Becoming a nurse with being bipolar

star77, MSN, RN · Feb 13, 2011

I have a very close friend who is a successful FNP, attended UCSF for her MSN, graduated with highest honors, and has a history of being bipolar, hospitalizations. She is well-controlled now with medications. She was an ICU nurse for many years, and is a CCRN. She has won awards, nationally.

She did not have a criminal record, so I can't directly address your questions regarding drug rehab, but I can tell you that her illness has not kept her from accomplishing her dreams.

Not everyone is alike, but she is someone who proves you can do what you desire if you put your mind to it. She had a long, hard, road and worked very hard on her own sanity and had a LOT of support.

Don't let anyone ever discourage you - you know yourself better than anyone.

anonymurse · Feb 13, 2011

The most fundamental Q you have to ask yourself: WHY do you want to be a nurse?

NoviceRN10 · Feb 13, 2011

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!

I don't agree. My life was no where near as stressful before I became an RN as it is now.

BrookeeLou_RN · Feb 13, 2011

What is you were in another field and had big responsibilities.. Many tell me their jobs are more stressful then nursing..kinda a personal perspective.. Would your life not be stressful then. My point is regardless of what we are or do.. our lives are what shows up the total sum of that stress!

Stress is what we make it....some get stressed going to grocery store if that is the biggest responsibility they face... It is to them no less stressful then you saving a life.. It is all relative.

etaoinshrdluRN · Feb 13, 2011

I work in psych and I have a diagnosis of ADHD, which I have been able to compensate for fairly well. I especially appreciate having more than the usual share of empathy for patients who have an unseen illness, and it does help me in my work. It also helps that the work is interesting and while the time pressure of nursing work is there, the degree and nature of the pressure suits me better than my previous nursing job.

If you consider psych nursing, keep in mind that your own experiences need to be kept in the background, useful perhaps only to you, directly; your patients need to be the indirect recipients of that experience, since you need to withhold so much of yourself in this kind of nursing. But do consider it; unfortunately a LOT of nurses stigmatize mental illness and mental health nursing and give it short shrift.

I agree with those who posted before me about asking the BON in your state and otherwise investigating what needs to be done. Best of luck to you.

leslie :-D · Feb 13, 2011

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.

personally, i'd like to see you go further in therapy, before pursuing nursing.

once you feel you have a handle on exogenous stressors (vs the learning process you're in now), then it'd be more feasible for you to handle....nursing school...

which is a stessor unto itself.

many folks fail out of nsg school, r/t the stress, pressure, and demands.

which brings me to your statement about drs treating nurses like crap.

yes, that can be true.

but don't forget about a nurse's coworkers, pts and their families, as well.

we seem to be everyone's doormat.

that is why we consistently urge all newbies, to grow a thicker skin.

because we take lots of abuse, from lots of different people.

in closing, let me tell you, i so admire your goals...

and am certainly trying not to discourage you from becoming a nurse.

however, and from the little i've read, i would seriously wait until you have stronger coping mechanisms.

wishing you only the very best.

leslie

pedicurn, LPN, RN · Feb 13, 2011

personally, i'd like to see you go further in therapy, before pursuing nursing.
once you feel you have a handle on exogenous stressors (vs the learning process you're in now), then it'd be more feasible for you to handle....nursing school...
which is a stessor unto itself.
many folks fail out of nsg school, r/t the stress, pressure, and demands.
which brings me to your statement about drs treating nurses like crap.
yes, that can be true.
but don't forget about a nurse's coworkers, pts and their families, as well.
we seem to be everyone's doormat.
that is why we consistently urge all newbies, to grow a thicker skin.
because we take lots of abuse, from lots of different people.
in closing, let me tell you, i so admire your goals...
and am certainly trying not to discourage you from becoming a nurse.
however, and from the little i've read, i would seriously wait until you have stronger coping mechanisms.
wishing you only the very best.
leslie

Agree with Leslie.

These negative stressors can act as triggers for persons with mental illness - and also those with background of abuse

There are lots of poor dynamics in nursing that can trigger a susceptible nurse ...and add exhauston into the mix.

Just a few I can think of that might be triggery:

- Some females and males who perpetuate the old male dominant / female inferior roles

and who expect you to do the same

- Families/ p'ts/ organisations who treat you like a doormat

- The feeling that physical/emotional health issues are developing despite the nurses best efforts eg depression/burnout/diabetes (due adrenal exhauston)/heart disease (due stress) / breast cancer risk (due enforced nights)/ back problems despite proper technique / weight gain despite overall healthy diet.

These points can feel like abuse

I do think therapy is important so that these unhealthy dynamics can be discussed and plans made to handle them when they arise.

Also ... having worked with some bipolar nurses ... it seems they do much better off nights ...regular sleep pattern a must

BrookeeLou_RN · Feb 13, 2011

Absolutely agree with the NO Nights!!! My brother is bipolar, not a nurse or anything but he once tried to work night shift and he got so messed up..his meds had to be readjusted and he almost needed to be hospitalized. His comment was " But I like nights and do not feel stressed at all" It has to do with body functions.

I suggest take classes see how you do..continue therapy, working with your doctor, see if you can get That Letter.. this will all take time and by then you might know if you feel ready to embark into nursing or even therapy field...Classes will not hurt your life and can be put towards other careers if need be.

No one but you can know if you think you are ready..even Doctor can just go by what you say and how you act.

ItsTheDude · Feb 14, 2011

you're not going to be denied being a nurse b/c of a disability, that's illegal. the board of nursing just wants a doc's signature to cover their orifice if something goes wrong.

as other's have stated, there are plenty of nurses and other health care professional that have mental disabilities.

WindyhillBSN · Feb 14, 2011

I met this LPN who lived 20 miles from our facilty, who came to the psych unit because she was fanticizing about killing her patients. She came right after work and said it took all she could to finish her work day. She was bi-polar. She mentioned that at home it was very stressful...so her home life and work together made her go over the edge. They adjusted her meds and she was released a week later. So I guess my point is how much can you handle? :twocents:

skittlebear · Feb 14, 2011

This is all I have to say.
No sugarcoating.
Nursing IS VERY
Stressful.
VERY.

I will add a VERY to that! Haha...its true. I think nursing has made me crazy : )

BrookeeLou_RN · Feb 14, 2011

Now that you mention it..