Help please! Trouble finding a job, while on Seroquel!

[EstrellaAzul]

Hi everyone,

Well, first of all I want to clarify that I'm OK. I suffer from depression/anxiety, which I inherited from my father's side of the family, but for which I am thankfully stabilized. I take both Lamictal and Seroquel every night. I started taking them about 8 or 9 years ago but then about 4 years ago, a different psychiatrist took off the Seroquel because he thought it was only for sleep, and so he replaced it with other medications which ultimately only made me gain weight. I struggled, but I finished LPN school, and even got to work for over a year. Had to leave that job because it was nights, and I suffered because I had no life whatsoever. There were illnesses and deaths in my family, so I have been unemployed for some time. Had to change doctors and am back on Seroquel. I feel well with it. I was recently hired at a private practice which unfortunately did overwork me in the sense that I was working 14/15 hours a day without a single meal break. It wasn't illegal. At least not in my state. But alas, I had to leave. My body broke down. It became difficult for me to drive to my workplace one day.

Now, I know that I was working at a job which literally did not allow for rest (when we did eat, we would talk with our mouths full for 15 min, and I also lost 7 pounds in a week and a half), but I also notice that I ABSOLUTELY have to sleep to the very minimum 8 hours on Seroquel.

I would just like to hear your thoughts on working as a nurse on this medication. Is it wise to work a 12 hr shift, knowing that you have to sleep enough? Yet, it seems that doing the contrary means I have to work weekends and bad hours (for peace), but ultimately suffer because I have no life (which proceeds further mental deterioration).

I find myself conflicted because I have a passion and real knack for medicine, yet I'm starting to doubt if I am able to work due to this situation.

[ED Nurse, RN]

Perhaps nursing is not for you- the majority of the nursing profession works overtime, doesn't get breaks, and deal with mental health issues and family issues- yet we wade through it and do what we have to do.

[mago8388]

I work in mental health and I think if you feel under control you should be fine to work. Have you tried home health? Perhaps you should work 8 hr shifts. Not all Medical offices will exploit you and maybe a different Doctors practice will work out for you. Maybe a residential treatment facility? If you can't do 12 hours I would stay outpatient. School Nurse? Seroquel and Lamictal don't concern me. I'm more concerned when I see Thorazine and Haldol along with a cocktail of anti depressants.

[ScenicRoute]

Is it just the hours you are having trouble with? There are nursing jobs that do not require 12 hour shifts. Maybe look at jobs in doctors' offices, schools, clinics that keep more regular hours, or even hospitals that offer 8 or 10 hour shifts. Nursing does require quite a bit of flexibility, and we don't always get our breaks on time. But if you are saying you just need to be able to sleep a solid 8 hours, that isn't so unreasonable. Good luck to you!

[EstrellaAzul]

Thank you for your positive responses mago8388 and scenicroute. I'm thinking that if I have to work on the other side of town, 12 hours is not a good idea. For the simple reason that commute comprises at least 2 hours. I am hoping that if something does come up on that side of town, it is at the very max at 8 hours. I'm starting to feel uncomfortable looking at private practices because it seems like they have greater power to exploit their employees due to lack of accountability, and if I encounter another bad experience, I'm only going to end up with a bad employment record of not being stable at a job. The employment record issue is tricky, because you really can't win. If you were done harm and you couldn't give 2 weeks notice as in my case that I wasn't getting breaks, working over hours and not sleeping enough, you can't sue because it's not against the law in my state.

I am able to work as a nurse because I have the experience. In addition to the professional experience, I have 15 years of personal experience because I cared for my mother who suffered from many illnesses from nephro to cardio, all the while managing my own, completing my studies, and working at the end.

Thank you for your responses; they helped clear things up a bit!

[nutella, MSN, RN]

To be honest - if you can avoid 12 h shifts and any rotation and on call jobs you should be fine.

As you already found out, you need enough sleep and a job with regular hours and just 8 hours will most likely help with that.

I have worked different shifts and long days but as I got older I noticed that I am doing better with 8 h shifts. True - I go to work more days a week but I am also more rested. I liked the long shifts when I was younger and worked only 3 days but in general I feel better with 8 hour days.