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0 By bipolaretaeus
Having a diagnosis of Bipolar Affective Disorder and being a mental health nurse comes with challenges. Without bipolar, it does anyway.
I went into nursing because of my constant exposure to mental illness in my family, in me and some of my friends. I wanted, and still want, to make a difference. To put my experience into helping others.
This has come with many challenges. Some of which I wasn’t really prepared for…
Many challenges of a mental health nurse
Many, if not most, service users (who I will refer to as people from herein) have a traumatic history. During our routine assessments and therapeutic work we come into contact with these life stories daily. Many have been sexually, physically, financially, emotionally abused or neglected as children and/or adults, and are vulnerable. I’m sure a lot of us can unfortunately tell our stories too ?.
Psychologically it’s painful. Being a mental health nurse by its very nature means trying our best in forming a close trusting relationship with people with ‘unconditional positive regard’. No matter who they are, what their history is, or how they speak with you or do to you, you treat everyone the same. All these histories are not a usual part of life for the average Joe Bloggs on the street to hear. We bear this in our hearts everyday.
Unconditional positive regard
Some people have committed the most immoral acts such as rape, murder, violent acts. Some are paedophiles. On a regular basis, as a nurse, you are verbally abused. Screamed at, accused of being an asshole, not caring etc. Sometimes physically attacked. Most of the time you can understand this is not the norm for this person but because they’re unwell they see you as the enemy and understandably so. Especially when the mental health act has been enforced. But all the while you’re trying to help, trying to help ‘recovery,’ showing you care.
These factors are obviously risks, whether to others or, more often, to the people themselves and it takes a lot of responsibility to assess and manage this. It’s huge.
Often we are faced with self harm and suicide. Dressing wounds, managing overdoses, cutting ligatures. Sometimes finding people who have sadly completed suicide. Standing up in court even though you know you have tried to help the best you can.
We have to remain professional
When you have your own mental illness (obviously stable if practising), it’s a conscious effort to not over identify. I want to say to them ‘I’m here because I know how it feels and I want to help,’ but you can’t. And sometimes you’re shouted at and seen as the bad person and sometimes it feels that connection, that true understanding, might help.
We cry on the way home or at home. We can’t show it too much at the time because we have to remain professional. But it’s not easy to put things to the back of our minds. I often think about people after they leave services, how they’re getting on and hoping they’re ok. And I can remember each and every person I’ve worked with.
We want to do more
We’re usually short-staffed and this means we can’t do what we want to do. We really want to talk to people all day long, take them places, help them reconnect, cope, whatever it is that we both conclude would be helpful. But we can’t as much as we like. Our hands are tied.
As a mental health nurse and a service user, I see both sides and it’s so frustrating but I will continue to do my best and fight for excellent care.
‘Mental Health Nurse’ reproduced with permission, originally posted here
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As a service user it was good to read this, I often think it must be so hard for the nurses and I’m so thankful that they continue to do what they do in often trying circumstances to show that someone cares. Thankyou.
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