drove 2-3 hrs to the shore and had a smooth ride thru backroads and highway , i then have a lot of trouble once i get off the highway and the car shifting. once I park i see fresh ATF all over on the ground and this pic

 

Sure hope you have checked your ATF fluid level to be sure that you have not spilled it all out onto the ground.

 

Picture is pretty small it appears your drain plug is missing. you possibly caught it early enough to not cause major damage. The bigger question is where is your drain plug and how did it back ALL the way out.

 

Did you have the trans recently serviced...at a quick change oil place like a Jiffy Lube?

 

If I have the car at an average joe shop, do u think they could even provide me with help on a fix? In other words do I need OEM parts for the drain plug or anything like that?

Man this is so random

 

Just go to your closes Nissan dealer or even a yunk yard and get the plug.... it will take you 5 minutes....

 

It would be impossible at this point to prove anything so I'd do as Lontar1 suggest and go get a drain plug and refill the trans