Worried about bipolar disorder

[Hannahadlington]

I have just been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and I was wondering if this could affect my ability to become a nurse (I am due to start university next year).

Currently my condition is very severe with bad periods of depression and mania, but I am soon to be put on medication which I hope will help. I just need to know because I'm supposed to send off my application to university soon, and I need to know if this will affect it at all.

Thanks

[rachelgeorgina]

If you are stable and know how to manage your condition (i.e. take your meds that work religiously, avoid alcohol, caffeine and other stimulants and drugs, get enough sleep, eat well, have the right supports in place etc) then you'll be okay. Plenty of people live and function well with Bipolar Disorder, including nurses.

The risk would be if you were unstable in your condition and attempting to care for others. There is no way on earth that you should be attempting to work whilst manic, seriously depressed, ultra-rapid cycling or in a mixed state. You'd put your patients and colleagues at risk because as I'm sure you know, someone in any of these states can be extreme, impulsive and sometimes down right dangerous. You can't care for others until you can care for yourself. But that's not impossible, either!

[Jules A, MSN]

Hi,

If your screen name is your real name I'd consider changing it for privacy's sake. Good luck with whatever you decide to do.