International Nurses Association

As a nurse, if you have not worked with a patient afflicted with mental illness, and that has a dual diagnosis, at some point you will.   Mental illness is more easily diagnosed today than it was even 10 years ago.   Many patients have more than one diagnosis, which can make it difficult to treat until there is a full work-up and diagnosis.   When a patient comes under your care, there will come a time that you note two diagnoses of mental illness.   It's important to consider both conditions in providing treatment for the patient. Related: All About the Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Dual Conditions If your patient suffers from acute obsessive compulsive disorder, there may be ritualistic behaviors displayed from them, however, if you add bi-polar to this condition, it could mean that on one visit they will openly discuss their OCD, yet on the next, they may refuse to discuss it at all.   Both conditions must be considered in order to provide the proper treatment