Quote:
Originally Posted by Chelbten
I will be starting classes soon to become an RN. Everyone says that nursing is a high stress career. How does having bipolar disorder fit into the equation? Can persons with BD thrive in that type of environment? If you are a nurse, and you have BD, how do you cope? What is a typical day like for you? Do you have any tips or advice on how to succeed?
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Hello, and Welcome to PC!!
As another member mentioned, I'm one of the nurses with bipolar disorder here @ Psych Central.
The short answer to your questions is this: YES, you can be a nurse. I've been one for many years with varying degrees of success, depending on the job. I've worked the floor in hospitals and nursing homes, and I've worked at the middle-management and executive levels as well. The latter two were much harder on my mental health than long-term care, and when I lost my last executive nursing job due to a complete meltdown, I vowed I'd never do it again.
Now I'm going to be starting back at the nursing home where I was most content as a nurse and where I'm respected by the staff and management, even though they know I'm bipolar and have to be medicated to function. Yes, nursing can be EXTREMELY stressful, and nursing school is no picnic either; but with proper treatment and attention to personal health habits, the OP should have little difficulty attaining her goals.
In other words.......GO FOR IT!!!
__________________
DX: Bipolar 1
Anxiety
Tardive dyskinesia
Mild cognitive impairment
RX: Celexa 20 mg
Gabapentin 1200 mg
Geodon 40 mg AM, 60 mg PM
Klonopin 0.5 mg PRN
Lamictal 500 mg
Levothyroxine 125 mcg (rx'd for depression)
Trazodone 150 mg
Zyprexa 7.5 mg
Please come visit me @ http://bpnurse.com