Disclosure about mental illness

[Guitar_Heroine]

I have bipolar disorder but did not indicate it on the "disabilities" question on my nursing school application. Should I make the school aware of my condition? I don't think it will interfere with my ability to be a good nurse, although it does affect my attendance as sometimes I have to up my meds and they knock me out. I've worked hard to document my early warning signs of an episode so I can take the appropriate measures. Do my teachers need to know this? I know they're not supposed to hold it against me, but do you think they'll judge me for it?

[Imafloat, BSN, RN]

I think that you should have disclosed that on your medical disclosure form. Your teachers need to be aware of your condition in case something happens to you. I honestly don't think they will hold it against you. It is a medical condition, just like cancer, if anything I think they would probably be more supportive and understanding if you had to miss a day. Best of luck to you .

[Altra, BSN, RN]

I think the only place you need to disclose this is on your medical form, which should be kept separately from the rest of your student records.

I wouldn't necessarily disclose it to individual instructors or school administrators - other people miss days here & there for migraines or whatever else. Just be aware of what your school's attendance policies are and make sure your absences aren't in violation of those.

[RosesrReder, BSN, MSN, RN]

I agree with MLOS. There is always a "just in case", so it is better if you disclose it. You don't have to pull your instructors aside and tell them, but you should maybe consider discosing it on your medical sheet that is in your file.

Jess

[sofaraway04]

For my nursing school we had a complete medical assessment to fill in, which was sent to the occupational health department and as someone has pointed out will be seperate from your nursing records.

Personally I didn't disclose my mental health conditions when I applied as i was scared I wouldn't get accepted.

If they find out later that you lied they can dismiss you from the course (at my school anyway).

Did they ask specificly about different medical conditions? If it was just a box to write any disabilities in, I would think you could say that your condition does not diable you or affect your practice.

[Aneroo, LPN]

I agree. If there is the chance you might miss school because of it, tell at least someone.

Also, whenever you go over psych, it may hit close to home, or you may have problems doing clinicals at the local psych facility- this will be important when the time comes. -Andrea

[nurseinlimbo]

I think it should definitely be disclosed, at the very least in the medical portion of your school application. I worked with a girl who was severely bi-polar and always going off her meds, she abused drugs and alcohol and her life was always a crisis. She attended nursing school with me, couldn't afford to stay on her pills, became addicted to crack and while she got over that, she never dealt with the issues that caused the drug abuse. She was disruptive in school, caused problems between other students, made life in clinical unbearable. The instructors turned a blind eye, because they were afraid of the law suits that could occur if they were to dismiss her on the basis of a mental illness.

If you are relatively stable, and know that you need to stay on meds, that's one thing, but think about how your disorder might affect you under the stress of a difficult program, will you be able to handle it?