Many people in the US and all over the world are diagnosed with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). And although studies show that more adult men have ADHD compared to women, more recent studies suggest that women are getting diagnosed later in life because ADHD presents differently in women compared to men.
Studies show that diagnosable ADHD symptoms — ones that are more evident in boys than girls — even out in adulthood, making new estimates for ADHD in adult women reach about 6% of the total US population. Because women tend to compensate for their ADHD symptoms better than men, misdiagnosing ADHD as other conditions, such as anxiety and depression, is quite common.
The nursing workforce is composed mostly of women, and there’s a possibility that some nurses on your nursing floor have ADHD. With communication, attentive care, and structured work being core parts of the profession, nurses with ADHD may find it more challenging to work on the floor compared to those without it. This is why it’s important to understand the plight of adult women nurses with ADHD, its symptoms, and how nurse managers can support nurses with ADHD.
Why ADHD in Women Nurses Often Goes Unrecognized
ADHD symptoms in women nurses can be hard to observe. Women’s ADHD symptoms typically lean toward the attention deficit side, while their hyperactivity side presents differently than in men. While men’s hyperactivity symptoms would typically appear as physical restlessness, excessive movement, and disruptive (sometimes, even aggressive) behaviors — which are easier to notice and diagnose — women’s hyperactivity may appear as being excessively talkative, energetic, and social. Because women’s behavioral ADHD symptoms are not as apparent as compared with men’s, the chances of them being diagnosed and treated for ADHD are lower.
Women also tend to hide their struggles with ADHD symptoms and learn to cope with their ADHD symptoms, such as working longer hours to compensate for being distracted or having difficulty focusing at work, which may add additional stress and lead to burnout. Undiagnosed ADHD in women can also lead to poor self-esteem, with women blaming themselves for their ADHD symptoms and attributing such symptoms to their own failures.
Reasonable Accommodations That Work in Clinical Settings
The following are ways in which nurse managers can support nurses with ADHD so that they can work safely and effectively in clinical settings:
- Provide quiet areas where nurses can chart or document without distractions.
- Allow nurses to bring notebooks and pens at all times so they can jot down important notes and requests.
- Provide clear and specific instructions. Instead of just providing a long list of tasks, indicate the high-priority tasks at the top of the list for each shift.
- Encourage nurses to use checklists and handoff sheets.
- Encourage nurses to use timers and alarms for medication checks, rounds, follow-up tasks, and meetings.
- Give advanced written agendas for meetings as well as written notices for changes to processes, tasks, and roles.
- Encourage nurses to take breaks, especially during lengthy meetings or training sessions, to move around, hydrate, or socialize.
- Allow nurses to use fidget toys during lengthy meetings, whenever appropriate.
By prioritizing active listening, structured work, and a safe environment, nurse managers can provide reasonable accommodations for nurses with ADHD.
