Can I be a registered nurse if I have bipolar disorder?

[MeAndArmini]

Hi, I am new here.

I noticed that on the university's prerequisite website (one that I'm looking to transfer to) that it says that a history of mental illness may prevent someone from obtaining their BSN license.

I have bipolar and have had it since I was 9. It used to be way out of control, but for the past year and a half I've been completely stable. I'm still on medications, but I'm very stable.

Do you think I should just stop doing the prerequisites and not be a nurse? I mean do you think because I have bipolar that I wouldn't be able to get my license?

Any help is greatly appreciated!

I realize this is something I should ask an advisor about, but I'm just going to community college right now...

[coelbren]

I am a pre-nursing student and, I just look at it in terms of sensitivity. We are more sensitive to stress, if we have any type of mental health issue. I don't believe in "mental illness", that is a catch-all phrase used to put people down, like "witch". Don't use it for yourself unless you are trying to dis-empower yourself. My doctor, who is an ARNP with a doctorate, told me she thinks I can do it if I want to do nursing school and more schooling. She has been through all of the same things as me. Personally, I am choosing nursing for flexiblity -- you can get there in stages, you can get advanced schooling in stages, you can work full-time or part-time, and I know I can be successful personally as long as I can do whatever I want part-time, for work/life balance. Don't give in to labels, do acknowledge your limits and/or sensitivities, need for sleep hygeine, etc, and don't take shifts that would conflict with that or anything which will unbalance your life. that's my two cents