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I think we always have an idea what a nurse is. There really is so may different roles for us; and we need to find our niche is by sitting down with ourselves and asking what is our strengths. Do you have friends that you know from the hospitals and see what they perceived about you. Don't get too upset if they say you had some weakness. You already know that and it helps to know it. I have very poor one-one inter relationship skills so I could not do private duty . However I have high energy so I was able to use it in the pediatric ED . I find I can do MDS for short periods ; but sitting for long periods really fatigued me because trying to stay focused on the job offered no stimulation. If you can sit at a desk then there are different areas such as MDS and utilization may be right up your alley. Try the ACCRN organization they offer classes and exams so you can be certified this can get you up to 85,000 to 125,000 a year if you are certified . Areas like NYC and NJ pay more ; but if you like this this is a option because only Rn's are allowed to do these jobs. I am planning to get certified sometime in 2010 so I will be able to command the salary . Currently I am hoping to work in the ED again; but I am planning finishing my BSN and then looking for another management job. I am tire d of working weekends, holidays so I want more money and I want the stimulation of the ED. Don't be so hard on yourself ; and take time to breathe . Don't feel you must work at the bedside it doesn't have to be so. Look in the nursing Spectrum for job and go on careerbuild.com with your eresume they will line you up based on your strengths . Good Luck finding a job. I a looking for one too.

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I'm reading your posts with interest. Some of you ask for suggestions, so here's my 2 cents worth ...

I manufacture and sell a unique day planner, The I N C R E D I B L E Delta Planner. Perhaps you've seen it advertised in Additude Magazine. Please go to my website and watch the video which explains in 2 minutes how it works.

I would be interested in any suggestions you have in how the planner could be improved especially with respect to nursing.

Best wishes,

Paul Alpert (www.deltaplanner.com)

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Regarding nurses with AD/HD. I've been an RN for 18 years...been dx with AD/HD less than one year. I am 54 years old. I got through nursing school by sheer grit and determination but have struggled to do the work every single day of my career. Started out in med/surg but am very distractible and couldn't keep up with the work load to save my life. After being shifted to a floor I wasn't familiar with and having an awful experience I left MS and went to OR. Loved the work!!!! Fast paced, up and moving, results oriented!!! Great job except for the co-workers.....evil people, nuff said. Then went to Home Health and stayed there for 13 years. One on one, few distractions, time to think between patients, etc. However, the paperwork just killed me. I could not keep up and when OASIS came in I just drowned. I developed fibromyalgia, anxiety disorder, my depression worsened. I had also worked in wound care and I love that, again results oriented and few distractions, but not being a WOCN it is hard to find jobs. Now in a transitional care unit but the work load far exceeds safe nursing standards and I know I cannot stay...I still have to sleep at night and look myself in the face in the morning. Have considered psych cos it is an area of interest ( I like to pick peoples brains too), also thinking about ED but not sure I have the skills for it after so many years in HH. Bottom line: I agree that one should play to his/her strengths. Would caution those considering HH because of the amount of documentation that has to be done. Would love to hear more from AD/HD nurses who have done psych or ED re their experiences in these areas.

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While I'm not a nurse, I was wondering if you may have some advice on time management, paperwork, etc. to help an ADHD PT. I'm so frustrated trying to keep up with all my reports and keeping organized I feel I can't focus on my patients.

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I think being too worried that you forgot something etc is a defeating. If you need time to get your charting down then take the time. Do take breaks that are giving and with the experience it does get easier.I work well with the ED techs so I have no problems getting some of the things done like ekgs , labs etc. However since I have been back I write every negative thing I hear about me to the postives down. My boss hates me and wants me gone I have one of the much larger salaries and she could get two to three new nurses for tha same pay. I refuse to go.... and if I have a problem with her I will walk to the labor lawyer and skip my union. I have been tired of the negative enviroment she fosters unless she has you squealling she doesn't like you. It takes they say a whole year to be comfortable in the unit you are working. The reason each nursing speciality from Med/surg to ED has they own set of priorities. Icu is very tough it criticallly ill people and the law say no more then two ; but i think it depends on your state. It takes years of educating and if you are in a teaching hospital it really tough in July the new residents you will be smart if you Know had to say "NO!!!" before they land up killing someone. You must learn to stand up for your patient and yourself because they won't look to protect you. Make sure you carry your own insurance never depend on the hospital. And again if you need help never be afraid to ask it worst if you are unsure and do it and it turns out wrong. I never stick patient more than twice and I really have no problem standing up for them or me. Good LUCK nurses ---- (Judi)

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All of these posts are so familiar. Everyone is in the same boat. I can relate. I am a middle aged woman. I was diagnosed late in life and wish that I had known because life would have been a lot easier as a child, teen, and adult. I know exactly what the poster feels like that is a new person in the ICU. I thought the same thing that it would be more manageable with the patient load. It didn't work out this way. I was always behind in charting, etc. like you stated. I liked the actual work but the stress came from the Dr's and other ICU nurses because ICU nurses are rough on there own. They take the slowness and falling behind as weakness and incompetence and make you feel that way and the Nurse manager starts to think that way also. I have never admitted that I have ADD to people, staff, employers as I feel that it would keep me from the job. I eventually stopped working in this field because it was destroying any confidence I had in my abilities with their doubts. It is a rough area when you don't fit the profile of an ICU Nurse. I managed 10 yrs. in several different areas of nursing with the same problems and am now looking for a different career or somewhere in Nursing that I fit in to. I am afraid to try looking as my confidence is shot that I will have any success. I am a hard worker but the organization, time management and priority setting get me. I do like ER but don't think I would get hired as I haven't been in this field and the ER nurse personality is rugged on people and other nurses. I get tired of having to prove myself all the time. I am not sure where my qualities and strengths would be an asset. I read other posts and it helps hearing about other nurse with the same problems if nothing else. I think I could help others but I wish I could think of a way to help myself.

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I think I have honed in on the right page as I am struggling with the issues of falling behind, and not handling interruptions well. The thing that is worst is trying to learn new equipment and the procedures that go with it. When folks give out inservices, they go too fast and I fall behind, and unless they spell out everything, I won't understand it. I dare not tell superiors or staff I have ADD, but I did own up to a supervisor that I didn't understand a machine and needed tutoring after getting a bunch of notes about the machine. She agreed to work with me.

Some folks mentioned an interest in ER. This would be bad - as an RT I am subject to all kinds of interruptions working in the ER, and I suspect nurses run into the same problem. If I'd known about ADD head on, I might have gone into a different career. Because I have trouble learning machines, my sister thought I was dyslexic but the tests were negative.

I do have a touch of Asperger's but doctor felt the ADD was causing my falling behind and difficulty learning. He offerered to write a note requesting that I not be assigned ER. I said no because the condition of working at that company means you gotta be able to work all phases of job and on every floor. So I'm holding it together until the economy improves. As everyone knows, few hospitals are hiring now. Venus

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Hi GTYup, I understand where you are coming from. To help me and my paper work I had to find a quiet place to chart. If I didn't then I would be bombarded with family members coming to me with needs constantly. You didn't say if you were on any meds. I also had to get on meds so that I could focus. I practiced getting a routine down and did it over and over again every day. I know that there will be variances in your routine. That is when you will have to prioritize. I hope that this post helps. I will think of other things that helped me and hopefully I can help you farther. I'm not sure if I spelled this right. Sorry if I didn't. Thanks, Tina

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