Nurse with mental issues?

Nunya, BSN · May 19, 2020

Well you aren't going to get better until you find a good doctor and tell them the truth about how you feel. And then get either medical or psychological help, or both. No one can help you if you won't help yourself.

Enarra, BSN, RN · May 19, 2020

It wouldn’t be fair to ask other nurses to disclose their disabilities on an open forum.

I would strongly suggest you See a psychiatrist (MD) be evaluated and treated and get a therapist to help you get better coping skills. Issues don’t go away because you hide it. You need to be open and honest with your doctors. wishing you the best.

Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN · May 19, 2020

I have depression and PTSD and I’m perfectly fine disclosing medical conditions. I agree with the first poster... you need to be honest with your care team. Hugs

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide · May 19, 2020

Bipolar I here, and I have no problem talking about my mental illness either. While I realize that disclosing to the people in your life is not right for everyone (and I advise against telling co-workers and bosses), I think every bit of progress against stigma makes for a better world.

Like others have said here, you must tell your mental healthcare provider(s) the truth. ALL the truth. Even the ugly parts (especially the ugly parts!). How can they help you if you don't give them the information they need to make the correct diagnosis and treat you accordingly?

Plus, you need some time and space to figure out what to do about your career. Job-hopping looks terrible on an application and may make you look flakey to a potential hiring manager. It doesn't seem that you've been with any employer for 12 consecutive months, so FMLA isn't on the table; you'll have to bite the bullet and either take personal time off or resign. It's not a crime to hate bedside nursing, but you've got to have more nursing education. I have nothing but respect for LPNs/LVNs, but it's clear that you'd like to advance, and if you want to get out of patient care you'll need a BSN at minimum.

Wishing you the very best. Viva

Tait, MSN, RN · May 19, 2020

Zoloft for a time, therapy, mindfulness, CrossFit (which is now closed leaving me a lost on that avenue) and now back on Zoloft/therapy due to pandemic. Diagnosed with Situational Anxiety in 2013.

Nurseunite · May 19, 2020

5 hours ago, Elaine M said:
Well you aren't going to get better until you find a good doctor and tell them the truth about how you feel. And then get either medical or psychological help, or both. No one can help you if you won't help yourself.

I’m just tired I’ve seen Drs and just because I’m so good at faking it they say I’m fine and I’ve tried counseling but none of them fit for me. I’m making a appt today after looking at some reviews. Thanks

1 hour ago, Here.I.Stand said:
I have depression and PTSD and I’m perfectly fine disclosing medical conditions. I agree with the first poster... you need to be honest with your care team. Hugs

Do you feel your Dx ever get in the way of your work? Thanks for sharing

Nurseunite · May 19, 2020

50 minutes ago, VivaLasViejas said:
Bipolar I here, and I have no problem talking about my mental illness either. While I realize that disclosing to the people in your life is not right for everyone (and I advise against telling co-workers and bosses), I think every bit of progress against stigma makes for a better world.
Like others have said here, you must tell your mental healthcare provider(s) the truth. ALL the truth. Even the ugly parts (especially the ugly parts!). How can they help you if you don't give them the information they need to make the correct diagnosis and treat you accordingly?
Plus, you need some time and space to figure out what to do about your career. Job-hopping looks terrible on an application and may make you look flakey to a potential hiring manager. It doesn't seem that you've been with any employer for 12 consecutive months, so FMLA isn't on the table; you'll have to bite the bullet and either take personal time off or resign. It's not a crime to hate bedside nursing, but you've got to have more nursing education. I have nothing but respect for LPNs/LVNs, but it's clear that you'd like to advance, and if you want to get out of patient care you'll need a BSN at minimum.
Wishing you the very

****Thanks for sharing.
I’ve had two jobs one was PRN and the other FT I worked for one year. I’m actually still PRN at the Fulltime job so it’s been two years. The job I’m at now will be a year on Sept. Actually, I agree with you as an LPN I feel as if I’m lacking something that’s why I want to go back and possibly get my BSN. But at the same time I don’t love nursing.
I feel limited as where I can work as an LPN.

45 minutes ago, Tait said:
Zoloft for a time, therapy, mindfulness, CrossFit (which is now closed leaving me a lost on that avenue) and now back on Zoloft/therapy due to pandemic. Diagnosed with Situational Anxiety in 2013.

I’m glad you found that combination that works for you. I’m going to call around today. I’ve just been a bit of funk lately.

ruby_jane, BSN, RN · May 19, 2020

1 hour ago, Nurseunite said:
I’m glad you found that combination that works for you. I’m going to call around today. I’ve just been a bit of funk lately.

We're all in a bit of a funk. It's normal to question your purpose (especially when you either have a lot of time or you're working on the inside of a pandemic). Your post hit me in the feels today.

It sounds like this is worse than that, and that you can fake your way around a depression scale. So, stop doing that. You're going to need to if you legitimately want help. Please know I say this with love and empathy.

Raising a teenager is difficult. Full stop there.

Now- are you questioning nursing in general or are you realizing that you're unfulfilled as an LVN? My sister is an LVN and loves what she does - but she does very little, even though she's busy as all get out. She would never bridge - she says RN is "too much responsibility."

Unfortunately you'll have to jump into school to get an RN. Most LVNs I know did exceedingly well on the clinical portion of the bridge program. You already know most of what to do, you just get to do this plus some extra. But there's no guarantee that you'll be happier on the other side of school, either.

Are you able to take some time for yourself? Best of luck to you.

Nurseunite · May 19, 2020

4 minutes ago, ruby_jane said:
We're all in a bit of a funk. It's normal to question your purpose (especially when you either have a lot of time or you're working on the inside of a pandemic). Your post hit me in the feels today.
It sounds like this is worse than that, and that you can fake your way around a depression scale. So, stop doing that. You're going to need to if you legitimately want help. Please know I say this with love and empathy.
Raising a teenager is difficult. Full stop there.
Now- are you questioning nursing in general or are you realizing that you're unfulfilled as an LVN? My sister is an LVN and loves what she does - but she does very little, even though she's busy as all get out. She would never bridge - she says RN is "too much responsibility."
Unfortunately you'll have to jump into school to get an RN. Most LVNs I know did exceedingly well on the clinical portion of the bridge program. You already know most of what to do, you just get to do this plus some extra. But there's no guarantee that you'll be happier on the other side of school, either.
Are you able to take some time for yourself? Best of luck to you.

I want help I’m just tired... mentally, emotionally and physically I am drained and exhausted. From my family needing me, from my patients needing me from everyday duties. I’m tired. if that makes any sense.

I feel very unfulfilled as an Lpn and the lack of respect is there. I want more and now I feel as if I’m settling.

To answer your question, I can’t take unpaid time off. I’m a single mom with no help so I have to push on through.

ruby_jane, BSN, RN · May 19, 2020

4 minutes ago, Nurseunite said:
I want help I’m just tired... mentally, emotionally and physically I am drained and exhausted. From my family needing me, from my patients needing me from everyday duties. I’m tired. if that makes any sense.
I feel very unfulfilled as an Lpn and the lack of respect is there. I want more and now I feel as if I’m settling.
To answer your question, I can’t take unpaid time off. I’m a single mom with no help so I have to push on through.

THE FEELS.

That lack of respect - I am not sure it gets better. It really depends on the situation. As an RN you can delegate a bit more but then you are doing more (mostly charting).

Hang in there. Please get yourself some help, whatever that looks like for you.

Tait, MSN, RN · May 19, 2020

I can empathize with that dead to the bone tired feeling. Don't underestimate the power of small changes. When I was having rolling panic attacks at the start of the pandemic (good for an hour then crashed into a panic attack, repeating through out the day) I paid the $70 for the Calm app (now it and other providers like Headspace are offering a free year to healthcare workers). I can't tell you what a difference it made. It didn't immediately fix my issues, but it gave me some ability to separate myself from the intense feelings I was having. This gave me more "spoons" to figure out what else I could change. Basically it set my feet on the ground so I could start walking. Have your kids do it with you. We got the chance to talk about how meditation was hard (distractions etc) but how mindfulness was a valuable skill. I personally love the Calm app because it knows when you will drift. It isn't just a bell and lake sounds, there is narration and they discuss different topics that resonated with me.

Please continue to communicate with us here, or PM if you need more one on one time. You will find there are lots of us here struggling with the same issues and part of managing is coming to terms with what you are feeling, and knowing it DOES NOT define you.

❤️