Bipolar nurse

If your co-worker is practicing safely and appropriately, there are no grounds for reporting her to the state. She may not win any awards for being Miss Congeniality among the staff, but then I sense there's a lot of stereotyping and judgment going around your unit because she has a mental illness. I myself have bipolar and have been stigmatized in the workplace as well, so I can't help but feel sorry for her and wish someone would reach out to her. You sound like the right person because she has a relationship with you, even if her "moodiness" makes it hard for her to play well with others.

I think it would be a good idea for you to ask her privately how she's doing, and really listen to her response. She has already confided in you that she doesn't take her meds all the time; there are a number of reasons why people dislike psych meds. She may be experiencing side effects that may be intolerable for her, or the meds are too expensive (mine run about $800/month), or maybe she simply has a problem accepting her diagnosis and the need for them. To be blunt, taking meds sucks---many people gain weight on them, some of them may affect the kidneys and thyroid, while others have been linked to diabetes.

That being said, your co-worker needs an intervention of some kind, and the place to start is with her PCP or her psychiatrist/psych NP. Suggest that she visit him/her as soon as possible. Try not to worry about her punching you in the nose---bipolar does not equal violent behavior. It's a popular misconception that mentally ill people are more likely to be dangerous and aggressive toward others. For example, before I was medicated properly I used to throw things, smash glasses, and slam TV dinners up against the wall, but I never once hit another human being. Not even when I was flying-off-the-walls manic.

I hope you're able to reach this suffering nurse. She doesn't want to be this way, and she needs kindness, not condemnation from peers and management. Thank you for caring about her.