New to site, Newly Diagnosed with BP I, and supposed to start Nursing School???

Nurses Disabilities

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Hi all,

I'm hoping to get positive feedback or honest feedback whichever. In february of 2011, I was Diagnosed with BP I and still healing from the aftermath of what my extreme mania made me do and the deep dark depression that followed.

I applied to take the Nursing program in January 2012 and am terrified due to my own insecurities along with what everyone tells me about the program.

I applied to the program and got in about 5 years ago but with the death of my grandfather and the fact that the teachers scared the crap out of me I dropped out after a week. The teachers told us that only 25% of the class will graduate, our lives are over, and basically, "welcome to hell." There was no warmth or positive feedback whatsoever. I do not respond well to negativity and harsh personalities.

I'm currently a massage therapist looking for a career change as I can not retire doing this work not to mention the monotany of the career. I do love to help people and feel better about myself when I do. Massage school even though was a lot of studying, wasn't hard, just lots of work. I only worked 2 days while going to school which helped tremendously. I think I wasn't scared bc its not like I can screw anything up while working and I don't have to remember minute details.

Nursing on the other hand can be deadly if you make even the smallest mistake. When I'm put on the spot or asked to respond in seconds with an answer I get flustered and don't live up to my full potential. I know this career is a lot of thinking quick on your feet along with being able to multitask.

I'm just wondering if my personality type along with my disorder will compromise my progess and success?

What can I do during school to make me more successful? If anyone else has BP, how did you handle school, what did you do to get through it? How did you handle your depressive episodes and were you able to pull out of it? How many espisodes did you go through while going to school? What medications did you take? I currently take Lamictal and Tegretol. Should I even go to school????? I want to be part of the medical profession, make a difference, as well as have the ability to be able to support myself in every aspect, especially financially.

Does anyone have suggestions or feedback? Please help me....

Thanks Jo'Ann

Blow off the posts that go off on harsh negative positions- the vast majority of people who replied to your post are just being realistic- sometimes that seems negative because it's not what you hoped for....just being honest :)

People are just trying to be realistic with you. You would be displeased if all you got was a lot of mamsy, pamsy, and then you found out quickly that all is not a bed of roses. You need to do some serious introspection and decide for yourself if you want this badly enough to put up with whatever nursing school may bring your way. It is not easy. If it was, it would not be nursing school. Sorry but that is the reality of it. Best wishes in whatever you decide to pursue.

I just want to let you know that there are people in the medical fields, nurses and physicians, who have bipolar disease. I'm not going to try to guess what your particular challenges might be. If you are able to accomplish this, perhaps in your own time, that will be a great accomplishment. Perhaps you will have the opportunity to provide special understanding and perspective to patients who are experiencing challenges, of whatever type. Regardless the road you go down, you are going to have to work hard on life skills to enable yourself to be successful. All the best to you.

Specializes in Infectious Disease, Neuro, Research.

Just reiterating what's been said. I know several people with BP/MD, and the challenge is to develop a mechanism whereby you have some control over the emotional highs and lows, along with meds. Things aren't as "limitless" as they seem today, they aren't nearly as "hopeless" as they seemed yesterday.

It doesn't matter if one has an "illness" or not, emotions, in the absence of reason, alway lie to us.;) For some of us, and excess of "reason" is the problem, don't sweat it...:D

Specializes in I'm too new to have a specialty.
Hi all,

I'm hoping to get positive feedback or honest feedback whichever. In february of 2011, I was Diagnosed with BP I and still healing from the aftermath of what my extreme mania made me do and the deep dark depression that followed.

I applied to take the Nursing program in January 2012 and am terrified due to my own insecurities along with what everyone tells me about the program.

I applied to the program and got in about 5 years ago but with the death of my grandfather and the fact that the teachers scared the crap out of me I dropped out after a week. The teachers told us that only 25% of the class will graduate, our lives are over, and basically, "welcome to hell." There was no warmth or positive feedback whatsoever. I do not respond well to negativity and harsh personalities.

I'm currently a massage therapist looking for a career change as I can not retire doing this work not to mention the monotany of the career. I do love to help people and feel better about myself when I do. Massage school even though was a lot of studying, wasn't hard, just lots of work. I only worked 2 days while going to school which helped tremendously. I think I wasn't scared bc its not like I can screw anything up while working and I don't have to remember minute details.

Nursing on the other hand can be deadly if you make even the smallest mistake. When I'm put on the spot or asked to respond in seconds with an answer I get flustered and don't live up to my full potential. I know this career is a lot of thinking quick on your feet along with being able to multitask.

I'm just wondering if my personality type along with my disorder will compromise my progess and success?

What can I do during school to make me more successful? If anyone else has BP, how did you handle school, what did you do to get through it? How did you handle your depressive episodes and were you able to pull out of it? How many espisodes did you go through while going to school? What medications did you take? I currently take Lamictal and Tegretol. Should I even go to school????? I want to be part of the medical profession, make a difference, as well as have the ability to be able to support myself in every aspect, especially financially.

Does anyone have suggestions or feedback? Please help me....

Thanks Jo'Ann

Did we go to the same nursing school? I was told the same things and YES they are all true. However, it does not mean that you cannot do it. If you have BP and you are on meds that stabalize your moods, you are good to go. I was scared to death and every semester I looked around the room and spotted those I knew that were not going to make it, and I tried to find out where I fell in that dynamic. I was afraid of failing out, and it ended up that I was top of my class (in nursing school that is really darn hard). Yes, for 2 straight years I took care of my 3 kids and I worked my butt off all things nursing school. 25% make it. I started with 40, and 13 originals graduated with me. It is what it is, not everyone can be a nurse. In my program I tested in, did you in yours? My test score was highest among my peers, and I did the best among my peers, that is a good way to gauge where you are at? If you try your hardest always giving your best effort, you have nothing to worry about. SLackers are not going to make it through nursing school, and if and when they do they fail their NCLEX.

Specializes in I'm too new to have a specialty.
No, we don't all have mental illness- but it's pretty safe to say the majority of us have worked with folks who do, or have family/friends/co-workers with mental illness. The "discouraging words" are a response to your asking for opinions :) That's all. It's going to be tough- that does not mean it's impossible. You have a point about people not being nurses if they are miserable- but all jobs have negative aspects :) I found the nutty stuff and wild days worth it for all of the ones that went ok. Nursing is NOT a job where you will get a lot of positive feedback about your work. You have to get that from within yourself. That can be hard, especially the first few years when you're building the foundation of your career....after school, you still have a LOT to learn- and any nurse that is worth anything keeps learning for the rest of his/her life :)

You wanted opinions. This bunch isn't prone to sugar coating anything , because it doesn't help to lie to you - you wanted honest feedback (sometimes that's positive, and sometimes it's a bit hard to hear).

I never hated nursing. I'm disabled now, but keep my license. I'm proud of being a nurse :nurse: If you can keep stable on your meds, and keep in contact with your doc and/or therapist, you might do great. But compliance with treatment for BP1 will be the key to any chance with nursing school.... I've known nurses with depression and other mental illnesses- and while there were times that were hard, they made it :)

But nursing and the medical profession is loaded with negative things and people...if you really have a problem with those , it's good to figure out if you can handle it (on a daily basis in some form- and realize it's not personal- it's about whatever situation is going on. It's hard to separate that when you're in the middle of it :heartbeat

Talk with your therapist - see what their input is- they know you better. You bring up VERY good questions about your situation- if your cycles are stable with meds, there may be some areas of nursing that work well for you.... hospital nursing might be too overstimulating and trigger either mania or depressive episodes.... lots to consider with your doc/therapist :)

Hang in there :)

I think there are great words above this sentence to really think about. You know, I am one with issues to AD/HD for one, and I could not read until I was in like 4th grade. I memorize everything. I can't sound out words (learning med terms, mmmm). Anyway, if you believe and give your all to something you can do anything you put your mind to. I am an example. I am the one finishing top of my class, when no one thought I would graduate from high school. You got to have a fire inside you to do this. If you think you can't, you never will.

Specializes in I'm too new to have a specialty.

Never let anyone tell you you cannot do anything, how do people you do not know have that much power over you and who you will become. Its meant to scare you, its not for the weak.

Specializes in I'm too new to have a specialty.
Nursing schools are all hateful places. 52 started in my class, 30 graduated. They especially tore up single mothers. The nursing profession is the same, there are no kindred spirits, and no camaraderie, whatsoever. And BTW- the latest bent is asking if you have any mental illness, or take any meds- that way you can be put in an impaired nurse program right off the bat. Might want to learn to relax, and find that massage is a better diamond in the rough than you thought it could be. And also might want to keep a lid on anything that may ever end up online, meaning available to anyone. It's not a nice place this country is heading towards. Ohm~

Good point.

Specializes in I'm too new to have a specialty.
Don't you all have mental illness, how do you have jobs then?? So why such discouraging words?? Honesty is nice but it seems like you hate your jobs.... trust me being a massage therapist isn't its all cracked up to be. I think nurses that are hateful and not happy bc they don't like what they do and shouldn't be doing it if you're so miserable.

You are niave in your statement. You need to understand nursing by way of education you do not possess and then witness the working environments these nurses are in. None of them have seemed to hate their jobs to me. Read your post, and think about what you sound like coming off to someone you do not know? In my state that first week quit of nursing school would have been your last because you do not get second chances in my state.

Please do not put down these Nurses who have been to school for years, and years because everyday a nurse learns something they did not know. Also because you do not even understand what nursing is or what they go through or anything to make such a statement. Just don't put down nurses, please.

You are niave in your statement. You need to understand nursing by way of education you do not possess and then witness the working environments these nurses are in. None of them have seemed to hate their jobs to me. Read your post, and think about what you sound like coming off to someone you do not know? In my state that first week quit of nursing school would have been your last because you do not get second chances in my state.

Please do not put down these Nurses who have been to school for years, and years because everyday a nurse learns something they did not know. Also because you do not even understand what nursing is or what they go through or anything to make such a statement. Just don't put down nurses, please.

Where is the OP putting down nurses? She simply said that some of the nurses replying here seem to hate their jobs and that nurses who hate their jobs should probably be doing something else. I completely agree with that.

nursing schools are all hateful places. 52 started in my class, 30 graduated. they especially tore up single mothers. the nursing profession is the same, there are no kindred spirits, and no camaraderie, whatsoever. and btw- the latest bent is asking if you have any mental illness, or take any meds- that way you can be put in an impaired nurse program right off the bat. might want to learn to relax, and find that massage is a better diamond in the rough than you thought it could be. and also might want to keep a lid on anything that may ever end up online, meaning available to anyone. it's not a nice place this country is heading towards. ohm~

it is absolutely not true that all nursing schools are hateful. my bsn program was very tough to get into, but once there they did everything they could to support you and help you succeed. i got so stressed out with school, work, and a new baby that i decided to withdraw from school and just give up on the whole thing. the dean called me into her office and said they were not going to give up on me. she told me to take a semester off, then come back the following semester when i had gotten some rest and perspective. that's exactly what i did. the faculty was fantastic-they wanted you to be great, safe nurses.

neither do i agree with your statement that is no "camaraderie" whatsoever in nursing! i have had great jobs where the nurses worked as a team, had your back, socialized occasionally outside of work, gave baby showers or wedding showers, recognized birthdays, went to funerals, etc. i have observed strong camaraderie in other units at my hospital. one of the icus had nurses who had all been there for 15 years plus because they loved working there so much. almost zero turnover.

to the op, while i disagree with some of the negativity here, i do agree that nursing school is very stressful, very difficult. my concern is how you would handle that kind of stress while trying to maintain your mental health. nursing after completion of school can be very stressful also, particularly if you are not lucky enough to land in a unit which has a positive culture. though a unit like that has never been an experience of mine, they are certainly out there.

nursing is a tough career. but many of us love it and wouldn't do anything else. you must consider all the negatives very carefully. ultimately, no career is worth having your mental health and peace of mind destroyed, and without knowing much about mental illness, i would encourage you to think long and hard about this and get some feedback from professionals who know you, perhaps family members who have seen you under stress.

good luck.

Consider looking into a career as an occupational therpatist assistant, two years of school, much less stress and responsibility, and they make more money than nurses

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