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.

[PostOpPrincess, BSN, RN]

If you can't handle the backlash here, how will you handle it at work?

You have a sense of entitlement dear..reconcile yourself to it. You just do not like being told it.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

ruby, people always read into it what they want.

i work with so many people who have disorders of all types.

mental, and physical. guess what? they are still expected to work and do what they can--and when they can't they speak up and management helps them. we--our group help them.

but i can tell you that there is still no preferential treatment when it comes to scheduling because guess what people....everybody has a life...

hint: everybody else has a life. not just one individual.

ruby, they don't get that and go directly to, "i'm being picked on."

so typical.

you're right. after reading this forum for years, i've concluded that most of the "i'm being picked on" posts are from people who just don't get it.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

i don't know why everyone is so worried i'm trying to get something extra or get out of something. we are required to work two weekend shifts a month; we have a dedicated weekend crew. i have put in (our self-scheduling) to work every wed thurs and fri. that's four weekend shifts a month. that way i'm covering what is required of me and working the same shifts. so, i'm not trying to get out of anything, i'm actually volunteering to work two extra weekend shifts per month. it's not hurting anyone, would help our department, help me stay healthy and hopefully allow me to stay in a position where i'm really happy and doing well. what is so terrible? i just asked a simple question wanting some input as to whether this would be a bad idea, if basically management would feel resentful or something towards me. i've never used ada in my life and don't know anything about it and have no clue how it would be recieved in the real world. i thought maybe someone here might have had some experience with it. i don't understand why i'm getting all the negative comments and everyone is reading all this other bs into my question. i'm not personally to blame for people taking advantage of the system etc. i'm just trying to figure out how to solve my problem. thanks again for the positve comments and ideas.

i've never known anyone who worked where wednesday, thursday or friday were considered weekend shifts. so what i see is you working no weekend shifts. no sundays, which as many have explained to you, are days that everyone wants to have off. you working no sundays or saturdays hurts all of your co-workers who then have to pick up your weekend shifts.

i'm sensing that you really don't give a rip how much you hurt your co-workers, and you're not getting that not only management but your coworkers would feel resentful towards you -- with good reason. it's not just about you being in a position where you're happy . . . doing well implies that you're actually doing what is expected of you (i.e. two weekend shifts a month.) you don't have to like what i'm telling you or even believe it. but you did ask the question and the fact that you don't like the answers you're getting doesn't make them wrong.

[decembergrad2011, BSN, RN]

I don't think you should expect the job to schedule you a certain way unless they make set schedules for all nurses on the floor. That being said, it never does hurt to ask, and I agree that volunteering for a less desirable shift (Saturdays or Sundays) as part of your set schedule will be met with more consideration. It also isn't unheard of for people to switch shifts with co-workers - sometimes on a regular basis to get certain days off. If you are willing to switch to a day for someone else, they will be willing to switch with you. Another idea is that if you find that working three days in a row is what you need, maybe you can get your manager to schedule you three shifts in a row every week rather than three specific days every week. This would be my preferred schedule.

I think people are taking this a little personal though. I don't think the OP is actively trying to hurt anyone or make them work all the weekend shifts. Yes, she is thinking of herself, but practically everyone thinks of themselves, and I think most people would like to have a set schedule. But I don't think she's actively working with anyone with the ADA or anything on how to get it to happen yet - just ideas. The judgment is stemming from the fact that she mentioned how it would be nice to have Sundays off with her son, though, not her mental illness. Lots of the riding on this point seems kind of petty and unhelpful.

[Altra, BSN, RN]

i've never known anyone who worked where wednesday, thursday or friday were considered weekend shifts. so what i see is you working no weekend shifts.

op has said previously that she works nights ... and friday night is indeed a weekend shift everywhere that i have worked.

now, whether or not the 2 weekend shifts/month that are required at op's workplace can be fridays and not any saturdays or sundays ... i don't know as i can't speak to the specifics of the policy/practice where op works. but if the policy there is 2 weekend shifts/month, and friday night is included in the definition of weekend shift, then it would appear on the surface that op has met the requirement.

if op works somewhere where there is stable, dedicated weekend staff, minimizing the weekend burden on other full-time staff, then so be it -- kudos for them for implementing creative scheduling solutions.

[PostOpPrincess, BSN, RN]

I don't think you should expect the job to schedule you a certain way unless they make set schedules for all nurses on the floor. That being said, it never does hurt to ask, and I agree that volunteering for a less desirable shift (Saturdays or Sundays) as part of your set schedule will be met with more consideration. It also isn't unheard of for people to switch shifts with co-workers - sometimes on a regular basis to get certain days off. If you are willing to switch to a day for someone else, they will be willing to switch with you. Another idea is that if you find that working three days in a row is what you need, maybe you can get your manager to schedule you three shifts in a row every week rather than three specific days every week. This would be my preferred schedule.

I think people are taking this a little personal though. I don't think the OP is actively trying to hurt anyone or make them work all the weekend shifts. Yes, she is thinking of herself, but practically everyone thinks of themselves, and I think most people would like to have a set schedule. But I don't think she's actively working with anyone with the ADA or anything on how to get it to happen yet - just ideas. The judgment is stemming from the fact that she mentioned how it would be nice to have Sundays off with her son, though, not her mental illness. Lots of the riding on this point seems kind of petty and unhelpful.

I disagree.

Her total OP is suggestive of ..."how far can I/should I go with the ADA implication should I decide to pursue it?"

Something tells me that she probably already had an idea and wanted to see what the general nurse arena would say.

I say "pshaw" on a lot of it. The only thing that I see she should be accommodated for is the therapy. The other "suggestions" are just that. But if you shadow that into your original ADA requests, how could it not be implied? How could management not be "intimidated" into thinking the hospital wouldn't comply when the letters "ADA" are brought into it? Hospitals are very, very afraid of ADA lawsuits....

My take is this. If you can't work there because of WHATEVER, don't work there.

Done, kaput.

That's all she wrote, hasta la visita, toodle-lou, buh-bye, see ya.....

[leslie :-D]

My take is this. If you can't work there because of WHATEVER, don't work there.

Done, kaput.

That's all she wrote, hasta la visita, toodle-lou, buh-bye, see ya.....

i am seriously tiring of these 'reserved' types.

jo, tell me how you really feel.

leslie:lol2:

[OCNRN63, RN]

I've always thought I've been one of the posters on allnurses whois constantly saying something along the lines of "suck it up, everyone has problems." In the OP's case though I'm leaning the other way.

If all she needs is a set schedule to be able to do the job I say let her have it. There are enough hurdles to jump with chronic illness. Plus it's better for the unit to have her for that set schedule and healthy than to let go of a nurse they trained. I assume your evaluations are acceptable and you are a good nurse.

To the OP though, I'd say, though you are entitled by law to accommodations, it is a politically savvy move on your part to do some of the unpleasant things that are within your reach. Like extra weekends, or more night shifts, or just restocking to make your coworkers' lives easier. If there is a job someone is dreading you should be the first to offer a hand, because you know what it is like to need help.

I would also wager that HR will give more credence to your claim if you suggest accommodations you CAN make that would help your employer, along with the your request for help with your disability. By doing that you are saying, "Look, this schedule is affecting me so badly that doing every Thursday, Friday and Saturday night shift would be better for me than what I have now." What you are willing to give up gives them an idea of how much you are struggling.

I went back and reread her post. She doesn't say she's struggling. She says she's adjusted well. She wants Sundays off to be with her family. I'm sorry, that's not an accommodation for her illness; that's wanting special consideration for a personal preference.

[PostOpPrincess, BSN, RN]

i am seriously tiring of these 'reserved' types.

jo, tell me how you really feel.

leslie:lol2:

Sorry Leslie--I've never been one to be in the midst of a hullabalooh--but I am tired of the gimmes.....

I truly feel for those who have specific concerns that can be disconcerting and impact one's life. I've been there as I live with a depressive--hubby goes through bouts and they can last a long time.

But I do not expect others to bend. That's not fair to other people.

Maybe it's just the "that's how I roll..." attitude...

But Leslie, you do have a way of lightening things up...thanks.. =)

[decembergrad2011, BSN, RN]

I honestly doubt that ADA would step in for a situation like this. As someone else said, they work more toward accommodating physical disabilities. But why is it a problem that she ask about it?

And while the OP may have stated that she had adjusted well, she also said she had two manic episodes recently. I don't see the problem with asking her manager about a more steady shift. I didn't get a sense of entitlement from the OP as others may have, though. If she had more seniority, her requests would carry more weight, as at most places of business.

[ChristaRN]

First off, not being Bipolar myself I won't even venture to guess how the disease can effect ones life - I just don't know. I do commend the OP for her obvious successes in passing school and the NCLEX which isn't easy for anyone. I imagine the OP may have faced a lot of challenges related to her diagnosis. Some of her post sounded a lot like me and I have no medical diagnoses to speak of. My schedule looks a lot like what she described usually. I always feel like I'm adjusting my sleep to go to work or to be off. I've gained some weight likely due to lack of sleep and severe changes in times that I'm eating. I can never tell in advance when I'll be able to sleep and I've gone literally weeks before my body would let itself sleep at night since its so messed up being awake all night for work. I'm sure many, if not the majority of night workers feel this way. We either choose to accept and deal with it or look for something else. My job does not have a set schedule with the exception of requiring 1 Friday, 1 Saturday and 1 Sunday per schedule. We do occasionally have to pick up more weekend shifts as staffing fluctuates of course. I think that requesting every Sunday off is unfair of anyone. We all have reasons that we'd like the weekends off and getting into this job you should have been prepared for working days that you weren't crazy about. I don't think you'll have much luck getting a set schedule if that's not something your unit does. Perhaps if you find a support group on a Tuesday or something that could be worked out, especially for a very justifiably medical reason. I think that would be possible where I work. I do wish you luck and good health!

[ChristaRN]

just a quick interjection. where i work friday and saturday is the weekend for night shift, saturday and sunday for days. we just have it in our contracts that day shifters must work 1 friday also per schedule and night shifters 1 sunday per schedule because those shifts were always hard to fill as they weren't "required" weekend days. just wanted to point out that in my job, friday nights are weekend shifts.

i've never known anyone who worked where wednesday, thursday or friday were considered weekend shifts. so what i see is you working no weekend shifts. no sundays, which as many have explained to you, are days that everyone wants to have off. you working no sundays or saturdays hurts all of your co-workers who then have to pick up your weekend shifts.

i'm sensing that you really don't give a rip how much you hurt your co-workers, and you're not getting that not only management but your coworkers would feel resentful towards you -- with good reason. it's not just about you being in a position where you're happy . . . doing well implies that you're actually doing what is expected of you (i.e. two weekend shifts a month.) you don't have to like what i'm telling you or even believe it. but you did ask the question and the fact that you don't like the answers you're getting doesn't make them wrong.