Psychiatric Nursing with a Mental Illness?

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Do any of you psychiatric nurses have mental illnesses? Do you think this makes your job harder or easier?

I am interested in psychiatric nursing, but I have a mental illness. I'm not sure if going into psychiatric nursing would be a good idea because of this, so I was wondering if anyone here could share their story with me.

Any suggestions, comments, or advice would also be appreciated.

Specializes in Psych, EMS.

I have two...I think my experiences with mental illnesses help me to be empathetic and non-judgmental towards patients. I agree with the person who advised you to not work on a unit that hits too close to home..sometimes their rationalizing will bring you back to yours, potentially inducing a relapse. I think as long as your condition/s are treated and stable, you will be fine and your experiences may actually enhance your practice and interactions. Best of luck!

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I know this is in the wrong area but what is a student to do when she suspects that she has a mental illness, and when you feel like you cant tell any one I saw another poster say that you shouldnt tell your teachers. I cant tell my parents they would tell the whole family, should I be a big gurl and find my own help?

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R.S., first go to your medical doctor. They can test your thyroid and make sure that isn't an issue. You can work with your medical doctor for diagnose or get referral to a psychiatrist and/or psychologist (for psychological testing). You don't have to tell anyone you don't want to, if you're 18 or older, that is.

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I know this is in the wrong area but what is a student to do when she suspects that she has a mental illness, and when you feel like you cant tell any one I saw another poster say that you shouldnt tell your teachers. I cant tell my parents they would tell the whole family, should I be a big gurl and find my own help?

R.S. I'm not sure who told you not to tell your teacher but school is actually the place where many youth access resources for mental health needs. If there is a teacher you are connected to, you could ask if they could refer you to someone who could get you services and supports. You don't have to tell them everything, just enough to let them know you need some help. There might also be a guidance counselor, school nurse or social worker affiliated with your school that you might be able to talk to. If you can get to your doctor, that would be great, however it is good to have a supportive adult in your life who knows about your difficulties so you have someone to turn to. Ideally that would be a parent or family member, but if not, a teacher or other school staff can fill that role.

Definitely talk to to someone, it is a hard first step but you can do it.

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Thanks for the replies Im still undecided as to what im going to do i did go to the doctor and he gave me a referral, so i might look into that.

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

I'm glad to read that you saw your Doctor and hope you follow up. I would not suggest disclosing this to your nursing school. It was my experience that they were less than nurturing and there to weed us out pretty hard and fast. I'd do whatever necessary to fly under the radar while in nursing school but thats just my personal experience. Good luck.

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Do any of you psychiatric nurses have mental illnesses? Do you think this makes your job harder or easier?

I am interested in psychiatric nursing, but I have a mental illness. I'm not sure if going into psychiatric nursing would be a good idea because of this, so I was wondering if anyone here could share their story with me.

Any suggestions, comments, or advice would also be appreciated.

i read somewhere that 30% of mental health nurse's have some type of mental illness. Id be inclined to agree. Ive worked everywhere and OMG some nurse are psychopaths, borderline personality disorders, OCD etc.

Yes there are good nurses ( let me be politically correct).... but if id have known then what i know now i would NEVER and i mean NEVER have become a nurse. Due to the psychopathic nut jobs ive worked with ... it was hell on earth.

You know that nursing is female domininated ,right? Imagine a multi - generational workforce comprised of women ALL in one place; going through break ups, divorces,kid problems and stress + PMT, PMT, PMT coupled with their undiagnosed mental disorder's (psychopathy, borderline) ...its nasty mix. Oh, plus those women that get crabby cause noone wants to have sex with them ... theyre the worst type ... wayyy too irritable for my taste ...... i mean, think about that. Do you really want to work with that, i freakkin dont, but have too!

To answer your question; keep medicated and remember nurses are sharp ... theyll work you out in a minute. Dont look for compassion from them either, theres NONE!

PERFORM .... thats ALL. Which is a problem because you may be prone to relapse ..........think about it! maybe a low stress job ... like a psych ward ( im not being funny) You may find a number of others who have decided that high stress nursing predisposes them to a mental illness relapse (and thats why THEY do psych nursing...which may account for the disproportinate figures of 30% mentioned earlier).

Look, sweetness get a good little job where you can read the paper and cool out. You go home energised instead of exhausted and you're ALWAYS up on the news and thats always good at social gatherings. i mean, i new a guy that watched the share maket and traded whilst he watched his psych patients ... he made $20 grand in one day .... who said nursing doesnt pay. if you have a relapse well at least your in the right place. Seriously keep taking your tabs, keep the stress downnnnnnnn, rest rest rest and perform your duties .........watch out for those evil fukkas at work they all got teeth

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While I am not a nurse (yet) I have a mental illness and would love to become a psyc nurse. My feeling on (and my doctor's feelings) on it are, try it...it might be wonderfull and it might suck but you never know untill you try!

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i read somewhere that 30% of mental health nurse's have some type of mental illness. Id be inclined to agree. Ive worked everywhere and OMG some nurse are psychopaths, borderline personality disorders, OCD etc.

Yes there are good nurses ( let me be politically correct).... but if id have known then what i know now i would NEVER and i mean NEVER have become a nurse. Due to the psychopathic nut jobs ive worked with ... it was hell on earth.

You know that nursing is female domininated ,right? Imagine a multi - generational workforce comprised of women ALL in one place; going through break ups, divorces,kid problems and stress + PMT, PMT, PMT coupled with their undiagnosed mental disorder's (psychopathy, borderline) ...its nasty mix. Oh, plus those women that get crabby cause noone wants to have sex with them ... theyre the worst type ... wayyy too irritable for my taste ...... i mean, think about that. Do you really want to work with that, i freakkin dont, but have too!

To answer your question; keep medicated and remember nurses are sharp ... theyll work you out in a minute. Dont look for compassion from them either, theres NONE!

PERFORM .... thats ALL. Which is a problem because you may be prone to relapse ..........think about it! maybe a low stress job ... like a psych ward ( im not being funny) You may find a number of others who have decided that high stress nursing predisposes them to a mental illness relapse (and thats why THEY do psych nursing...which may account for the disproportinate figures of 30% mentioned earlier).

Look, sweetness get a good little job where you can read the paper and cool out. You go home energised instead of exhausted and you're ALWAYS up on the news and thats always good at social gatherings. i mean, i new a guy that watched the share maket and traded whilst he watched his psych patients ... he made $20 grand in one day .... who said nursing doesnt pay. if you have a relapse well at least your in the right place. Seriously keep taking your tabs, keep the stress downnnnnnnn, rest rest rest and perform your duties .........watch out for those evil fukkas at work they all got teeth

Are you serious??? Let me be the first to say, on behalf of all us crazy, unpleasant, evil female nurses, that if you're not happy in nursing, by all means feel perfectly free to leave it and find something else to do for a living. I feel sorry for the folks who have to work with you ... :eek:

(PS -- "You read somewhere" that 30% of psych nurses have a psych disorder? Do you have a source for that, or are we just supposed to take your word for it?)

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While I am not a nurse (yet) I have a mental illness and would love to become a psyc nurse. My feeling on (and my doctor's feelings) on it are, try it...it might be wonderfull and it might suck but you never know untill you try!

i agree ...jokes aside. Keep medicated, listen to your family and friends ...i.e when they say your a little 'off today' LISTEN ... go to your psychiatrist and keep medicated

good luck

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While I am not a nurse (yet) I have a mental illness and would love to become a psyc nurse. My feeling on (and my doctor's feelings) on it are, try it...it might be wonderfull and it might suck but you never know untill you try!

oh and one more thing

NEVER confide your illness information to any close workmates..... your young and there are peple that will sit next to you at work appearing to be your best friend ( simply to extract info from you ... to gossip about!!!)

Any cow at work comes near me asking me questions about my life i outright lie to them ....i lie to there face)

Keep your bags locked away at work because nurses STEAL and they will see your tablets.

keep in mind that many ( not all) nurse are cold cold people. This coldness is born from a belief that nobody recognised the nurse's contribution until recently / its a thankless job/and nurse do not have AUTONOMY ( as a general rule, there are exceptions) / being beaten up by which ever nurse manger psychopath they have worked for!

Watch your step

sorry for the spelling,im in a hurry

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oh and one more thing

NEVER confide your illness information to any close workmates..... your young and there are peple that will sit next to you at work appearing to be your best friend ( simply to extract info from you ... to gossip about!!!)

Any cow at work comes near me asking me questions about my life i outright lie to them ....i lie to there face)

Keep your bags locked away at work because nurses STEAL and they will see your tablets.

keep in mind that many ( not all) nurse are cold cold people. This coldness is born from a belief that nobody recognised the nurse's contribution until recently / its a thankless job/and nurse do not have AUTONOMY ( as a general rule, there are exceptions) / being beaten up by which ever nurse manger psychopath they have worked for!

Watch your step

sorry for the spelling,im in a hurry

Thanks so much for your input!!!!!! I have kept it a secret as best I can from most of my "friends" at school but its hard. Someone once saw me taking a PRN and they were like what are you doing?! I'm used to lieing about my illness....sad but true.

I am surpized to hear that you think nurses are cold people...Everyone I have run into on this forum and in real life has always had the best of intentions...

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