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I'm in 11th grade, and I want to become a nurse—specifically, I hope to work my way up to being a NICU nurse. I do face some challenges, though, because I have ADHD and sometimes get distracted or overwhelmed when a lot is going on.

I'm wondering what steps I should take for college. I really want to earn my BSN, but I'm not sure whether I can go straight to college for it, or if I need to get my RN license first and then work toward a BSN. Honestly, I'm feeling a bit stressed about figuring all this out, and I'd appreciate any advice or guidance.

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Joseph’s Answer

Your ADHD of course presents challenges with educational programs but you should rest assured that many with this diagnosis have preceded you into successful nursing careers. Also, if you eventually desire to acquire a BSN, then you should strongly consider applying to a school with a BSN program (which would require you to attend a four year university). You do NOT need to obtain your nursing license first. Some programs will allow you to directly apply into their BSN program, while others will allow you to apply once you’ve completed some prerequisite courses (often 1-2 years) at the university. Alternate pathways include doing an ADN (associates degree of nursing) and receiving your RN (this is typically available at community colleges), then going back to school in a “bridge to BSN” program which can be completed in 1-2 years of online and/or part time work. Another option would be doing the 1-2 years of prerequisite coursework at a community college and then applying directly into a BSN program and finishing there. A few suggestions:
1. Consult with your family doctor/primary care provider to ensure you have the optimal medical treatment for your ADHD. This will help you focus during class, studying and exams.
2. If you have never tried counseling for ADHD, this may be a way to expand your toolset to help overcome its challenges. Again, I recommend you consult with your family doctors to obtain the correct referral should you be interested.
3. Everyone learns in different ways. With ADHD, you may find that the hands on portions of nursing school are actually EASIER for you than traditional classes. So that may be a something to look forward to since the last couple years of a BSN are predominantly hands on, clinical rotations. I’d strongly encourage you to find a good study group in your classes, which can assist with the processing of information in your case.
Thank you comment icon Thanks for the help. Patricia
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