Can I be a registered nurse if I have bipolar disorder?

Nurses Disabilities

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Hi, I am new here.

I noticed that on the university's prerequisite website (one that I'm looking to transfer to) that it says that a history of mental illness may prevent someone from obtaining their BSN license.

I have bipolar and have had it since I was 9. It used to be way out of control, but for the past year and a half I've been completely stable. I'm still on medications, but I'm very stable.

Do you think I should just stop doing the prerequisites and not be a nurse? I mean do you think because I have bipolar that I wouldn't be able to get my license?

Any help is greatly appreciated!

I realize this is something I should ask an advisor about, but I'm just going to community college right now...

Hi Tagit.

I think it depends on the state you are in. Each state is different though. My state investigates if you get hospitalized for psych no matter what the circumstances as if you had committed some ethical wrong. But I know other states don't do this, you can go get inpatient treatment without being investigated.

Ideally I think one should consult a nursing lawyer regarding licensure with psychiatric disability or history of substance abuse before applying for licensure just to see what the lay of the land in their state may be and what they have to disclose, and how to do it. But who has that kind of money to consult with such a lawyer, especially most nursing students?

Anyway, good luck! Lots of nurses out there with controlled mental illness that are doing well in nursing. I feel that as a nurse, at least where I live, the stigma issues of having a diagnosis are the biggest challenge.

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Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

Stigma is a huge issue everywhere, IMHO.

I feel perfectly comfortable telling my supervisor when I need a few hours off to attend my husband's medical appointments. He has cancer, and everybody understands about cancer. But I do NOT feel comfortable telling anyone when I need a couple of hours off for my monthly psychiatrist visit, because very few people understand about mental illness. Nor do they want to. MI is still a dirty secret---it's like people are afraid that if they touch a mentally ill person, they might get some of it on them.

That said, a nurse with a controlled MI can do the job just as well as anyone else, and as I've said elsewhere, they may even be better at some of it because of the empathy that comes with the experience of living with a psychiatric condition. That's why I could never be a psych nurse---I'd over-identify with the patients! But, although I'm sure there are those who would disagree with me, I think having bipolar disorder has made me a better nurse and a kinder person overall, even though I haven't always been a good employee.

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VivaLasViejas, I hear you. Stigma is everywhere! It would be nice if we could get stigma out of legislation, including legislation regarding nurses. It's hard enough coping with mental illness, treatment side effects, difficulties obtaining and/or affording treatment, and yet the stigma just makes it so much harder.

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Stigma is everywhere! I come from a family full of crazy people and mental disorders, suicides and early deaths becasue of mental disease. Most of my family would not, will not seek treatment becasue of the stigma. They do not want labeled "crazy". I have learned to embrace my issues and know that I am safer being treated, happier, and healthier. I do not hesitate to talk to people about my experiences if it is appropriate. I certainly do not share my experiences, diagnosis, treatment with my job or my patients. But in my personal world, I'm not afraid to speak up. After losing a grandmother and an uncle to suicide and a brother to an early death related to his depression, I feel like I should speak up. It is a hard life watching those you love suffer so much. I am truly blessed that after many suicide attempts and hospitalizations myself that I became "responsible" for managing my illness. I have an awesome psychiatrist that I have been seeing for the last 15 years. She knows and trusts me enough to manage my medications according to my moods and my symptoms and she is there to help me along the way. I do not like taking hand-fulls of pills each day, but it keeps me working, productive, and out of the bed. For that I am blessed. I shook that stigma thing off a long time ago. I do not want my job to think that I am not competent, therefore, I don't share with work. I have left them NO reason to think that I am incompetent either. I monitor myself and try to realize when I am getting into trouble, and I get on the phone with my doctor and adjust meds as needed. I don't care who, in my personal life thinks that I am crazy. At least I'm medicated and functioning crazy.

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Specializes in Forensic Psychiatry.

I am recent grad with Bipolar II and I say that you can do it if you are aware of your illness and know your limits. It's not easy for anyone, but this is especially true if you have a MI. My best suggestion is to keep on top of your illness, get plenty of rest (no late night or all-night study sessions as difficult as that may be), and have a routine that you stick to. Having a good support system is really important as well. In my state, you don't have to disclose your mental illness unless it will affect your ability to practice. So I would say definitely go for it if you are feeling stable. I know that I will never let my MI stand in my way and you shouldn't either.

Good Luck!

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Where are you at in your journey? I see this post is over a year old. Please contact me.

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(Notr tying to derail the thread but would just like to point out that the acronym for bipolar disorder is not BPD. That is the acronym for borderline personality disorder. "Bipolar" is one word. The acronym used for bipolar disorder is "BAD" (bipolar affective disorder, which is its "official" name.)

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Specializes in Mental Health, Gerontology, Palliative.
elkpark said:
(Notr tying to derail the thread but would just like to point out that the acronym for bipolar disorder is not BPD. That is the acronym for borderline personality disorder. "Bipolar" is one word. The acronym used for bipolar disorder is "BAD" (bipolar affective disorder, which is its "official" name.)

Also BPaD bipolar affective disorder

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Tenebrae said:
Also BPaD bipolar affective disorder

Interesting -- I don't think I've ever seen "BPaD" before. A quick Google search indicates that it is used in the UK. Thanks.

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Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

I like the acronym BAD. Because that's what it is.

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Specializes in Forensic Psychiatry.

I am doing well, thank you! I am currently working in a state psychiatric facility that serves a forensic male population and I love it! The only issue I am currently facing is the fact that I rotate shifts so I work both AMs and PMs and it is difficult for me to transition. I am also a forcible employee so the mandatory overtime really messes with my moods, especially when I get forced to NOCs. I am in the process of applying for an exemption so I can be non-forcible, but I am having difficulty doing so without disclosing my mental illness. I am also in the process of applying to schools to get my BSN and I am hoping to start part time in the Fall. Honestly, I haven't been doing this well in awhile, I am well aware of my limitations and watch carefully for any fluctuations in my moods or patterns so I can address them before they get out of control.

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Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

It's good that you're so self-aware, because your schedule is a nightmare for neurotypicals, let alone people with our diagnosis. Is there any way you can get on a regular schedule so that your sleep pattern can be regulated? I fear for your health if you go on like this.

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