I'm a nursing student and am considering a voluntary inpatient psych stay for major bipolar depression. Other than lack of insurance, my primary obstacle to making this decision is whether having a hospitalization "on my record" would preclude RN licensure or employment.
I'm 36, have a BA in a non-nursing field and have been working toward a BSN off and on since '04. At that time, I lived in Los Angeles, had a great job, took pre-req classes at night (and carried a 4.0 GPA) and - mostly importantly - had an excellent psychiatrist who did both med management and talk therapy. I saw her for 60-minute sessions as often as needed, and she was quick to adjust dosages or meds as my situation warranted.
In late '06, I left Los Angeles and returned to my hometown of Columbia, SC, to assist my aging parents with their mounting health issues. For a variety of reasons, I've been unable to secure consistent psych care here, and I now find myself heading into month 13 of the most crippling depression I've ever experienced (I've had DSM diagnoses since age 21). I haven't worked in about 14 months and am in no shape to attend school. I have, quite literally, been in bed since last January. I've never spent a day in a hospital as a patient for any reason, but I'm coming to believe that inpatient treatment may be my only hope to stabilize my mind and restart my life. My diagnoses are BP II, OCD and ADD (inattentive), but when I am properly medicated and working with a simpatico pdoc, I'm pretty formidable.
So, I have questions. I'm not looking for diagnostic info specific to my situation (I understand that is not the purpose of this board), but rather for insight. I don't have a clear grasp of what inpatient treatment involves; what does it look like in your professional experience? I'm scared of being treated like a criminal, of not being taken seriously, of giving up any agency I have over my life, and most especially, of making a decision that will prevent me from entering into what I firmly believe will be a rewarding career path.
Thank you for reading this, and any feedback you can provide is most appreciated.
I'm a nursing student and am considering a voluntary inpatient psych stay for major bipolar depression. Other than lack of insurance, my primary obstacle to making this decision is whether having a hospitalization "on my record" would preclude RN licensure or employment.
I'm 36, have a BA in a non-nursing field and have been working toward a BSN off and on since '04. At that time, I lived in Los Angeles, had a great job, took pre-req classes at night (and carried a 4.0 GPA) and - mostly importantly - had an excellent psychiatrist who did both med management and talk therapy. I saw her for 60-minute sessions as often as needed, and she was quick to adjust dosages or meds as my situation warranted.
In late '06, I left Los Angeles and returned to my hometown of Columbia, SC, to assist my aging parents with their mounting health issues. For a variety of reasons, I've been unable to secure consistent psych care here, and I now find myself heading into month 13 of the most crippling depression I've ever experienced (I've had DSM diagnoses since age 21). I haven't worked in about 14 months and am in no shape to attend school. I have, quite literally, been in bed since last January. I've never spent a day in a hospital as a patient for any reason, but I'm coming to believe that inpatient treatment may be my only hope to stabilize my mind and restart my life. My diagnoses are BP II, OCD and ADD (inattentive), but when I am properly medicated and working with a simpatico pdoc, I'm pretty formidable.
So, I have questions. I'm not looking for diagnostic info specific to my situation (I understand that is not the purpose of this board), but rather for insight. I don't have a clear grasp of what inpatient treatment involves; what does it look like in your professional experience? I'm scared of being treated like a criminal, of not being taken seriously, of giving up any agency I have over my life, and most especially, of making a decision that will prevent me from entering into what I firmly believe will be a rewarding career path.
Thank you for reading this, and any feedback you can provide is most appreciated.
Dont ell anyone what you do or where you go
Firstly you med records are private...........PRIVATE! And to you i say dont advertise it
second i work with loads of bipolar nurses in nursing .... they are everywhere in nursing
3rd; leave the state to keep your hospitalisation stuff private
4th if you know when your getting ill; get help. DONT just pretend that becuase your manic and happy that everyone that you work with is also HAPY with you. They may not be ...mania ruins relationships !!!!! Take your meds, stay of the drugs, get your sleep and trust your famillies judgement that you are becoming ill
insurance... get an isurance plan that is NOT viewable by your employer ...if possible
Firstly you med records are private...........PRIVATE! And to you i say dont advertise it
second i work with loads of bipolar nurses in nursing .... they are everywhere in nursing
3rd; leave the state to keep your hospitalisation stuff private
4th if you know when your getting ill; get help. DONT just pretend that becuase your manic and happy that everyone that you work with is also HAPY with you. They may not be ...mania ruins relationships !!!!! Take your meds, stay of the drugs, get your sleep and trust your famillies judgement that you are becoming ill
insurance... get an isurance plan that is NOT viewable by your employer ...if possible
5. if your depressed now and your meds used to hold you then you need and increase inmeds/ or a change ..somethings wrong!!!
inpatient admission
you will be admitted and treated like a person
theyll take your history
do not go for admission to a local hospital where you MAY work
dont tell them your profession....nurses talk!!!! LIE to them. Profession means nothing but it is asked during admission ...tell 'em your a bean counter or studying animal husbandry. I lie to nurses daily ( theyre idiots and nosy!!! Im a nurse by the way .. in general im contemptuous)
CommanderZ
8 Posts
Thanks, Kobri.
I understand your point. And it's correct. And the input here has left me feeling better about whatever course I choose.