I'm just curious, how many of you nursing professionals/ nursing students have opted to go on prescription meds since entering nursing school or the nursing workforce.
Given, I have had some depression in my teen years, I am now venturing to go back on prescription drugs. My moods are sometimes out of control, I cry, my sleeping is somewhat cruddy, and I am constantly on edge (at least a bit) even in my most "relaxed" states. I'm just giving you my background, so unless you have struggled with any of this, please do not tell me " Just learn to conquer emotions, relax, be organized, etc.". I have tried those already and I just want to open a thread where people are free to discuss if they are on something due to this.
I have also been diagnosed with ADHD as a teenager, and while I have all As and a B (BARELY), I am really having a difficult time. It should not be this hard. Nursing school seems like it will slowly push me to a looney breakdown lol. Ugh, I have no idea why I am laughing, it's not funny. But I just tell myself it will be worth it :).
Anyone else who can relate? It just seems like many nursing students and nurses out there have anxiety, depression, bipolar, (etc.) issues. Could be severe stress. I'm also thinking about the beginning/opening of Nurse Jackie where she is popping pills and looking up to the Heavens in ecstasy. I know how you feel girl. Yes I do.
I'm not on any anti-depressants or anti-anxiety drugs. Most of the people I work w/are on these drugs- so as one person said, it may be better to ask who isn't on them. I do think it helps to stay healthy & active, and to have a life outside of work-- work is not- has never been, my 'life'- it's my career, but I have a very full & busy life outside of work too- which I believe, helps me cope w/things at work. (not saying this is the answer for everyone, just what has worked for me!) If someday I need to take a prescription to take the edge off & help me relax/cope I would not hesitate!! There are so many things out there that can help, why not?
Now are we talking coming to nursing class drunk, high or just stuffed full of prescription drugs immediately after work or on the way home from the NCLEX?
Like CLC172 I lost my brother do drugs; he was a nurse.
I'm clean and serene. The rest leads to a rapidly plummeting downward spiral. It takes some time to rewire and get used to stressful situations but once you get out on the other side (no booze, no cigs even), you'll be amazed at this extra sensory perception you have and it's easy to excel where everyone else is numbing out. Life becomes really easy if you can stick with it and allow your brain to rewire.
Nursing school instructors, in large numbers, have a tendency to be abusive, at least that was my experience. I have a BA in Political Science, and my previous profession, before nursing, involved attorneys, litigants, and all sorts of irritated people. Even with that backround, I was shocked by the viciousness of some in nursing. No wonder so many of us began needing meds during nursing school. You are not alone, and the stats don't indicate that. It is a wonder that so many of us stick with it.
That's so sad. I've always heard the term, "nurses eat their young," and it makes no sense to me. I've been lucky enough to have decent instructors, some better than others, but there is one in my school who I have heard is really nasty, like your description. I just don't get it. Why would you want to be a teacher and NOT want your students to succeed?
I'm just about to start nursing school and I'm hoping to avoid any meds. I had a terrible (yet very enlightening) episode of benzo withdrawal over the summer; I hadn't known how addictive (and difficult to stop taking) benzos are.
I would have to seriously re-consider my career choice/job if I had to medicate just to go to work. IMHO, it's not worth it.
I went on antidepressant and antianxiety drugs when I was in my 3rd semester of nursing school and it saved me, literally. I am still taking them as a nurse, I have been on them for years now.
Me too Chenoaspirit. 3rd semester, BSN program, 4th year at the university. I was lucky to have a good PCP who recognized what my "real" issue was. (This after a few visits for various symptomatic conplaints all related to the anxiety/depression). Retrospectivly, there had been an issue for some time. I truly believe that his actions that day saved, if not my life, then a trip to the local psych ward.
I did start anti-depressants after nursing school, not during. I really feel my issues were not related to nursing, though the stress surely exacerbated it. My meds allow me to lead a full, happy life in and out of nursing. I still have trouble setting boudaries when I'm not working. My husband gets upset because I accept calls from my unit at all hours (I'm the unit manager). But I did the same thing when I was a home health nurse. I feel if I can learn to set boundaries, maybe I wouldn't need the meds, who knows?
I'm on an antidepressant. I took it for about 4 years, weaned off, stayed off for 2 years, then had to start again. At the time my job was really difficult (I went to the Med Center 3 times in a month for injuries inflicted by one of my DD clients) and I kept telling myself 'this is situational, I'll feel better soon'. The situation got better (hooray for antipsychotics!), but I kept getting worse, so I went back on the meds. I had to increase my dose partway through school to keep from melting down, and I'm staying on the higher dose now that I'm working and trying to get a handle on so many things at once. After 6-8 months at my job I might think about cutting it down again, but I've come to terms with the fact that I'll probably be on it for the rest of my life. Depression is horribly insidious and I don't want it to sneak up on me ever again.
Oh yeah, many relatives (esp. women) on my mother's side have struggled with depression at some point in their lives. It seems to be the default setting.
i am 27, and i have been on zoloft since i was 13. this was back before the black box warning, and i was seeing a child psychiatrist who prescribed zoloft for teens with depression/ocd/panic attacks/anxiety.
i am bi polar 2, and i take lamictal as a mood stabilizer.
i have been on medications for a long time, but i am doing extremely well in school thanks to the stability i have had for years. i am not anxious, nervous, or having any problems, i am taking it in stride.
Specializes in General adult inpatient psychiatry.
I really feel like if you have to take drugs to do a job it is no longer the right job for you.
I don't agree with this statement at all. I think if you need drugs to funtion, provided you are functioning with medication, that it shouldn't make a difference. Nursing is a stressful job, yes, but some people have anxiety and some don't. I'm a strong believe that there's bon a genetic and environmental component to mental illness. Would you say that same about someone who was diabetic and needed to take daily insulin to perform well on the job?
Specializes in General adult inpatient psychiatry.
I'm on medication for Bipolar disorder - type II and GAD/panic attacks. I think nursing is a stressful profession and I had an incident tonight that warranted me taking a step back, going to the break room, and getting some PRNs to calm me down. I think mental illness, when treated, shouldn't be considered any differently than a medical illness. We're nurses, but I think we're allowed to have issues just like everyone else.
nickola
250 Posts
I'm not on any anti-depressants or anti-anxiety drugs. Most of the people I work w/are on these drugs- so as one person said, it may be better to ask who isn't on them. I do think it helps to stay healthy & active, and to have a life outside of work-- work is not- has never been, my 'life'- it's my career, but I have a very full & busy life outside of work too- which I believe, helps me cope w/things at work. (not saying this is the answer for everyone, just what has worked for me!) If someday I need to take a prescription to take the edge off & help me relax/cope I would not hesitate!! There are so many things out there that can help, why not?