Texas Conditional license

Nurses General Nursing

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I had to fill out a declaratory order for bipolar depression, the board of nursing finally approved me to go to nursing school but I will have a conditional license. I am not sure what the stipulations are as I am waiting on the paperwork. Am I going to have a hard time finding a job after I graduate because of this situation? There is absolutely nothing on my background at all. The only thing I have is the bipolar. I understand they are there to keep patients safe, but I have never heard of anyone with a mental illness have to have a conditional license.

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Specializes in Pediatric.

I'm not sure what a conditional license is. Doesn't sound good. Hopefully other people will come in.

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From what friends have told me, it is where you might not be able to give narcotics or have to take random drug testing or join tpapn for a probationary period :(

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Specializes in Infection Prevention, Public Health.

I'm a bit surprised that the BON was involved before you ever went into nursing school. Frankly, it will be difficult to get a position with a conditional license. Difficult but not impossible.

If your conditional license was due to bipolar disorder, I am guessing that they may be requiring you to have psychological evaluations. I wish you all the best.

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I know, before I could even turn in my application for nursing school they required me to go through the BON first. I hope I can work after I graduate. I'm doing everything I supposed to.

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Specializes in Infection Prevention, Public Health.
From what friends have told me, it is where you might not be able to give narcotics or have to take random drug testing or join tpapn for a probationary period :(

None of this should be unclear to you. You should have been given and signed a copy of the BON's order and your restrictions, mandatory activities, length of time on conditional license, etc would be on that document. Good luck.

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Specializes in Pediatric.

If I knew that before school even started I would receive a conditional license.. I would not go.

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I haven't received the letter yet. Hopefully I'll get it soon. Thanks!!

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One of the many problems in this society is ignorance about mental illness; having a mental health issue, even a formal diagnosis, is not a matter of incompetence or moral failure. No one with half a brain would consider a diabetic incapable of being a nurse or caring for others--bipolar disorder is no different from a physical disorder like diabetes; if you take care of yourself, do what you should, don't do what you shouldn't, use medications properly if you need them, and see your doctor when you're supposed to, mental illness is usually no more disabling than diabetes, hypertension, asthma, or any other chronic disease that requires management.

Unfortunately, the stigma of mental illness and public hysteria over a couple of unbalanced nurses who went on killing sprees causes Boards to adopt legislation requiring nurses with mental health problems to submit to monitoring(tpapn is Texas' program for that, I think) if the Board decides it is necessary; this usually requires evaluation by a psychiatrist or psychologist, some review of your medical/mental health history (specifically diagnosis, medications, and whether you've ever been hospitalized--these should be private and none of the Board's business, but nothing is sacred if the Board thinks patient safety might possibly be an issue), and maybe an interview. If they decide you need monitoring, it can be for a few years, or it can be for much longer--it depends.

Sadly, being in such a program can make it difficult to get work--not impossible, just difficult. Now, since you're just starting school, if you do wind up in monitoring and do well, you will have that much good news to give prospective employers. However, my advice is, read the Order they send you very carefully, and, if you can possibly afford it, get legal advice before you sign anything. I mean it--this is your career, and you don't want to be handicapped by a monitoring agreement if you can avoid it.

And, for the record--it's not the people with the diagnosed mental illness who keep me up worrying at night; it's the ones without a diagnosis...yet!

Best of luck to you, and don't let the Board scare you--they have a lot of power, but they're just people.

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Specializes in ED, Cardiac-step down, tele, med surg.

I worked with a nurse at my last job who had bipolar disorder and depression and took meds for it. They were a really good nurse too; highly intelligent and skilled. There are mental health awareness campaigns in places, Texas probably isn't one of them. I work in CA, so things are different here. I don't recall that even being a question on the application.

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Specializes in HH, Peds, Rehab, Clinical.

Why would the BON decree whether or not you can attend nursing school? That seems to be a little out of their scope....

I had to fill out a declaratory order for bipolar depression, the board of nursing finally approved me to go to nursing school but I will have a conditional license. I am not sure what the stipulations are as I am waiting on the paperwork. Am I going to have a hard time finding a job after I graduate because of this situation? There is absolutely nothing on my background at all. The only thing I have is the bipolar. I understand they are there to keep patients safe, but I have never heard of anyone with a mental illness have to have a conditional license.
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