Trying to find time for mental health

[SaraV]

Hello all I am in a bit of a dilemma and was looking for some advice. I am a nurse at a local hospital where I have worked for the last two years. I had a great job in an outpatient surgery unit within the hospital but my unit recently closed as the hospital was adding a new building so we moved and merged with the inpatient and emergency surgery team. With this move came much added responsibility, higher acuity patients, and a new boss. I have been looking for a new job and was offered my dream job at an outpatient surgery center doing what I love. This job comes with a raise, paid holidays off, and a much healthier patient load - there is just one issue. I have recently been struggling with my mental health and my marriage and have found a therapist that is really making a great improvement in my life. I go there once a week and also see another Dr. For medications. The job is 8 to 430 and I dont know how i am going to go to these appointments. I have always worked 12 or 10 hr shifts so this has never been an issue before. I mentioned this to my new boss and I offered to come in early one day a week to make up for time loss and she said it would be hard to swing but she would look into it. I also don't want everyone at my new job to know about my issues. I am two weeks away from my start date and I am so afraid of having to turn this amazing offer down as I know that I need to take care of my own health and my marriage, but offers like this don't come around often.

[VivaLasViejas, ASN, RN]

This is quite a dilemma indeed. But take it from me, a nurse who lost her career to bipolar disorder, you HAVE to make your mental health a priority. I didn't and I paid dearly for it.

The nature of your work at an outpatient surgery center makes it difficult to interrupt the work day and see your therapist. Is there any chance that she/he could work you in at the end of the day? It's only once a week, you could probably leave a little early on that day (preferably not a Friday) as long as your boss says it's all right. Also, is there a possibility of doing therapy via E-visit during your lunch hour, after hours or weekends? Just throwing a couple of things out there, I really want you to have this dream job AND keep your sanity.

I'm assuming you're also seeing a psychiatrist or PMHNP who oversees your meds. Those are probably much shorter appointments set farther apart than therapy visits and thus easier to manage. Those are just as important as your therapy. Remember, if you don't have your mental health, you've got nothing, because everything good flows from a healthy brain. Best of luck to you. Viva

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

Have you spoken to your therapist about the hours of your new job? Are they perhaps available during evening hours? Could you come to work late one day a week? If you cannot work things out with your therapist or your new boss, you'll probably need to turn down the new job. Your mental health comes first.