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.

[Soyrizo]

i'm really sorry you're perceiving it that way.

when i read your post, i saw it as a poster with well-controlled bipolar, who 'seemed' to be (subconsciously?) exploiting her mental illness to get a set schedule, with sundays off.

as has been stated, very few nurses enjoy rotating schedules and enjoy working weekends even less.

if i read you wrong, i apologize.

that said, i've been on these boards long enough to know that overall, an's is a very compassionate audience.

we've had sev'l posters with mental illness, that have had situations that warranted a tremendous outpouring of support.

you certainly shouldn't feel ashamed, but all of us, need to sometimes reconsider how we come across to others.

you know yourself better than anyone else.

it sounds like a set schedule would benefit you, but to ask for the ada to advocate for you...

i just didn't see it as a critical accommodation, where it's something you could handle yourself.

I respectfully disagree.

A well controlled bipolar patient does not have a history of recent hospitalizations or a very recent breakthrough manic period. If anything I would categorize it as moderately under control, and I would consider it very important to work with mental health care providers closely and consider all suggestions thoughtfully, which she was doing by asking about ADA accommodations and received negative and dismissive replies.

Do you have any idea what it is like for every thought and mood to be suspect? To have limited control over it at times, and the end result is you just make everyone mad or irritated with you? If your blood pressure shoots up or your blood sugar dive bombs, no one blames you. But if you're so depressed you can barely talk one day, and the next you're talking up a storm and bubbling with mania, there's all sorts of judgement to go around, and it always comes back to the person just needs to work harder to get it under control.

I took the wanting to have Sundays off as she wrote it, to demonstrate the retaliatory nature of the management for requests.

And my impression was that people are very uninformed about bipolar. It is not like other chronic issues. It's not even like depression. And I am really disappointed with the basic idea that since everyone else has issues or struggles, it wouldn't be fair for this person to get any special consideration. Fairness isn't everyone getting the same thing, fairness is everyone getting what they need in order to succeed.

To the OP, I think unfortunately you're stuck with dealing with an uncooperative management right now. But not all places are like that, my spouse has bipolar and works in an ER, and they have been very accommodating without an issue. He doesn't work a strict set schedule, but its close, generally every 2 weeks is the same. I hope you can find what you need.

[mustlovepoodles, RN]

My thoughts are that the way things are going I may need to find a job that is more M-F 9-5, such as an outpatient clinic (Dr. office, outpatient endo, something along those lines.) Anyhow, all the judgemental and hurtful comments have actually helped confirm that having a mental illness is still something to be ashamed of and I better not say anything.

I don't think mental illness is something to be ashamed of, but you have to understand that even in this so-called age of enlightenment,there is still a LOT of stigma out there. As someone who lives with mental illness part of my job is managing the risks vs/ benefits of revealing my mental health history. Most of the time it is simply not in my best interest.

I know for me, keeping regular hours andgetting proper sleep and nutrition are paramount. If any one of those things slips, I can very quickly find myself going manic or depressed. For me,the answer was getting out of the hospital rat race and moving to a small school clinic. I don't get paid what I'm worth,but the stability has been totally worth it. My hours are regular, I sleep well, take my meds, see my therapist/support groups, and I generally get along well. Even doing everything right,however, I have had 3 small episode of mania and a moderate 8wk long depression in the last 2 years. I know very well just how bad this can get and I will do anything to keep my mood in check. Even if that means working less hours, getting paid less.

Good luck to you.

[canoehead, BSN, 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.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

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.

i'm missing something. if you rarely worked sundays, why did you go to management and ask them to avoid scheduling you on sunday. clearly they were already doing that. and then you drew attention to the fact that you weren't doing your fair share of sundays, so now you're making up for it.

i understand that mental illness is a disease. so is hypertension, obesity, anorexia, diabetes, epilepsy, heart failure and many more. i have colleagues with all of those diseases -- and some with more than one. they're not asking for accommodations. the person who asked for -- and got -- an accommodation was the secretary who needed the desk enlarged a bit to accommodate her wheelchair.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

thanks for all the positive feedback. all the negative feedback just shows why people with mental illness choose to keep things in the dark. i was told when i took the position it was "self-scheduling". i came from another department with self-scheduling and they pretty much gave us what we asked for. i'm not asking for weekends or holidays off. i never said that in my post. i'm not asking any co-workers to "pick up my slack." why would it affect them at all if i worked the same three days in a row every week? when i developed this illness about three years ago i was devastated; all i thought was "oh my god, am i going to be able to be a nurse? am i going to be able to work?" i was reassured that as long as i take my meds, watch my stress, know my triggers, chances are good that i will be able to lead a normal functioning life. my thoughts are that the way things are going i may need to find a job that is more m-f 9-5, such as an outpatient clinic (dr. office, outpatient endo, something along those lines.) anyhow, all the judgemental and hurtful comments have actually helped confirm that having a mental illness is still something to be ashamed of and i better not say anything.

unless you're volunteering to work friday, saturday and sunday every week -- or perhaps saturday, sunday and monday -- it affects your co-workers because they're going to have to pick up the weekend shifts you should be working.

i haven't seen the comments that indicate mental illness is still something to be ashamed of. what i have seen are comments that hint that perhaps you should be ashamed of trying to weasel out of doing your fair share of weekend shifts.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

op, i'm curious about a couple of things. you said that you're a new nurse with only 8 months of experience, yet you mention having utilized intermittent fmla. fmla requires the employee to have been an employee at least one year - did you work for the same employer in some other capacity before becoming a nurse?

also, in your unit, does no one have class, work another job, or have some other set commitment that prevents them from working, say, tuesday nights, though they are available all other days/times? that has been typical where i have worked, and if there is that precedent i probably would push for a certain day/time off so that you can attend your support group.

i suppose there are units where the atmosphere is punitive enough that any request is denied under the guise of "who does she think she is?" these not places where i would want to work. i once heard a manager (not mine) describe her philosophy of scheduling, and that was that when the schedule was published, "if no one is happy then i've done my job." it was her twisted notion of avoiding favoritism. again -- not somewhere i would choose to work.

asking for every tuesday off, for example, to attend your support group is reasonable. i know lots of nurses who ask for every wednesday off for a class or every thursday off because that's the day the senior center is closed and someone has to watch grandma. if you get most tuesdays off, you could probably trade for the ones you don't get. or, if you really need a set schedule i'm sure you could get it by working every weekend. that would also be reasonable and respectful of your co-workers.

i'm not sure that putting the op on more sundays was punitive. it sounds more as if she drew management's attention to the fact that she wasn't working many sundays. lots of people want sundays off -- management probably figured it was someone else's turn to have a few sundays off and the op could work a few to make up for all the ones she had off.

one other thing to consider -- and i don't know if this applies to the op or not. i've seen managers get rid of problem employees by giving them exactly the opposite schedule of what they request. or repeatedly denying their preferred vacation time, not allowing them to advance or take classes or whatever. they don't have to fire anyone that way -- the person usually quits. i'm not saying that the op is a problem employee or that her manager is trying to get rid of her -- obviously i don't know either her or her manager. but sometimes the squeaky wheel gets the shaft rather than the grease.

[PostOpPrincess, BSN, RN]

unless you're volunteering to work friday, saturday and sunday every week -- or perhaps saturday, sunday and monday -- it affects your co-workers because they're going to have to pick up the weekend shifts you should be working.

i haven't seen the comments that indicate mental illness is still something to be ashamed of. what i have seen are comments that hint that perhaps you should be ashamed of trying to weasel out of doing your fair share of weekend shifts.

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.

[AZRN2112]

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.

[hiddencatRN, BSN, RN]

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.

Well, as JoPACURN points out, people read in to things what they want.

[linearthinker, DNP, RN]

With respect, by what stretch of the imagination is working every Wed Thurs and Fri. = four weekend shifts a month? That sounds like zero w/e shifts a month to me. I have never worked anyplace that considered Friday a weekend shift. Monday either for that matter, lol. Even Friday night is considered a regular work week shift IME. "Weekends" are comprised solely of Saturday and Sunday, either day or night shift. I'd make an offer for a fixed schedule that includes one of those days if I were you. I don't think coworkers are going to respond positively to a request that amounts to straight weekday (or weekday night) shifts from a newcomer. I'm sure they are already raising their eyebrows about the multiple FMLA requests.

I don't think the negative feedback you got has squat to do with mental illness and everything to do with an inferred (albeit, perhaps incorrectly) sense of entitlement. Everyone has problems, family and schedule conflicts. Everyone. Using a medical or psychological condition to obtain a preferred schedule is not exactly being a team player, so I'd caution you not to do that. You can try of course, I believe it is within your rights. However, I don't think i t is going to turn out well for you and I wouldn't recommend it. If you cant meet the needs of your present unit or vice versa, look for a different position. Good luck

[Otessa, BSN, RN]

I was wondering how Friday fit in as well, UNLESS, the W, Th, F PLUS the every other weekend??

Weekends wherever I have worked was Saturday and Sunday

[LETRN]

Count me in as another who doesn't understand the Friday shift = weekend. You can obviously do what you want and contact who you want, but you asked for input and you received it. It makes me homicidal to come on this board and see people ask for advice then become defensive and weepy when it's not what they want to hear.

If contacting the ADA will benefit your life and you're ok with backlash from your coworkers, go for it. I know that if I worked with someone with a mental illness that used it to get out of working weekends, I would be ******. We all have physical, mental, and/or situational issues that would be improved if we could be off on certain days...but that's not the reality of the profession of nursing.