Bipolar Disorder Essay

Bipolar Disorder Bipolar disorder is a neurobiological disorder that causes changes in a person’s mood, attitude, and energy. It also affects a person’s physical, mental and emotional ability. This disorder is manifested by severe mood swings; mania and depression. It can gradually go from hypo or mild mania to severe depression. In early stage mood swings jump from euphoria to despair (to the point of suicide). Bipolar clients usually lose interest in all the activities that they used to do, their eating habits change, inadequate sleep cycles begins and most of the time they think about ending their life/ suicide or death.
Along with neurobiological disorder, bipolar patients/clients also face psychosocial challenges
which can lead to hopelessness to suicidal attempts. Medication and different psychotherapies can help improve client’s condition. Communication and support from family, friends and the healthcare team can also help them cope with the disease. Taking care of a bipolar client requires the nurse to first assess the mental and medical condition of the patient.
Client’s safety should be the top priority. Since the client has a short attention span and mood changes, necessary information can also be obtained from his/her family. This way the family can also become a part of the management and care of the client. First and foremost is to make a plan and goal for the better outcome of the treatment. Most importantly nurse should try to reduce the environmental stimuli and the risk of injury to the patient. Make sure the client is in self-control and is well oriented with his environment. Bipolar clients usually get an indication that they are about to get into a depressive phase of their disease. The adequate teaching and given knowledge from healthcare workers to the client can avoid harm. As soon as the feelings of depression start, the client should know move himself to the safe environment, whether it can be any near healthcare facility or family who can take care of him/her. This step can avoid can avoid harm her/himself or suicidal attempts by eliminating or reducing the feelings of hopelessness as well as helplessness. In hospital or nursing home settings clients are moved near the nursing station so help can reach to the client easily and immediately. The nursing implementation can greatly affect the better result of a bipolar client’s treatment outcome. The following implementations
by the nurse can improve the care and safety of a patient.
• Nurse should know that client has brief attention span and can easily become agitated. In a subtle manner the nurse should evaluate the mental status of a client and find out about his/her feelings or future plans.
• Make sure the client is well oriented to person, place, and time.
• Lab work should be done and checked on timely manners.
• The client have full or adequate knowledge about his/her condition and also be aware of what to do when his mental condition fluctuates up and down.
• The client should have good knowledge about his medication and correct amount of dosage; client should aware about benefits/Sid effects of the medications.
• Good communication is an important part of treatment.
• Provide information in simple and small sentences that is easy to understand by patient.
• Nurses should make sure that the client is cleaned and groomed daily.
• The patient should be aware of the benefits of ample fluids intake and well balanced diet.