Nurse with bipolar disorder or adhd?

Have you had job difficulties? Reported? Board action? I have been through much with this and would be happy to help anyone that wants information. Presently licensed and attending grad school with the above illnesses. Last edit by nursedudekl on Apr 5, '07
I'm not sure what kind of action could be taken against a nurse with bipolar or ADHD--mind talking about what you've gone through?For the record, I have bipolar and OCD.

I probably meet the criteria for ADD, and (half serious,half joking) think it fits well with ER nursing.

Hello-I have bipolar disorder and have been accepted to nursing school. I am hesitant to get the physical because it wants you to state mental illness. I am afraid to do this because there is so much stigma attached.I worry all the time if I this will make them alter their decision or if I can get the Board license.Bottom line----I just completed a Bachelor of Science degree and took a full-time load on evenings and weekends. I did well and at the same time am married and raising two children and worked 40 hours a week while doing the aforementioned.I know I will be a good nursing student and a quality nurse but I do wonder if I would be wasting my time in school if I can't get a license because of this or if a potential employer would not hire me because of this.I was diagnosed with mild bipolar two years ago. I take my meds daily and have been doing fine. As you can see from the above statements this illness has not stopped me from doing anything I have wanted to do. I hope it does not stop me now. Please post anything about this subject. I look forward to hearing what you have to say!

My mom has both and had to leave the nursing field. She went back to school and is getting ready to graduate with her degree in sociology.

Like with any chronic illness, if you are stable on your meds and have insight into your disease, you can be successful with many chronic disease processes. Good luck.

I work with a nurse friend who has bipolar disorder, and honestly, I have to say she is one of the best nurses on our floor. She has helped educate a lot of staff on what goes on in the mind of a person w/ the disorder, as she is very open about it.

I have bipolar disorder. The only job related issues I have ever had were from before I was properly diagnosed: I was having some serious troubles and had too many call ins and was let go from my first nursing job. After that, I started to get some real help, and was eventually diagnosed and properly treated. Nobody would guess I have bipolar disorder now.

Quote from LUXOR21Hello-I have bipolar disorder and have been accepted to nursing school. I am hesitant to get the physical because it wants you to state mental illness. I am afraid to do this because there is so much stigma attached.I worry all the time if I this will make them alter their decision or if I can get the Board license.

you have done well so far...dont think about it and just be postive. look at this illness from a positive point of view, think that you would be able to really empathise with a bipolar patient than any ordinary nurse. Try and take the good things out of it and lean not on your own understanding but on GOD.im religious so i hope you dont mind on my last comment.Good luck and all the best:smilecoffeecup:

I have ADD and haven't had any problems so far. As long as you stay on your meds and keep your condition in control, follow up with your care provider, and don't assume that you are "OK now, I will make an appt with my doc when I need to...", you'll be fine. I agree, check with your state board of nursing about their requirements. And as has been mentioned, you are protected by the ADA, use it if you need to.

The funniest thing just happened to me. I was making my rounds on the internet-check my email, check my myspace page, then go to allnurses. The reason I go to allnurses last is because once I get here, I can spend HOURS here. Anyway, as I was logging in, I was thinking, "instead of going here, I should search the internet for bipolar support groups." I clicked on new posts and this was the first thread on the list. So is that divine intervention or what?This morning I have an appointment with a psychologist. My very first one. My primary physician has been trying to get me to go for a couple of years and I have been resisting. This appointment is because he thinks I have bipolar. I have been treated for depression for many years, but I think I finally agree that it goes far beyond depression. I now agree that it probably is bipolar.As far as work is concerned, I have been a nurse for 13 years and have made the circuit. I've been fired a few times and have quit more jobs than I can count. When I look back on the reasons I have quit they make no sense and I have regretted it most of the time. And when I have quit, I believe I was usually in a manic state.So in less than 2 hours I will have my appt. I'm nervous and scared, but relieved. Hopefully this will help to even me out so there are not so many ups and downs.

I have ADHD and the only way it affects my job is in organization. It is so hard to try and keep everything I have to know and do and actually get it done. As for the bipolar I know in texas on the board applications it asks if you have been diagnosed with a psychiatric illness in the last 5 yrs so you might want to talk to the board before you start school to see if there will be a problem when you graduate. The school probably doesn't care but in the end it will be the BON.