Tips on maintaining fulltime employment?

Posted by bipolargirl @bipolargirl, Feb 25, 2022

Hi All,

I start my new job on Monday. Its an admin position in a major hospital nearby.
I have no formal experience working in admin. My previous job was as a registered nurse in aged care so i guess i have picked up some admin skills.

My issue is that the last time i did full time work, i became severely burnt out in only a couple months! I was working morning shifts as a nurse in aged care and the work load and pressure from management along with many other issues, i ended up hating nursing and said i will never work a morning shift in aged care ever again. I then went into a night role part time and that was my previous job. I left that position as i had been harassed, stalked and bullied by other staff members to the point i was self harming before work. I needed to resign. Management did nothing to help me. I left that job in September 2021 so its bee about 24 weeks since ive worked!

I have a diagnosis of bipolar, depression and anxiety but im sure there more to that now! I take medication for the bipolar but not the anxiety and i find its the anxiety that really bothers me so much more. I need medication for it, i know i do.

Im anxious about this new job! That it wont be the right choice, that ill end up messing up badly, that ill again get severely burnt out! So may other worries too.

So im after some advice here!
Those who also have bipolar or similar, how do you make it work?
Tips on making the fulltime work successful?
How to decrease these anxious feelings?
Anyone working in a health admin role, tips for starting off when i dont have the experience?

Thanks!

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Depression & Anxiety Support Group.

Ginger, Volunteer Mentor | @gingerw | Feb 26, 2022

@bipolargirl Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect!

Starting a new job can be stressful all by itself, don't you agree? And it sounds like you are worried about things beyond that. While I do not have a bipolar diagnosis, I do have depression and anxiety. The best I can say is to be gentle on yourself. You sound very insightful and knowing your triggers will go a long way to getting comfortable in a new position. Deep breaths! Know "you got this"! There is always a learning curve as you start to interface with new co-workers, both for the duties you will have, and the personalities of the people.

I'll bet the idea of admin work is a bit unsettling also. But you must have shown them you can do the job, or they wouldn't have offered it to you, right? Let them know you will be happy to do the work as they want it done, as it might be something you know about, but the ways they accomplish it might be a bit different from what you would do. That's okay, you'll learn more tools!

Being on medication, have you checked with that professional who prescribed that to you, for additional support? Another thing that might be useful is to do some journaling, writing out your concerns and keeping ahead of worries, putting onto paper and getting it out of your mind. Here is a discussion about journaling you may find helps you: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/journaling-the-write-stuff-for-you/

What are you doing this weekend to ease your mind, and relax?
Ginger

John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | Feb 26, 2022

Hi @bipolargirl, I would like to add my welcome along with Ginger @gingerw. Here's an article that might give you some tips if you haven't already read it. I've used all of the tips listed in my past corporate career except for the one on hiring since it wasn't in my job responsibilites. Ginger is spot on. They probably would not have hired you if they didn't think you could do it. You got this!

-- Six Tips To Becoming a Healthcare Administrator: https://www.healthadministrationdegrees.com/articles/tips-for-healthcare-administrators/

susie333 | @susie333 | Feb 28, 2022

my son has all that u mentioned above. it amazes me how he can handle life.... married, 3 children, homeowner and steady job. you are a nurse and have experienced lots! so I have no doubt you will provide a more realistic way to be an administrator!. my son's first job after working at walgreens, was doing the financial administration of a church. he was provided no structure, guidelines to succeed. he left and moved his family 2000 miles away from home. fast forward.... he is now working on financials at a larger more organized church and was provided training, so isn't anxious! imagine that! hope they have a job description manual to give u guidance! looking forward to hear how ur first day went! u will be in my thoughts, a retired nurse!