Need advice on trying out mental health

[flightnurse2b, LPN]

so, i'm moving to Florida in about two months.

i've always done acute care.. ER, tele, med/surg. i've never really been too interested into going into psych.

i have a job pending our move at a trauma step-down unit at a small hospital down there. i have been searching for jobs in the area though, just incase i needed a back up plan.

there's a posting for a nurse at a mental health facility on the eating disorder unit. this really sparked my interest and i think it would not only make me a more well rounded nurse but it would be a somewhat less physically stressful environment while i'm back in school for my RN.

here's my dilemma.... i am a recovered anorexic and bulimic.

i've always thought i wanted to help people with edo's, but never thought i would be strong enough to quit my own bad behavior. i've been in "remission" for two years now and i am very open about sharing my own story with others.

would it be too hard though, as a nurse, to work with patients who are suffering from something that almost killed me? part of me says no, and the other part says yes. i think i'm finally on a healthy, happy ground and would have something special to offer these patients.

has anyone had a similar situation... or just any advice to offer?

also, mental health nurses, what do you find is the hardest part of working with patients that have edo's?

thanks in advance!!! :)

[xariel]

Psych is way less "intense" than acute care in most cases, especially swing and night shifts, and lots of people find time for homework in psych jobs. If you are secure in your recovery, I think you can be a valuable help to those patients. If you don't know how secure you are or whether you'd be able to handle it, I would consider waiting a couple more years.

[RochesterRN-BSN, BSN, RN]

I don't know about not intense-- I think the intensity is just different--course you won't really see that on a unit that is just for EDO patients-- this intensity and violence is generally more in the units with psychosis, mania, personality DOs...etc.-- course they may have other Psych Dx besides just the EDO-

As far as you level of comfort.........I really think that is something only you can know. You may find you are okay but it could be hard. Keep in mind too though that you may not be encouraged to share with patients that you suffer from an EDO as well despite 2 years in recovery-- it's important to keep the focus on the patient and his/her needs and illness and not to make it about your experience. Having gone through what they are may certainly help to give you a different perspective and you personally may find that you may be using your experience to help but not with out right telling them......

Its funny but I kinda have a similar issue with my personal situation--

I work in psych --in the psych ER and am openly gay...to my co-workers and outside work as well. We get a fair number of patients that are also gay--male and female. I don't share my own orientation with them as a straight person would not generally do this so why would I .....however when I have a gay patient who is struggling with accepting his or her sexualtiy or family or friends are.....without telling them about me I feel I am able to understand and help them in a way that maybe a straight person couldn't-- just because I also am gay and understand a lot of what they are feeling and the struggles--coming from a more insider view then maybe a straight nurse talking with them/assessing them may have............I feel lucky to have been the provider to be caring for them to be able to...without them realizing.....be using myself in an unknowing therapsutic way.

Does that make sense--I know it was a bit long winded but....just want you to understand that you can help those pts without sharing your personal stuff as many in the industry frown upon this.......

Good luck and maybe if not now later.......or psych but not with that particular population. I love it.......I find it more challenging in other ways then medical--most all is black or white in medical and in psych --LOTS of gray!! no tests for everything to know what is wrong and diagnose-- which makes it intriguing.