I'm bipolar, can I be a psychiatric nurse?

elkpark · Nov 8, 2015

There's no single answer to your question. Too many individual variables. It might be fine -- it depends on how stable your illness is, how consistent and compliant you are with treatment, the reason(s) why you want to be in psych nursing at the VA "more than anything else," and, I'm sure, plenty of other things I can't think of at the moment.

It is a well known phenomenon in "psych world" that some people are attracted to working in it because they are looking to get their own mental health needs met. Things tend to turn out badly in that scenario. There are many nurses with mental health illnesses -- many of them specifically choose to avoid working in psych because it "cuts a little too close to the bone" for them. Of course, it's possible to work in psych with a hx of mental illness and have it work out great. It's important to be aware of your own "stuff," have it under good control, and be self-aware enough to prevent (or, at least, minimize) it spilling over into your work.

Best wishes for your journey!

Callisonanne · Nov 8, 2015

Ditto what was said above. I am a psychatric nurse. I also happen to have some severe anxiety problems. I think the key is to not use yourself as an example in your practice. I know that I have a good understanding of anxiety but I make sure to not make the patients aware of that. If you had that peer in nursing school that told the whole class about all of their personal medical problems that is what you want to avoid. Maybe talk to your psych provider. See if they think you are stable enough for that type of position. Good luck with your decision!

Frybot · Nov 8, 2015

Thank you for your comments and advice! You've given me some things to think about. I greatly appreciate you help.

Talila72 · Nov 9, 2015

I am a psychiatric nurse and I also have Bipolar Type 2. I have been stable with only a little tweaking of my medications 11 years now. I had more issues starting to destabilize when I worked in a traditional hospital with 12 hour shifts that were rotating. I have never been triggered by working psych (I work adult inpatient) and it "cutting a little to close to home". When I am working it is all about patient care. In many ways I think I truly understand what some of my patients are experiencing but it only serves to make me more compassionate towards them. I have also picked up a lot of good information and coping skills that I can utilize to care for my own illness. Bottom line is I have been incredibly happy and fulfilled by psychiatric nursing and if it is truly your calling I would say go for it. As long as your focus is where it should be and you are taking care of your own mental health outside of work, I think you should be fine.

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide · Nov 10, 2015

It all depends on whether you can keep your focus on the patient and not over-identify with him/her. It's all too easy to overshare. I have some nurse friends who advised me to go into psych nursing because I have bipolar 1 and am naturally compassionate with mentally ill patients. But being MI myself has made me very self-aware and I know that I would probably identify with the patients to the point that I couldn't be therapeutic. So I said no, and I've never regretted it. Your mileage may vary; if you are very stable you might do well in psych nursing. You just need to be careful to maintain healthy boundaries and avoid making things about you rather than the patient. Good luck to you!

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · Nov 10, 2015

If your condition is stable and well-managed, then yes, you can be a psych nurse.

However, you need to decide if being a psych nurse is in your best interests. If you're going into psych just because you have bipolar disorder, please rethink your decision. Your having a psychiatric disorder doesn't mean that you'll be good at psych nursing. You're not even an expert on bipolar disorder because psychiatric illnesses differ in every person, and there's no guarantee that what a patient with bipolar disorder experiences will be exactly the same as what you experienced. You'll have some more insight that can be very helpful when dealing with these patients, but expert you will not be.

Mentioning that you have bipolar disorder won't give you street cred with either employer or patient. Employers are more likely to view you as a liability, coworkers may hold it against you, and patients may throw it back in your face.

If you're trying to fill some unmet need in your treatment, you're not likely to find it at work. When you're at work, it has to be all about the patient, not about you. That's even if you disagree with the course of recovery the patient chooses.

I'm not intending to discourage you completely from the specialty...lots of people with psych disorders go into psych nursing and do well. But go into it because you have a true interest in the field. And if you do apply, keep the fact that you have bipolar disorder on the QT if you can--if they don't need to know, don't tell them.

Best of luck whatever you decide!

pinkiepie_RN · Nov 18, 2015

I have bipolar disorder as well as anxiety and have been a psych nurse for most of my career. I went into psychiatry because I was good with psych patients, but I think part of that comes from being able to relate. I also am not ashamed to admit that I have some Cluster B traits and I work really well with those type of patients because I can understand where they're coming from. That said, work is not about me. I don't do it because it's therapeutic for me and sometimes it can indeed be triggering. I think it's totally worth it though and I think there are probably a lot of people in this field with MI or who have loved ones/friends with MI.

Ndy-RN · Dec 1, 2015

If only you know how many psych nurses actually have something going on....I have a few nurses admit to me they have OCD,anxiety,bipolar,depression ,MPD wow...but no one judges because they are great nurses (I am that girl people tell their deepest darkest secrets to and yeah I don't judge..I just listen).

SarahMaria, MSN, RN · Dec 1, 2015

I am a psych nurse with bipolar disorder. I think it has always given me more insight. On the other hand, when I have been struggling psychiatrically, it has been very difficult. Make sure you take good care of yourself.

Elladora · Dec 20, 2015

I have Bipolar, Generalized Anxiety, and ADD and I'm a psych nurse.

Best advice I can give you is don't always try to relate your diagnoses to the clients. Generally, they won't care what you have. Use your insight into the illness, just don't overshare.

elkpark · Dec 20, 2015

I have Bipolar, Generalized Anxiety, and ADD and I'm a psych nurse.
Best advice I can give you is don't always try to relate your diagnoses to the clients. Generally, they won't care what you have. Use your insight into the illness, just don't overshare.

My advice would be not just to not "overshare," but to not "share" at all.