Any nurses with mental illness?

Guest849204 · Apr 24, 2017

Its estimated that up to 90% of adults will meet the diagnostic criteria for one or more mental illnesses at some point in their life. Nurses are not exempt from this statistic. That said, mental illness is extremely prevalent in the nursing profession, and in virtually all professions. Other than substance abuse, there's nothing you really need to worry about. Substance abuse is complicated because of the increased stigma and the obvious issue with working with narcotics on a daily basis. Depending on your state/institution, scheduled narcotics (such as benzodiazepines for anxiety) may pose some issue but the only scheduled medication used to treat mental illness that I've heard of being a disqualifier for nursing is buprenorphine and methadone, both opiates used for opiate related substance abuse disorder.

If you can handle the stresses and professional/clinical requirements of nursing school and clinicals, then there's no reason to think you can't handle being an excellent professional nurse. Like I said, substance abuse is really the only mental illness that could be a real problem but even then most hospitals and nursing boards have policies and programs to assist nurses with substance abuse disorder.

Penelope_Pitstop, BSN, RN · Apr 25, 2017

There is a huge demand for Mental Health nurses. Those with mental health issues themselves probably make the best nurses for this field as they have personal experiences with the challenges. They have an insight that neurotypical people can never have.

It depends on the nurse and the type of mental health nursing. I have really enjoyed working with the schizophrenic population - and yes, I think I was well-equipped for that because of my knowledge of the stigma. However, working with the population with depression could serve to be a trigger - for me it did, at least.

Karen_RN · Apr 26, 2017

Hi. I'm a pedi hem/onc nurse. I suffer from a mental illness and I've been told I'm a wonderful nurse. My leaders and other nurses lean on me a lot. What I found to be important is to have a therapist to work with. They help with the stressful times. And if you are on medication take it faithfully. Good luck to you

allnurses Guide · Apr 27, 2017

Like I have said here - I suffer from PTSD, anxiety and at times crippling depression. Add to that Chronic Inflammatory bowel disease, fibromyalgia and being an alcoholic in recovery, I would be a complete mess if I didn't work. I do Acute Psych with the adolescent population - it's fast paced and keeps me thinking about others and how I can be of service. My depression/anxiety only gets worse when I have to take time off.

Hppy

whatdayisit11to7Nrse · Apr 27, 2017

I suffer from ADD, anxiety and major depressive disorder. I have had the ADD dx all my life, but just recently diagnosed with MDD and anxiety after my brother(he was my very best friend) committed suicide in November, right after thanksgiving. Not sure if I can offer you great advice, but I can be very positive and I am good at listening. I love helping others. So please message me any time you need. The type of place you will do good working in, will depend on you. You may just have to go through some trial and error, but when you know, you'll know. I do part time as a trauma nurse and was working full time on night shift at a more laid back type of setting. So I find that I like both fast paced and laid back. Everyone's different. Hope you find the right support and fit for you

dirtyhippiegirl, BSN, RN · Apr 28, 2017

So I did my nursing clinicals on the adolescent unit that I had like ten hospitalizations on. One of the nurses actually remembered me and was like "oh wow, glad to see you've made it. We all thought that you would end up institutionalized."

I was like, ahhhh, thanks I think?

Good times.

KellyBSNCPN · May 4, 2017

I have depression and anxiety and I'm struggling working in acute care at a large hospital becuase I don't have time to think. I like to process what I'm doing and making sure I'm being safe, but sometimes the day just keeps pushing you along and you don't have time to look up this med that you aren't 100% sure why this patient is getting it. I am looking for a new job in as a clinic nurse. I have a few friends who moved from acute care to clinic nursing and they say it reduced their stress immensely. I think you need to identify what you need to be most relaxed. Some people need to be constantly doing things (acute care, ED, ICU) while others need a little more time to process (clinics, ambulatory, nurse educator). It isn't to say that clinic nursing is stress-free, because nursing is not a stress-free job, but it might be better suited to what you need!

IHopeIGetIt · May 6, 2017

I have Bipolar 2 and anxiety. As a new nurse, I tried acute care on a cardiac unit, looked into the nursing home, and psychiatric nursing in an inpatient facility. Personally, you have to look at your career from a more holistic view. It's not the type of nursing, per se, that may be the wrong fit. I have found that where I fit in was dependent on many things not just one. I was in the hospital for two months before I gave notice. Not because acute care wasn't for me although I really didn't like the 12- hour shifts. At the time, I had moved my family to a new state, I had a new career and job, temporarily living in an extended stay with one of my children having Asperger's, no family in the area, and no insurance for 60 days (so no medication or therapy). Had it been under better conditions, I believe I could have thrived in the hospital. With the nursing homes at which I was offered positions, the orientation time was too short for me and I knew it would be too stressful. As far as the inpatient psych facility, the orientation was all over the place; I was never with the same preceptor, on the same floor, or even the same shift twice. I asked to have a more stable orientation but was denied. I enjoyed both places that I worked and the staff was great but after setting myself up for failure that first time, I wasn't willing to do it again.

I have since found flexibility, good pay, and a chance to hone some more acute nursing skills with home health nursing working with both geriatric and pediatric clients- one patient at a time, part-time hours with full-time pay, and none of the stress. My schedule, once I go back from maternity leave, is whatever I want- as few or as many clients as I want. It will work out great with a newborn and a breastfeeding schedule as well as graduate school eventually. However, I am also getting weekly therapy as I am a little limited as far as medication is concerned for the near future. My support system is in place, though, and my life is just more stable. I found what worked for me at this stage in my life and it's totally not where I thought I'd be while in nursing school.

My point being: your condition doesn't define you although it needs to be controlled in order to be successful. In my opinion, it's not about what specialty or field works best for your condition but what works best for you as a whole.

bananas1 · Jun 22, 2017

So I'm not going to totally divulge my diagnoses but unfortunately due to a traumatic childhood I have bad anxiety amongst other issues :/ I was just wondering if any of you battle with some form of mental illness but still make a wonderful nurse? I'm like 99% sure acute care isn't for me neither... I think I want to work in the least stressful environment as a nurse. What would you say that is? I'm thinking like working for a primary care physician in a clinic setting. Thanks!

Hey I'm in recovery from anorexia, and I work as a public health nurse - it's INCREDIBLE. A truly amazing job, I do four days a week, no shift work and it's with children. You learn a LOT despite not actually giving meds and inserting tubes etc. I find in acute settings I get SO incredibly anxious before a shift, it's dreadfully upsetting. With my job, I arrive with nothing acute on my agenda. I just check emails, and plan my own day. When I'm happy and settled, I ring my schools or kindergartens and work out what I want to do that day. I research a LOT about child development and common illnesses, and you just go into your day feeling knowledgeable. Highly recommend it.

Gods_nurse · Oct 31, 2017

We each have our own journey to walk in life.

I have only been officially been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder, severe depression and anxiety 10 years ago.

Before my diagnosis, I did "voluntarily " resign from a really good job that had deteriorated due to my mental health issues.

When things really got out of control I was admitted to an inpatient psychiatric facility.

I ended up taking a year off with social security disability income.

But came out of that a year later a much stronger person!!

I had, at my disposal, a psychiatrist, ( that very tightly controlled my medication) a weekly counselor ( that was phenomenal), and a good support system the believed I could conquer "mental illness "

I believe that those 3 things listed above along with your desire and determination can get you through whatever field of nursing you choose to go into.

I have worked acute care step down unit since, and loved it!!

But, I'm very, very careful to monitor my medication, counseling, sleep patterns, hobbies, support system, vacation time, etc in order not to "rock the boat"

Katt12 · Oct 31, 2017

I'm replying to this particular answer because you mentioned you've been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. I've recently been accepted into a nursing program but before I'm officially allowed to work in clinicals, I'm required to take a drug test and disclose my medical history. Is there any way that having a bipolar diagnosis on my record will prevent me from being allowed to participate in the program? And idk if you have any experience with this, but I am on a small dose of benzodiazepines to help with the anxiety and mood swings, they're prescribed and idont use any illegal/unprescribed substances, however a part of me worries that once they find out I'm on benzodiazepines they will worry these drugs (prescribed or not) may interfere with my ability to participate in the school's clinicals. In your experience are these things i should be concerned about. I've worked so hard to get into the program and I don't want something like this to keep me from pursuing my career goals before I even get the chance to begin.

Guest849204 · Oct 31, 2017

Your medical history is private and protected by HIPAA law. Only those directly involved in your medical care, your medical insurance company, and a few exempt entities (i.e. UNOS) and law enforcement agencies with a warrant are legally entitled to require disclosure.