No You Can't (Long)

[nursesaideBen]

I could use some opinions and advice from you guys. I'm a new LPN and work on a busy medical unit. I start back to school this fall to start working on general courses I need for my associate's degree (including 2 extra psych courses I signed up for). I love my job don't get me wrong, but I know within a couple years I will be discontent and I'm still trying to "really" figure out what I want to do with my nursing career. During LPN school I excelled and soared in psychiatric nursing from the papers I did to clincial rotations and actually helping with a couple group therapy sessions. I love Psych. The only bad thing is, is that I have Bipolar type II disorder. Without getting too personal, I have had a difficult time keeping myself stable, it seems that so far the mainstream drugs for treating my illness have been less than effective (Lithium, Tegretol, Abilify, etc) my disorder doesn't disrupt me while I'm at work it's during the down time that I have at home that the hypomania and depression adversely affect me. I would love to do Psychiatric Nursing but I have been told from several close confidants that I simply cannot do it and that it would be more than I could bear since I myself am not exactly the poster child for mental health. I do NOT want to do psych because I'm hoping that I'll miraculously find the answer to my own mental problems, I do want to do it simply because it is fascinating and sometimes during my clinicals I could tell that simply by listening to my patients I was somehow helping them. I am constantly doing research on mental health issues as well as medications both due to my fascination with psych and of course due to the fact that I have a mental illness. We recieve quite a few psych patients on my unit and some of my co-workers actually come to me even though I'm a new grad when they have questions about certain meds and disorders, I have been encouraged by many of my friends to go into psychiatric nursing, of course they don't know I'm bipolar though. I am hoping that you all will be able to help me make this long term decision, should I one day once my appetite for med/surg is met go where my talents and knowledge could bet utilized more, or should I stay away from psychiatric nursing because I have a mental illness?

[Whispera, MSN, RN]

Yes, the question is asked on the pre-employment physical history form, but that wouldn't necessarily get back to the person who hires. Maybe I'm naive, but isn't patient confidentiality in play here? I would think only things that would prevent an employee from doing the job would be told to the employer, and maybe even in a yes-or-no-is-this-person-medically-capable-to-do-the-job manner?

[woknblues]

I don't know. For me, if it is treatable, and does not effect your work, what is the problem? Should people who have had cancer be barred from oncology? Would the guy with the limp not be able to work ortho? Tongue firmly in cheek here, but you get my point.

[wonderbee, BSN, RN]

You will see things in the psych population that will get your adrenaline pumping and generally mess with your chemistry. You will have to be in tune to the early signs of relapse and be on it right away. Of equal importance is the need to separate your issues from the patients under your care. You may be a wounded healer but you will have to keep your own experiences to yourself to remain therapeutic. It might be tempting to self-disclose and even make logical sense. I don't believe in absolutes but it is a very slippery slope.

Would it surprise you to know that there are many diagnosed inviduals in the profession? Yeah, it's true. During the interview process, you will be asked why you want to go into psych. I'm not so sure bold truthfulness would be putting your best foot forward. Your psychiatric history is very personal and protected just like the rest of your medical record. If you want affirmation, speak to your own personal mental health professional. The decision will ultimately be yours. You can always try it.

Best of luck to you!

[iwanna]

I worked at a psych hospital, and there were several nurses that had some form of mental illness. Some with clinical depression controlled with anti-depressants. Others were bi-polar on mood stabilizers. They were great nurses and very knowedgeable about meds.

If this is what you feel a passion for, then I say go for it. However, I would not disclose it in interview. It may ask question on physical history for employment. You need to be honest there, but I don't believe that it would be disclosed to employer unless they believed that your illness would impede your performance.:wink2:

[Mish56, BSN, RN]

number one: do NOT disclose your diagnosis to anyone in a position of hiring. It is absolutley against the law to discriminate against someone due to mental illness, but it happens all the time.

2). I would be willing to wager that 45% of psych nurses have had, or currently have some level of mental illness; 45% have had a family member or a close relationship with someone who has a mental illness; and we let the other 10% in just to be nice.

3), eventually your co-workers will figure it out, it is what we do for a living.

I do stongly encourage you to re-read what RNKittykat says, boundries are SSSSOOOOO important...and all the tranference, counter tranference stuff.Just my 2 cents

[indigo girl]

...eventually your co-workers will figure it out, it is what we do for a living.

I do stongly encourage you to re-read what RNKittykat says, boundries are SSSSOOOOO important

Ditto the above. Good luck to you.

[thegreenmile]

Ben, it is my belief that those telling you "No, you can't" are judgemental! They need to recall the very cornerstone of what we learned in nursing 101, (self assessment and erradication of judgemental attitudes).

You would be surprised at the number of health professionals, period, suffering from mental illness!

On a daily basis we will admit and discharge someone who works for Mobile Medical Response, the County Health Dept, Corrections Officers, Outpatient Mental Health Clinics, Acute Care Nursing Units etc.....Hell, I punched in one day only to greet my Attorney in 689B :urgycld:suffering from severe depression after his child died. The only difference between nurses who work on the inpatient psych unit is that they do not fear disclosing their shortcomings in a supportive environment. I've had opportunity to work side by side with some of the most awesome psych RN's with diagnoses, true they cycle through good days and bad, but don't we all? FMLA will be your savior if you falter and this could happen to you in any work environment you choose! Nursing is stressful period. Follow your passion with diligence, if it proves to be a burden, CHANGE....that's the beauty of nursing autonomy.