[ruffy]

I am a nurse. I have worked at the same facility for 23 years, and have worked on every unit. Based on seniority I have managed to be placed on a unit which is stressful but managable for me. Due to new management and some unruly nurses, assignments are being changed without prior notice or discussion. My fear is that I may be moved to one of the units with more stress than I can handle. I actually lost most of my body weight and my hair started falling out while working 5 years on the Medicare unit. I dread being put back there. Of course this is a big what if, but I want to be prepaired should it happen. My p-doc told me that a key point in my staying healthy is to manage my stress carefully. At what point, should it be necessary, do you share with your boss, you have bipolar disorder? I know my p-doc would provide a confirmation for my boss should I need it, but I dont want everyone I work with to know my personal business, and alot of the people I work with go to my church. I dont want to have to change jobs if I can avoid it, due to the stress that would cause. Any advice would be welcome!!! Thanks!

[perpetuallysad]

I, personally, wouldn't tell them I was bipolar. I am not comfortable with that and I have found that people are really weird and judgmental when I even hint at having mental problems...that being said, you are a nurse, so perhaps your employers would be more understanding. I just tried reading through the Americans with Disabilities act stuff to see if you would be qualified and I think you would, but I don't know if they would have not transfer you to this other department. Its all very confusing to me. I guess I haven't helped very much at all...

Anyhow, good luck.

[Hippie]

I agree with Perpetually about not saying you're bipolar. Do you have an HR person you feel is trustworthy who you can talk to about the stress (not the bipolar). I'll keep my fingers crossed that you are not moved in the first place. You also can phone the ADA office and ask questions without giving your name. Best of luck to you, I'll be thinking of you.

[Hippie]

ruffy, The toll free ADA number is 1-800-514-0301 and on the menu press #7.

[ruffy]

Thanks perprtuallysad and hippie. I appreciate your input. I agree, healthy people dont understand mental illness. I do recall the look on some faces of close friends Ive told in the past, and I do recall their eyes popping out of their heads a little. Guess I needed a reality check on that. I seem to forget it when Im on this site because everyone is so supportive and accepting of eachother. Thank you both so much!!!

[Perna]

Yes, I'm with Perpetually and everyone else; if you get moved to a unit you find too stressful, just politely tell them that you "don't need" the stress, thank you :-) and your seniority should count for something! Just put it back in their court. I don't think one person, especially one as loyal and senior as you, should cause them much trouble keeping happy, especially since the whole change up is being caused by trouble makers?

It's not like there's a surplus of good, experienced nurses that they won't see the wisdom of making you happy!

[50guy]

Use your seniority, if you have a union, use it through them. As a manager, I understand but, don't ever count on anyone really understanding. I am DID unclassified and I would never tell anyone at work about it. Even if they had the same disorder some folks will try to use it against you.

Be careful and good luck.

[ruffy]

Thanks Perna and 50guy for your response. I am definately not going to disclose any information about my disorder now that Ive run it by PC. Thanks for the support. It means so much to have someone to run things by. I have no doubt my disorder would be used in a negative way if not now then later on down the line. I must have been delusional this morning when I was thinking about it. Thank goodness for friends like you!!!!!! Seniority unfortunately doesnt count for much in this day and age. Doesnt mean I wont try and look big and throw my weight around .

[splitz]

Hi,
Do you have an occupational health department where you work? If not a letter from your Dr (not psych if possible) should convince them not to move you (if they decide to try to).
As you have obviously had problems before when working in the high stress areas your employers should be aware of that already? A simple letter from your Dr stating that for your mental health you should not be placed in one of these areas and that stability and working in 'managable stress' areas, ideally the one you are already in to maintain continuity should be enough. If they choose not to take note of what your Dr says then you would prob have a good case for HR / union / disability. I def would not mention or allow my Drs to mention bi polar (although it shouldn't make any difference we all know it does - depression or stress is much more 'acceptable).
Would your managers be open for a 'quiet word'? You could just tell them that you are becomming stressed about the thought that you might be moved and could they let you know what their plans are?
Hope some of that made sense?
Good Luck.
Splitz

[Elysium]

I am a Nurse too. My suggestion is to NOT tell them your diagnosis.

I have Major Depressive Disorder and Complex PTSD. With the couple employers I have shared this with, it has almost ruined my career. I have been passed up for a position because my "moods were inconsistent" and filed a complaint with the Bureau of Labor and Industries for Discrimination. Technically I won my case, but I still feel like I lost. They didn't give me the position, in fact they bullied me to the point I couldn't work there anymore and I left. Anyway...it's my thing...not yours.

Legally all you are required to give them is a letter from your Provider that you have a medical condition which requires you to work in a low stress environment. It's your choice if you want your MD or your PDoc to write it. If you choose to invoke your rights in the ADA, which they may push you into if you challenge a move, then you may need to sign a release for them to be able to contact your PDoc.

Just as HIPPA applies to patients in your Hospital, it also applies to you, and legally if your Supervisors or Management were to give your medical info out to anyone...even for gossip purposes, they would be violating HIPPA and could suffer consequences. That being said...you can't un-ring a bell either. Once someone else knows, you can bet it will spread like wild fire throughout the local nursing community. It's not supposed to, but it can happen.

You would think that Nurses and Hospitals would be more caring towards their staff, but really they are about the bottom line and they don't like it when people make trouble for them. I'm sorry if this sounds so negative, but I'm not just speaking of one experience with one employer, I'm speaking from several experiences.

If you do decide to tell them, start keeping a log of everything that happens at your work. Keep records of any/all evaluations you get. Make copies of any written kudos you get from your Supervisors. Write down anything that occurs between you and other staff. This log could some day be your best friend if you are ever in a position to need to defend yourself in such a way.

I have learned my lesson. I do not speak of my MH issues anymore. If I need ADA assistance I will, but until then I will never volunteer it again.

Good luck to you.

[splitimage]

I'm going to offer a slightly different perspective. Both in my last job and in my current job I'm out about my MH Dx. I felt it was easier to disclose why I needed time off mid day once a month to see my pdoc. So I told my boss I was being treated for depression and PTSD. They were great about it at my last job, I suffered no negative consequences other than becoming the companies unofficial referal source for anyone with MH issues. Seriously, if anyone went to HR with a MH issue, HR would send them to talk to me. it was bizarre.

At my current job I'm half out. I'm open about my MH issues - it's just easier, and I need a reason to explain why I work flex time. I'm in treatment for addiction 2 1/2 days a week, which the company director seriously hates, but I negotiated it when I started with the company. Now they think the time off is for MH support groups.

I've been open in the past with managers about my addiction. When I needed time off last summer to do rehab, I had to tell my immediate manager. We just told everyone else that I had some health issues that required treatment for 10 weeks, so I'd only be working part time. LOL everyone thought I had cancer. She was the only person who knew the real reason I was off, and bless her she kept it out of my file, and my Dr.'s note only said I had to reduce to part - time hours in order to accomodate medical treatment.

I realize that in Canada our laws are different and acknowledge that everyone's experiences are different. I just wanted to offer the perspective that it's not necessarily bad to be honest about MH issues with employers.

Good luck.

--splitimage

[Elysium]

LOL Split.....

Thank you for sharing the positive end of things.

I am still bitter....

I'm glad there are positives to balance mine out.

[bluebirdlady]

I am glad to hear you didn't tell your boss. I am severlely depressed, been so since the tender age of 6. I too work in the medical field and pretend to be normal.I have no choice because of my upbringing which is a long story.I work an odd shift by myself so I can get away with the crying spells in between patients since nobody is around. There is another girl at my job with bipolar and sadly she has always been the talk of the town and the fake pity parties that are nothing but mockery.The RN's have no sympathy for her. They had no sympathy for another co-woker with MS either. Whatever you have to do I would find any route that you can live with aside from telling employers about your condition...it is ironic working in the medical field...we should get sympathy of all people but it seems we are only allowed to take care of others, we are not allowed to need care ourselves....it isn't fair but what in life is? Good luck with your situation, I hope it all works out!

[50guy]

I would never advise anyone to disclose a mental disorder to an employer unless it had to be by law. There are many ways to "get rid of" you if you do. Luckily I work for the federal Government so I am covered by FMLA for any long term health issue.

Managers tend to think about how you would function around coworkers, what will trigger you, how will you treat clients, customers, etc. If you are on meds, are you taking them? If you act out they will think....s/he is off their meds.

IMO, it is just better to not tell, if you have a stress related incident it is always better to just tell the supervisor that you aren't feeling well and need to go home or, that you need some assistance with the situation.

[ruffy]

Special thanks to Splitz, Elysium, Splitimage, Bluebirdlady, and 50guy!!!!! (((Elysium)))...Yes!! I know what you mean about the bullying that goes on in the medical field. Its about the only thing on that show "Greys Anatomy" that is accurate. Any sign of weakness and youre like a baby lamb in the lions den, where everyone who does not have a mind of their own, joins in, ripping and tearing you apart. Ive never experienced it personally (I owe it to keeping a very safe distance from everyone I work with) but Ive seen it done to many others, and it is relentless, until they break you, even if it takes them years to do it. I am so sorry it happened to you more than once. I know your bitterness. Splitimage, Im glad your experience was a good one but I will have to agree that the medical field is a perculiar breed, especially among nurses. I have re learned to cope at work over the last few days and re adjust my thinking with the help of all of you. Thank you so much!!!! The Bipolar Disorder stays under wraps. Our little secret