Being a mentally ill nurse.

[Kiren]

does anyone know if it is possible for someone who has had previous hospitalizations for mental illness to become a nurse? are there laws that exclude people w/ certain types of a mental disorders form taking the nclex exams, even if they are being successfully treated?

[judy ann]

I can only answer in regard to Colorado. The Nurse Practice act forbids denying a license to a nurse on the grounds of mental health unless she has been declared incompetant in court.

[EricJRN, MSN, RN]

For answers to specific questions, your state's board of nursing would be the organization to contact. Good luck!

[TazziRN, RN]

I don't know what type of illness you're wanting to know about, but I went to school with a woman who had had multiple hospitalizations for depression, several involuntary, and she finished school, took the NCLEX, and got her license in CA. She ended up not doing well because of other health issues that kept her from physically working, but none of them were due to her depression, which finally was brought under some control with the proper meds.

[Kiren]

if i'm not mistaken i think the disorder is paranoid sczhenophrenia. the young lady with the disorder lives in ny.

[gitterbug]

As nurses age, many of us think a little touch of crazy is necessary to do the job.:wink2:

Seriously, most states have some sort of rule regarding mental illness and obtaining a license, but treatment and a period of stability usually allow the person to obtain a license.

[LuvMyGamecocks]

I can't speak for NY, and like Eric said, it's best to contact NY's Board of Nursing for clarification. Having said that, I personally can't imagine a nursing license being given to someone who has been DIAGNOSED as paranoid schizophrenic. Is there ever a period of stability after this diagnosis