PPDB1Kan I qabu san - Article Example

PPDB1 Inserts Insert Grade Insert 8th March, PPDB1 My is Sherry Williams. A dedicated young lady who works as a nurse manager at a Mental Health Clinic, and who is willing to succeed in everything I undertake. I have a passion for my job and career and every day I seek to make a difference in the life of every patient I handle each day and in my role in promoting quality health. I live in the Baltimore city of Maryland. One of my goals in this course is to acquire an ample understanding the politics and policy making aspects of nursing and how the two aspects affect and relate to the nursing profession.

My main focus will be on bipolar disorder; hence an important part of my goal is to clearly understand bipolar disorder, policy issues related to this condition as well as identify the role of nurses in advocacy and in addressing the various policy issues related to bipolar disorder. Through this course, I wish to clearly understand my expected role as a nurse and to be able to assess how successful I have been in playing each of the expected roles. I especially need to identify my role as an advocate and as an active player in policy promotion and formulation.

With my interest being on bipolar disorder, assessing my political involvement in addressing the illness and its various issues is one way through which I have been able to understand my major strengths and weaknesses with regard to advocacy and contribution made towards the successful address of this condition (Jansen & Zwygart-Stauffacher, 2009), and in turn been able to identify the various areas that I need to improve on to ensure that I effectively take up an active role as a nurse and advocate, and in the promotion and implementation of existing and new policies related to bipolar disorder.

My case study is that related to bipolar disorder, a mental disorder that leads to changes in a person’s moods, ability to work or undertake numerous activities as well as shifts in energy (Goodwin & Sachs, 2010). The illness is mainly characterized by numerous mood swings, irritability, feelings of hopelessness and sadness and suicidal thoughts and attempts (NIMH, 2012). The case study relates to a bipolar disorder patient once brought under my care. The patient, Paul (name changed for confidentiality), had been brought into the hospital showing a number of behaviors that led to the diagnosis of the disorder.

The abnormal behaviors were characterized by pacing up and down, incoherent fast speech, suicidal thoughts and increased irritability. Further inquiries from his sister indicated that Paul was having problems at work as a result of his frequent mood changes and irritation that were as a result of his illness. The man had been issued with a suspension letter by his boss a few days prior his coming to the hospital. The patient was reported to have missed work for many days and his productivity reported to be very poor.

The key policy issue related to this case study is that which protects bipolar patients from discrimination and failed employment. Bipolar disorder has been regarded as a disability and the patients are therefore protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The law serves towards protecting persons with disabilities. According to the act, an individual is regarded as disabled if he or she has a mental or physical impairment that prevents him or her from engaging in one or more activity (EEOC, 2011).

The involvement of nurses in the promotion of the ADA Act is one that has been very minimal; hence, patients continue to get discriminated at work for lack of information on their rights as stipulated by this Act. The role of every nurse as an advocate should be to ensure that the interest and welfare of the patients are upheld (Hungerford, 2012). The nurses have a role to play in the identification of the various problems the patients are facing and in the promotion of the successful creation and implementation of policies that seek to provide solutions to this problems.

In this case, nurses have the role of ensuring that the ADA Act, which serves to protect the interests of bipolar disorder patients, is successfully implemented by all organizations and that it serves to protect this group of patients from unfair discrimination at work. They have a major role to play in educating patients suffering from bipolar disorder about the protection accorded by the ADA with regard to their employment status. Nurses can help in providing all the relevant information related to bipolar disorders and employment not just to the patients, but to the various work institutions as well for both employees and employers to gain all the relevant knowledge.

I also wish to hear the views of my classmates on their various experiences and thoughts towards bipolar disorder and related issues.ReferencesEqual Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). (2000). EEOC enforcement guidance on the Americans with Disabilities Act and Psychiatric disabilities.  http://www.eeoc.gov/policy/docs/psych.htmlGoodwin, G. & Sachs, G. (2010). Fast Facts: Bipolar disorder. Oxfordshire: Health Press Limited Abingdon.Hungerford, C., Clancy, R., Hodgson, D., Jones, T., Harrison, A.

& Hart, C. (2012). Mental Health Care: An Introduction for Health Professionals. Sydney: Wiley Meadows.National Institute of Mental Health. (2002). Bipolar disorder.  Retrieved from http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/bipolar-disorder/complete- index.shtml.Jansen, P. & Zwygart-Stauffacher, M. (2009). Advanced Practice Nursing: Core Concepts for Professional Role Development. NY: Springer Publishing Co.