Aim

Bipolar Disorder (BD) is a chronic mental illness with a complex clinical presentation, characterized by the alternating occurrence of manic, hypomanic, and depressive episodes. The disorder significantly affects patients’ functioning and quality of life and places a substantial burden on healthcare systems. Nursing staff, as an integral part of the therapeutic team, play a key role in the care of patients with BD; therefore, their level of knowledge is of crucial importance for the quality and safety of care.

Material and methods

The study involved 114 nurses. The inclusion criterion was employment as a nurse and voluntary consent to participate in the study. Participation was anonymous and voluntary. The study was conducted in 2025 in the Podkarpackie Voivodeship, Poland. The research method used to investigate the study problem was a diagnostic survey. The research technique was a questionnaire, and the research tool was an original questionnaire consisting of 31 questions.

Results

A satisfactory overall level of knowledge about BD was demonstrated by 34.2% of respondents. Age, gender, level of education, and place of residence did not significantly differentiate the level of knowledge. Significant associations were found with work experience and workplace. The highest level of knowledge across all analyzed domains was observed among nursing staff working in the General Psychiatry Department.

Conclusions

The level of knowledge of nursing staff regarding Bipolar Disorder was unsatisfactory in most cases. Workplace, particularly employment in psychiatric units, significantly influenced knowledge levels, indicating the need for systematic education of nurses working outside psychiatric settings.