Psychiatric Nursing with a Mental Illness?

Specialties Psychiatric

Published

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.

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...

not ALL nurses ...... but as the female nurse ages she can become crabby, cold and difficult.And you the colleague have to be able to deal with her. In meetings she can rant and rave and your like OMG!!! This chick is nuts and shes the team leader on Nurse unit manager.. appear like you care OK ... even when you dont!

men have a good reputation to work with, i consistently hear that women prefer working with men.

LIE about your illness.! People, your friends and school mates dont care about you ...they are only interested in gossip!!!!!!!!! Thats what women do and it continues into the work place. Dont tell anyone, not even your boss EVER ..........EVER

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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

Oh, I have definitely learned to listen when friends and family tell me I'm acting a little off! My husband is very supportive and reminds me to stay on my medications, especially when I'm not acting right. He doesn't nag about it; he simply asks if I remembered to take them. The only time it's annoying and seems condescending is when I'm PMSing, but that's another story.........:eek:

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I think also have a good support system so if you get upset or triggered by something at work, you have support for dealing with it. For example, most therapists have their own therapists, to help process their reactions to difficult cases and keep "their own stuff" out of their interactions with clients. Seems like this would be helpful for psych nurses too.

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Thanks so much for the posts! I was just recently diagnosed with bi-polar 2 and I have always wanted to be a psyche nurse.....I was terrified that I could not accomplish my dreams. I have told some of my "friends" about my bi-polar because I have no family support and it has completely hurt me! I had those friends nagging me about taking my meds and over analyzing me all the time! If I was happy....they assumed that I was in a hypomanic stage.....if I was sad, they assumed that I was depressive. I regret telling them 100%!!!! I feel so withdrawn now and lonely in my practicum group...because of these "friends" everyone knows that something is going on with me.....Please don't tell anyone at work if you struggle with a mental illness unless you are prepared for this to happen! Mental illness is nothing to be ashamed of and it is not a weakness to be hidden but people are cruel and they do not understand.....I hope that this goes well for you.

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