Elizabeth Lewis

[Elizabeth Lewis]

Hello Nurses!

 

My name is Liz and I have a few questions about becoming a nurse even though I have Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Bipolar type 2.  I struggle with anxiety pretty severely but am feeling I am on a good path of recovery because I have a fabulous medical team and a great support system of friends and family. 

I was a special education teacher for children, teens and young adults with severe cognitive and medical disabilities and taught for 12 years. I am taking a break right now because I need to work on my health. I am fascinated with the medical field. Our students had several health problems and I learned to give g-tube feedings, trach care, administration of medication,  clean intermitten catherization and management of seizures. I truly enjoyed the students.  I had trouble with the lack of administrative support and felt our student to teacher ratios were so high and often it felt dangerous to be taking care of so many medical issues while still trying to educate the students with a lack of community and administrative support. Im sure many nurses feel the same way. I just continue to dream about becoming a nurse. Something keeps pulling me toward nursing. 

I left special education because I was in a horrible place with my mental health.  In working closely with my medical team and am making some progress. Do you nurses think I am crazy going into nursing even though I have a panic and anxiety disorder? I have a Bachelor's Degree and a Masters' Degree in Special Education and Learning Disabilities. Im 41 and do not have any formal nursing education.

I have done some research and learned that nursing school is competitive and stressful. However I have had a lot of nurses that I know saying to go for it and they say I have the personality of a successful nurses and already know things that can't be taught in school. I dealt with severe and aggressive behavior as a teacher and was used to being hit, slapped, thrown to the ground, spit at and urinated on because the students had many behaviors and not much surprises me anymore.   Do you nurses think this is a crazy dream for me? Or could I possibly thrive as a nurse as a second career? I value your input!

[dianah, ASN]

Welcome to the allnurses community!  You might get some helpful information by doing a site search, using key words.  Enter your key words in the space at the top of the page, and then click on Search (right-hand side).  I entered "anxiety disorder and bipolar" and got referred to existing threads here on allnurses, where these things were discussed.  You may also wish to look up threads relating to starting nursing school at age 41.  All the best to you!