[Fuzzy]

Alisha,
When I hear crap like this it makes me so doggone angry that I'm speechless. To flunk a person because of a panic attack especially since up till then you had been passing. Contact the Dean of Student Services ASAP as well as the Dean of Instruction at your school. Explain to them calmy what has happened. Do not make threats but state facts. If you need to, also contact your state's Protection and Advocacy System, Inc. Every state has an office and they will help protect your rights from discrimination. Until those of us with mental illness start sticking up for ourselves we will continue to be stomped on in situations like this.
Fuzzy

I took the liberty of looking up the websites for you:
www.napas.org National Association of Protection and Advocacy Systems
www.arkdisabilityrights.org Arkansas Protection and Advocacy

[CrunchRN]

Dear Alisha,


Prove them wrong - that would really put them in their place. I am so proud of you. You have come such a long way and made it this far. Do not let those jerks win. Just repeat to yourself that you can do whatever you have to do to graduate and then you will never have to deal with them again (we had those types in my school many years ago also). Best of luck to you - I am sure you are going to be a wonderful nurse.

[dustydog]

Alisha

I am just insensed by this as well . Fuzzy has it right - don't let them get away with this. You have come so far. Don't let these cretins keep you from your dream. We are in your corner!

[ICUsleep]

Alisha,
So sorry to hear about that....not about the panic attack (it happens), but about the ridiculous treatment you are receiving from people who are supposed to be educated NURSES. Without knowing the details, it's hard to say if you were in any violation..i.e., not on a med when you should be, or failure to declare a history of panic disorder if required by your school, etc.
It certainly does NOT sound like you put anyone's "life in
danger"....sheesh...poor thing, I know you must've felt that your life was in danger during the attack, and now it seems that you are under attack personally by your school. Please seek legal counsel, this is a form of discrimination....also, please see someone for treatment (therapy, prescription meds, etc.) so that you won't have to worry about having another attack that is so bad it interferes with your life.
Good luck,
ICUSleep ...panicker for almost 10 years now, but living my life and doing well with clinicals for the most part...help is available for us.

[AlishaNHayzley]

Thank you all so much. I needed to hear that I am not crazy so badly to feel irked by this situation. You have no idea how much I appreciate the support.

[ARNPsomeday]

Alisha, please don't let them do this to you. Have you also tried the Access Program representative in your school? They work under a federal law that requires equal access- and reasonable accommodations- for everyone who has a disability.

Please update us on your progress.

[notsureicanbeanurse]

I am a CNA student who is now going to fail the class which would make me on my way to my nursing career because of a depressive episode. I have been out of work since like Feb 03 and been going to school since last summer working on my gen ed classes before i go into the nursing program. I started the CNA class this semester and because of this depressive episode I have missed 2 weeks fo class and now will fail the class because I do not feel safe around the pts with my hallucinations and the change in my meds. I know what it feels like to be in a constant depression and be scared of the possiblities. I am scared that I am not going to be able to hack it as a nursing student even though I am VERY medicated and in therapy.

[ARNPsomeday]

Hi, notsure

Maybe this is not the time to start your nursing career. It sounds like it's time to take the best possible care of yourself.

Your safety and that of your patients, this is what you will be protecting.

Maybe nursing is a goal you can keep close to your heart and try again later on when the hallucinations are all gone, and you have the meds combination that help keep you well and stable.

[zoeboboey]

Originally Posted by nm1979

I was just talking to my doctor last night about my future plans. I think when I go back to work I'll try some rehab or psychiatric hospitals. I love med surg but until I'm further along in my recovery I think I need to stay away from all the narcotics, maybe forever but I sure hope not. I miss working so bad but I've got to get my life cleaned up first and make sure I can stay clean. Thanks for the adivce.

Michaela

Michaela, you've got that 100% right! Sobriety must come first even if it means postponing what you would prefer to do.

Feel free to private message me if you need a shoulder, I'm very familiar with recovery!

God bless

[zoeboboey]

Originally Posted by AlishaNHayzley

My instructor had me write a plan of care on myself to prevent it from happening again.

I think that is FANTASTIC!

When I went for my evaluation yesterday she said that when she discussed this with the other instructors they all said i should be kicked out of the program "given the boot were her words",

I think this sucks out loud!

I am under disabilities services through the state and I have emailed my counselor to get her input.

This is AWESOME!

Oh and when I had the panic attack in clinicals I was supposed to do a blood culture which I had not seen done before so I let another student do it becuase I was upset. Becuase of this she said I put my patient in danger which is what I was trying not to do by letting the other student do it until I had calmed down.

What you did here was exercise good nursing judgement! This is what a prudent RN in the same situation would do!

Sheesh! are they afraid it's gonna rub OFF or something?

Hang in there hon, and use those disability resources, they are discriminating BIG TIME!