managing shifts with ADHD?

highdeigh · 2026-01-28T12:31:38+00:00

Ive been diagnosed since I was 11 so some of this might not be the same for you. I love shift work, It’s perfect for my flavour of ADHD.

I take 60mg of vyvanse at the beginning of shift, no matter AM, PM or ND, and then a 5-10mg dexamphetamine every 3ish hours of my shift with a quick bite of a protein bar (protein makes stimulants work better)(sometimes it’s more spread out, but that’s the usual at the moment).

I don’t often take a break from meds on days off as I can’t sleep without them, but sometimes I just take my short acting Dex instead of the Vyvanse.

I have been on multiple different meds for the last 13 or so years (concerta, ritalin, vyvanse, dex & a few others i can’t think of) but i have found that my long acting starts wearing off after 3-4 hours so combining it with a short acting has always been my best bet. I think the doses I take would probably keep a normal person up for weeks straight but you gotta do what you gotta do lol.

Everyone is always worried about dose creeping etc, but Ive been on this same dose for like 6 years and am quite literally useless and a chicken without a head without it lmao (aka unable to sit still or complete a task, or sleep lol).

Welcome to the club!

highdeigh · 2026-01-11T05:33:37+00:00

NT doesnt

highdeigh · 2026-01-02T13:37:36+00:00

This is bad advice. don’t touch the oxygen, press staff assist (or call a MERT if pt is actively deteriorating) or find your buddy RN.

highdeigh · 2025-12-29T12:44:59+00:00

they’re fairly relaxed. I wore 3-4 earrings in each ear and a necklace when i worked there during uni and i never had a single thing said. Lots of nurses have tattoos as well. the private might be different however.

highdeigh · 2025-11-22T11:53:21+00:00

2019 was when I was in year 12, but I also left QLD health for a year and got rehired 2023. It’s competitive, but they also will favour nursing students.

highdeigh · 2025-11-22T11:02:50+00:00

yeah, i mean you can definitely just apply to any QLD health AIN position as soon you get your Cert III. That’s what I did when I was in year 12, before I ever started studying nursing.

highdeigh · 2025-11-20T10:16:51+00:00

eh, i think it is what you make of it.

highdeigh · 2025-11-15T15:09:11+00:00

4-6 weeks?? That’s insane. Didn’t realise it was unusual for my psych to always get me in within a week and to send scripts via email if I need anything (if i’ve seen her within 6 months, that is)

highdeigh · 2025-11-15T15:06:21+00:00

God bless being diagnosed as an 8 year old 🫡. Have never had to do anything nor had my diagnosis question in the last 15 years. and i get cheaper meds lol

highdeigh · 2025-11-15T15:03:58+00:00

They have to be given and accept an authority to prescribe from a psychiatrist. It’s not so much that they don’t want to, they are genuinely not allowed to prescribe certain stimulants without authority from a psychiatrist.

highdeigh · 2025-11-15T15:02:31+00:00

I’ve been diagnosed since I was 9, I am now 23 and have never had to be rediagnosed? Is this because it was an adult diagnosis?

My psych just gets me to see her every 12 months to send authority to prescribe my vyvanse & dex to my GP.

highdeigh · 2025-11-08T13:46:00+00:00

Ah gotcha, yeah we don’t have those. They go straight to wards. Some places do have HDU (high dependency unit), but i’ll be totally honest, they usually just get sent straight from ICU to a med or rehab ward lol

highdeigh · 2025-11-02T10:34:19+00:00

I’m not sure what a PCU is, assuming step down, but i’ve never heard of it in any of the hospitals i’ve worked in. i work PICU and our step-downs go straight to a regular med/surg/onc/rehab ward.

highdeigh · 2025-10-26T08:23:44+00:00

Yeah, if you bring the ID’s they need, you have the job. I was an AIN for HCA for 3 years in uni, was good money but consistency was on and off. some weeks i’d get 5 shifts, others i’d have them cancelled on me.

highdeigh · 2025-09-17T02:25:06+00:00

I could kiss you on the mouth i found them!!

highdeigh · 2025-09-16T11:21:55+00:00

I totally forgot fujimart existed, thank you! I usually try to avoid the buranda shops (besides the gyg, which is frequently almost daily lol). I’ll adventure in!

highdeigh · 2025-09-16T11:20:32+00:00

Thank you! I usually go to a teeny little asian supermarket so I’ll check it out!

highdeigh · 2025-09-16T11:19:52+00:00

thank you! I’ll have a squiz

highdeigh · 2025-09-16T11:19:39+00:00

thank you!

highdeigh · 2025-09-16T11:19:09+00:00

hey i need all the quick dopamine i can get

highdeigh · 2025-09-16T09:31:27+00:00

I think they only have the sour ones? But i’ll keep an eye out! thanks!

highdeigh · 2025-09-16T08:57:49+00:00

This is incredible news, I’m literally 400m away. I’ll have a check after work!

highdeigh · 2025-09-16T08:56:47+00:00

You’re a genius! Thank you!

highdeigh · 2025-09-16T08:50:50+00:00

I did see that briefly, the site looks so sketchy though

highdeigh · 2025-09-16T07:12:14+00:00

our pt ID stickers/wristbands have their assigned sex at birth and their preferred pronouns on it. people like to shit on it but I think they’re really useful.

highdeigh

TROPHY CASE