adhd nurse hating life 😛#help
ADHD nurses: does nursing ever get easier, or am I just in the wrong specialty?
Hi ADHD nurses! I’ve been a nurse for a little over 2 years and I’m really struggling to find the right fit.
I started in the NICU because I LOVE babies, but it was a Level III and I was incredibly bored. I did enjoy the routine of the feeding rounds and it helped me stay on track. I wanted more acuity and realized feeder-growers weren’t for me.
Now I’m on a peds step-down unit and honestly… this shit feels like purgatory. 😭
There are SO many tasks happening at once, and I struggle with the constant switching, remembering tiny details, and keeping track of what I have/haven’t done. When I’m sleep deprived, it’s even worse. I’m constantly thinking, “Did I do that? Did I unclamp that? What am I forgetting?”
And I’ve genuinely tried everything—medication, to-do lists, routines, strategies, asking for advice, etc. I’ve improved a lot, but I’m starting to wonder if I’m trying to fit a square into a circle-shaped hole.
The frustrating part is that I LOVE critical thinking. I love acuity, connecting the dots, recognizing changes, and understanding the “why.” It’s the execution of 500 tiny details simultaneously that kills me.
I have to stay at the bedside for a while longer, so I’m trying to find a specialty that works with my brain instead of constantly fighting it.
I’m currently debating psych vs. ED.
Psych came very naturally to me in nursing school, but I also love acuity and critical thinking, so I’m wondering about the ED.
For ADHD nurses: if you’re overstimulated on the floor, did you find the ED to be even worse, or is it a different kind of stimulation that works better for you?
And if neither sounds right, what specialty ended up being a good fit for your ADHD brain? Preferably peds/babies, but I’m open to anything.
I’m not looking for “leave nursing” advice for the current moment (bc i can’t). I just want to find somewhere I can actually use my strengths and be happy.
Sincerely,
an ADHD nurse on the pursuit of (happier)ness 😭