Becoming a nurse with being bipolar

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i am on social security. social security listed my disability as bipolar with psychic effects. i have used drugs in the past, but am not using now. i am going to drug rehab to prevent a relapse. i have also been committed to a mental hospital. i live in ohio and before i go to school i would like some advice. do i have a chance at getting my rn license or would it be a waste of time going through school. i am 25 and love to help people. when i was getting better in the hospital the nurses would help me and helped keep me happy. i am now stable and my bipolar is not affecting me. i don't have any ups or downs. i would like to take my personality and share it to help others that are in need. i know nursing can be very stressful, but i am learning to cope with that with my therapist. i look at ohio's board of licensing application and it asks if i was committed to a hospital or am being treated for bipolar. it stated if i check yes to any of these that i need to explain it and to have a doctor state that i am able to work. i am just worried that they are trying to single people out with bipolar and deny license to people with bipolar. i am also concerned that they will find out i used to smoke marijuana and drink too much; but like i said earlier i am getting help with that. any input would be helpful.

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

There are many nurses with Bipolar that are working successfully. What is your psychiatrist's input on the subject? It sounds like they would be the one to sign off on your application. I don't think they are targeting people with Bipolar and would bet there is a whole other list of conditions they want clarification about before licensing someone. Please keep in mind that as with many diseases BiPolar is one that will very likely require strict medication compliance on your part to remain stable. Wishing you the best of luck with whatever you decide. Jules

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How do you handle stress? It's a very stressful occupation.

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i used to work at circuit city as a customer service associate. i would deal with customer issues. this job was very stressful, but i was able to handle it. since then i can handle a lot more stress. i am still on the careful side saying i can handle every single kind of stress, which i can't. i am going to counseling to learn how to cope and handle stress in a good way. i am getting ready to take physic therapy classes, where i hope i can learn my illness better and how to handle it with being under constant stress. the reason i want to be nurse i want to help people and give them some hope and compassion ship while there sick. i know you can't make everyone happy but if you can make 1 out 10 happy. i have succeeded. i am constantly trying to learn to deal with stress, and cope with it better than i did in the past. i have read a little on nursing, and i know doctors can treat the nurses like crap and there are a million things the nurse does. so in the end i can handle some levels of stress, and some levels i cannot; but i am trying to work on those. some of things i am trying to work on are take constructive criticism, learning to not get jumping or nervous when someone is yelling or dealing with a bad boss.

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Specializes in ER, ICU.

You should check with the BON regarding state guidelines. I know a few nurses with psych problems and they cope just fine, and they are very open about their conditions. It is a medical problem, as long as you can manage it.

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Specializes in General adult inpatient psychiatry.

I would definitely get my therapist's and psychiatrist's input on the matter. I'm in MD, so there were no such questions related to hospitalization or bi-polar diagnosis when I applied. I think one of the big things is to make sure you're stable and on the right medications. I was actually dx'ed with bi-polar while I was in nursing school and though it was the end of the world. I managed to make it through, take my boards and here I am, working on a psych unit. It's not easy, but it's worth it. I second having a good support system and coping skills, but I think that's important for everyone entering nursing school.

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I don't want to dissuade you from being a nurse, nurses rock. But, I think you should look into addictions counseling as a possible career. The reason I suggest this isn't because I don't think you're capable, but because it sounds like you have a lot to offer to a very specific group of people. You said you're in rehab for drug/alcohol use, you are bipolar, everything you are learning now is what you can pass along. We all know bipolar folks who self medicate with drugs and/or alcohol, and they need professionals that can say "I've been where you are, I've worn the T-shirt, and you can get through this". It's just a thought, best of luck with whatever you decide.

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Specializes in Home health was tops, 2nd was L&D.

I know many nurses who are bipolar and majority stay on their meds and deal fantastically. I know a few nurses who self medicate and should be on meds and seeking treatment.. yet somehow they get by.. not nice to work side by side with those.

Sit down and have a honest talk with your doctor.. if he/she thinks you are able and will write the letter, do it... I have had licenses in multiple states and have never had to answer questions such as those you stated Ohio asked. But I think they just want to know you have a Dr who feels professionally you are okay. Call BON and just flat out ask them.

The idea of being a counselor for additions is great too, and you get to help people that way... education is a bit different as is the salary but you know what makes you happiest.. Psych nursing may be good for you or it may be getting farther away and more into clinical concrete stuff may be better. Y

You can not succeed until you try and you will not know what you are capable of until you go for it..

Every nurse regardless needs support system especially during nursing school!!

Some states do have rules against people with felonies.. not that you mentioned that but just in case any of the past involved that,,, so if needed investigate that angle too.

Best of luck, take it one day at a time.. and let us know what you decide and how it goes..

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Specializes in M/S, MICU, CVICU, SICU, ER, Trauma, NICU.

This is all I have to say.

No sugarcoating.

Nursing IS VERY

Stressful.

VERY.

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Specializes in Home health was tops, 2nd was L&D.

Bipolar people can handle stress once taught how...sometimes better than others.

Frankly "LIFE" is the most stressful thing and all the rest follows it!

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i never thought of addiction counseling. i will have to think a lot about what way to go. i have a lot of time to decide the major. i first have to get the core classes out of the way. i was thinking about nursing in a psych unit because i could put some insight in to it. what i mean by that is that i can relate to patients and help them through to get better. when i was in the hospital a few years ago, i saw a patient that could not function when i left the unit. a few weeks later, i saw that patient in the drug store that was normal as any other human being. that's what i love. i love being able to help and see the progress of helping the person cope with the disability and ultimately function as a normal person. i just need to find out which way i want to go in the medical field. i will not be taking any classes till the fall but i am going to prepare for the compass testing so i don't have to take the remedial courses; i can get straight in the college level english, math classes and go from there. thanks for all the input. any more feedback would be cool. the application to the ohio nursing license is

http://www.nursing.ohio.gov/pdfs/forms/exam%20app%20packet%2010.2010.pdf

on page five is where is ask if you have bipolar or have been committed to a mental health facility

to your question about if i have had a misdemeanor or felony, i have no conventions. the only one is i have been committed to a mental health facility by probate court.

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Specializes in M/S, Travel Nursing, Pulmonary.

I would sit down and do a self assessment first. And, TBH, this is with any job with an elevated stress levels, cause nursing isn't the only one.

Why do a self assessment? Well, for me, if I had a loved one in your shoes, my concern would not be so much if they could handle the position, but if they could handle it without letting their life outside work go downhill.

There are lots of nurses out there with BIG TIME coping mechanisms that are just not healthy. Some seek comfort in food, there are posts/threads about weight loss galore on this board. Others drink a lot, some will tell you their relations (family, friends, spouses) suffer. My fear for you would be that you'd develop some of these problems and then it would make dealing with the bi-polarism that much more difficult.

So, do a rigid, honest self assessment first:

1. How is your treatment for your bi-polar disorder going? Do you honestly make your appointments and feel like you are making progress?

2. How is your support system outside of work? Have family you can visit and "get away from it all" with? Have some friends that you can vent too?

3. If you are taking meds, how faithful to taking them are you?

4. Can you handle some of the realities of nursing (crazy working hours sometimes, not getting a lot of recognition at work, intense scrutiny from different directions) or would it hinder your progress with dealing with your illness?

If, after spending a night assessing all this, you still feel comfortable with your choice to go into nursing, then by all means do it. But, if a few red flags come up, give them credit and some attention. Maybe shadow a nurse for some time, see if the environment gets to you or not.

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