Bipolar-Should I ask for ADA accomodations?

[AZRN2112]

I have Bipolar I and work NOC. No problems there, I have adjusted well and am slepping during the day without problems. However, our shifts are very erratic. It's maybe one day on, two days off then two days on, two days off, three days on, one day off, one day on, four days off, two days on, etc. I seem to always be recovering from working or preparing for working. I'd also like to join a support group but never know when I'm working. I've asked my supervisor who makes the schedule what three days, any three days, she can pick them, I could work every week, so I can have the same schedule. She never got back to me and in report there was an announcement that there is "no set schedule and the needs of the department come first." I also asked specifically not to work on Sundays if at all possible, as it's my son's only day off and our family day. Guess what? I work almost every Sunday now. I love my unit (except management) and get along great with my co-workers. My unit is one of the lowest-stress in the hospital. My therapist has told me that I should ask for a set schedule; it would be very beneficial as far as my illness and getting more stable. I have had two manic episodes recently, assumedly due to stress. I am on intermitent FMLA for my bipolar, have been hospitalized twice in the past three years and desperately want to stay out of the hospital forever. Nobody knows of my diagnosis and I don't want them to know. I know I have rights under the ADA but am scared that if I ask for this and if management is forced to give it to me, they will undermine me and find a way to get rid of me. I know the way things are supposed to work and the way things can bite you in the butt. I also think that nobody wants to get in trouble with an ADA violation so I'm really torn. I'm a new nurse with little experience (8 months) and if I lose this job, I don't know if I can find another. I'm a strong nurse, am on a committee, have never had any type of disiplinary problems and recently got a merit raise. Thanks for any input.

[ckh23, BSN, RN]

Your employer would only have to provide "reasonable accommodations" for the disability, but there are some circumstances when they do not even have to do that. I suggest you go to ADA.gov and get some more information on it.

I don't think requesting to be off every Sunday to spend time with your family is protected under the ADA. However needing off certain days for a support group or treatment may be different.

As other posters have mentioned you may need to find a job that has a schedule that is beneficial to you.

[canoehead, BSN, RN]

Everyone wants a set schedule...what if it was another situation, like she couldn't do charge but could be a great staff nurse. If charge is part of the position, do you think reasonable accommodation would apply...be a nurse but not that particular part?

What reasonable accommodation are we willing to give nurses with mental illness?

[PostOpPrincess, BSN, RN]

If you cannot do the work as originally asked, don't work there.

Do you think it is fair that everyone else work the Sundays while you don't?

Do you think it is fair that everyone accomodate you?

I work with someone who is also Bipolar.

She CANNOT assume that everyone will accommodate her. She tows the line and is held to the same standards as everyone else.

Otherwise, what is the point of trying to live a normal life if you want that hanging over your head?

Let me tell you, we have a 90 day orientation and when we see odd behaviors that are impeding our work..that person is GONE. and there are ways to make it very legal--.

Ask for time off for you support group, but don't burden your co-workers because YOU need Sundays off....switch with someone and be fair about it.,

at the very least, don't SOUND so selfish.

[Old.Timer]

Sorry, all credibility was lost when she added the comment about wanting every Sunday off to spend with her family......who doesn't?

When requesting special accomodations, you'll usually get much further if you toss in something from your end to sweeten the pot a bit for those doing the accomodating, i.e. offer to work Sundays (or something similar) in exchange for a set scheudule. Just because something may or may not be mandated by law doesn't mean that you don't still attempt to work out a solution that is also satisfactory and beneficial for everyone.

A win/win situation is always better than a win/lose, even if you happen to be the winner in the win/lose scenario. These are your colleagues .

[AZRN2112]

I wasn't going to ask for Sundays off as an ADA accomodation, I was just using that as an example of how my managment is, that I was rarely scheduled on Sundays until I asked them to try to avoid it if possible. I was just asking for some insight as to how people would react to an ADA accomodation. Guess I got my answer.

[HeartsOpenWide, RN]

I don't think you having a hard time adjusting to your schedule has anything to do with being bi-polar; it would be hard for anyone to adjust to a rapidly changing schedule. This has nothing to do with a disability and the ADA should not be involved. If you can not adjust you probably should look for a day shift position.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

a set schedule would be nice; i'd like one, too. wouldn't it be nice to work straight nights or straight days? wish i had that option. and if i had every sunday off, i could go to church.

i don't think your scheduling concerns have much to do with your bipolar disorder. just about everyone feels that they're always either recovering from work or getting ready to go to work -- even my colleague who only works six days a month! but suppose you did ask for an accomodation and never had to work sundays again? how do you suppose your colleagues are going to like that? i have hypertension -- maybe i should get a set schedule with no sundays. how would you feel about working with me if you had to pick up my sundays?

i cannot figure out why, if you rarely worked sundays, you didn't just congratulate yourself on your good fortune rather than ask management for all sundays off!

if this job isn't a good fit for you, perhaps you should be looking for an office job or some other job where the schedule is more to your liking. make sure you know what the scheduling requirements are before you take another job.

[hiddencatRN, BSN, RN]

OP- as you see, if it got leaked that you have a set schedule because of ADA, you'd likely deal with a lot of resentment from your coworkers. I would be really, really hesitant to share information about your illness with your employer, especially when they reacted to your request for Sundays off by scheduling you for Sundays consistently now.

Even if your request was not a reasonable one to make (as others have mentioned, a lot of folks have families/church/etc they'd like to have Sunday availability for), responding by increasing your Sunday schedule rather than just saying "no, sorry, we can't accommodate weekend requests like that" is punitive. If this is how they handled that request....how would they handle knowledge of your diagnosis?

Can you find a support group that has multiple meetings that you could alternate between?

[TerpGal02, ASN]

I think you really need to feel your management out before you pull the ADA card. If giving you a set schedule is going to put them off, or you think they are going to stigmatize you for your bipolar, I would not disclose. If you don't feel that's the case though, I would definitely ask for the accommodation.

And I feel this accommodation has EVERYTHING to do with your bipolar and would be a very good idea. I have been diagnosed in the past with BP NOS, and trust me, keeping up a routine is VERY important to staying stable. While most of the rest of you feel that its "normal" to be feeling like you are always recovering from or preparing for work working changing schedules, its not so much for bipolars. Doing this can be EXTREMELY de-stabilizing, esp with the constantly re-adjusting your sleep cycle. That's what throws people into mania, and the OP has mentioned she has had recent episodes of mania. Ideal would probably be to try to find a straight day position, but having a regular schedule is going to be extremely important for you, IMO.

[mustlovepoodles, RN]

I have bipolar myself and I really sympathize with your situation. You seem to be handling it okay, but it seems you are just teetering on the edge. I would hate to see your recovery compromised by sleep deprivation and your chaotic schedule. Part of your current situation is probably that you are a junior nurse, possibly the last or nearly last one hired. That alone puts you in a precarious situation. Given the stigma attached to bipolar and other mood disorders, I would NOT tip my hand. I know and you know that mental illness is just an illness, like heart disease or diabetes. Unfortunately, the general public and even the medical establishment don't always see it that way. You don't want to give them any reason to suspect you aren't capable of doing your job.

You can do what you want, but be sure you know the consequences of your decision. It may be that you need to find something else with regular hours. Personally, I have not shared my health history with my boss or coworkers. I know for a fact that they would not understand and it might even frighten them (I'm in peds.) I figure if I have a "situation" I will deal with it then.

[steelydanfan]

You know, I think that everyone here has tried to be very politically correct, and no one has told you how they REALLY feel.

There are thousands of nurses who have depression, eating disorders, childcare problems and marital issues; and yet NONE of them would THINK of classifying themselves under ADA certification. ADA is for people who can't get around normally, or can't go to school or work because of unequal access. It is NOT a n excuse for someone who wants to join a mainstream profession but doesn't find it's requirements precisely to her liking.

If you don't want to work weekends, holidays and some days that you DO want off for the next 30 years, go work somewhere else. I am not prepared to be your co-worker and cover you demands.

[GM2RN]

I think you really need to feel your management out before you pull the ADA card. If giving you a set schedule is going to put them off, or you think they are going to stigmatize you for your bipolar, I would not disclose. If you don't feel that's the case though, I would definitely ask for the accommodation.

And I feel this accommodation has EVERYTHING to do with your bipolar and would be a very good idea. I have been diagnosed in the past with BP NOS, and trust me, keeping up a routine is VERY important to staying stable. While most of the rest of you feel that its "normal" to be feeling like you are always recovering from or preparing for work working changing schedules, its not so much for bipolars. Doing this can be EXTREMELY de-stabilizing, esp with the constantly re-adjusting your sleep cycle. That's what throws people into mania, and the OP has mentioned she has had recent episodes of mania. Ideal would probably be to try to find a straight day position, but having a regular schedule is going to be extremely important for you, IMO.

If this is true, I don't see that a set schedule would make that much difference anyway. Better to have a job where working day shifts is the only option, such as an office position. Such a job probably would also not have to work weekends or holidays.

In any case, I agree with those recommending to not go ADA, and to not tell your employer of your condition. I don't think this would help your situation at all.