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May 16, 2013, 07:25 PM
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Member Since: Mar 2013
Location: USA
Posts: 1,486
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BipolaRNurse
Had a good, productive session with my pdoc today, and he told me he believes I absolutely CAN continue to work as a nurse, as long as I stay away from the 24/7, management-type jobs where you're never able to get away completely and can't leave work AT work.  He says my bipolar does constitute a disability, but I am not disabled. There's a big difference. And I'm good with that.........I really DON'T want to be seen as "ill", and I don't want it to get in the way of finishing up my career on a good note. |
My position as Assistant Manager was eliminated as part of a series of lay-offs here a couple of years ago and I went back to direct patient care. I was devastated at first, but it was actually one of the best things that ever happened to me. The stress was too much for me, and it was 24/7, pager on all the time, always fires to put out, mountains of paper work, etc. I had a very hard time with it. It was not good for me. At all.
I'm glad it happened too because I don't know how long it would have taken me to admit it to myself (or god forbid, get let go). I had made the logical 'move up' to management in my career after 10 years of patient care and it meant a lot to my self-esteem, and the need to believe that I was capable of it was so important to me. Yes, my job now is technically a 'step down' but for me personally, it has been a 'step up.' It's best for me and that's what is important. When I leave work, I leave work and I don't have a million responsibilities. Plus direct patient care is far more fulfilling to me. When I first started to realize that this was much better for me, I felt ashamed, but I accept it now.
I've come to think that having a job (or maybe responsibilities in general) that we can truly handle is part of self-care. Kudos to you, bipolarnurse! I have so much admiration for nurses, I'm glad you will be able to remain in your career and have such great perspective on it! 
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