We have a long way to go as health care providers

[wish_me_luck]

Hi,

I, initially, was going to post this in Nurses/Recovery but I wanted to say something to everyone.

The past couple of days has been bittersweet for me. Yesterday, I took NCLEX and according to the PVT, I passed. My license isn't posted yet but NCLEX scores transmitted, so it should be soon. I was also in the process of licensing my pharmacy technician certification because I wanted a part time job eventually as a pharmacy technician for a little something on the side of nursing and to hone my skills/ knowledge of medications in order to improve care of my future patients. Well, today, I received a letter that I have been denied a pharmacy technician license due to mental illness. I can and will appeal it at an informal conference. I think it wasn't the denial that hurt as much as the decision being based on me having a mental illness.

I have never worked as a pharmacy technician, so there's no poor work performance to say that I could be a danger in a pharmacy. I am in treatment and in a monitoring program.

The reason I posted this here is because I often find threads talking about how nurses generally dislike taking care of mentally ill patients (and unfortunately, I have witnessed first hand nurses saying vile things about mentally ill patients). We are not bad people; we are ill and some of us are trying really hard to get better. It's a blow when we try and seek help and better our lives through trying to get decent careers and helping others and we are met with people who think we are nothing more than crazy and a danger to society.

I think we can all agree that our health care service for the mentally ill have a lot to be desired; but please do not contribute to the problem. Keep this in mind and please be kind and show compassion (this goes for all people; sane or mentally ill).

" Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle". -- Plato

[mindlor]

Good lord. I am sooo sorrry. It sickens me the way we treat the mentally ill here in the USA in the year 2012. I lost my brother to mental illness and it makes me sooo angry.......

We need to wake up!!

[wish_me_luck, BSN, RN]

Yes, mindlor, we need to wake up. EMTtoRNinVA, I agree. I am a firm believer in God (not religious though) and I think this is one of His ways of making me a stronger person. I don't regret disclosing it and I can't say that I wish I didn't have a mental illness. It is what it is and I am trying to make the best of the situation and grow from it. It makes me realize how much work there is left to be done in the realm of acceptance and treatment of mental health problems. That just makes me try that much harder. Perhaps I can be the one that changes how the Board of Pharmacy views mental illness.

I wrote a letter to the executive director of the Board of Pharmacy and attached it in an email. There's a way in dealing with these boards. Just be polite, kind, courteous, and respectful/tactful. I told them why I wanted the pharmacy technician license and was honest when I told them that my primary profession is nursing. The pharmacy tech license was so I can have something on the side for a little pocket change and really learn the drugs. With our patient loads these days, it is hard to find time to stand at a computer on wheels (COW) and look up every drug you do not know. Yet we are 100% responsible for every drug that is given to a patient. I went on to explain that I am a very productive member of society and explained that I don't think I am threat and how I disclosed (to both boards) because I would rather disclose my mental illness (and that I am treated) and have their approval than to lie.

I emailed it to the executive director and copied the deputy executive director on it. I got a response back from the deputy executive director and she will present it to a committee that is meeting next week. I don't know what will happen; but at least I can say I tried. I do appreciate her presenting the letter to the committee though.

[Anna Flaxis, BSN, RN]

As you are likely aware, I was referring to the VA Board of Nursing. 10 out of 13 of them have some sort of nursing credentials after their name. The post I responded to made a blanket statement that state regulatory bodies in general were not HCPs. I felt it was pertinent to mention b/c this is allnurses.com.

As you are likely aware, it is the Virginia Board of Pharmacy (none of the board members are nurses) who denied the OP her credential to work as a pharmacy tech, not the VBON. The VBON (the majority of them nurses) did grant her a license to practice nursing. I think this is pertinent to mention, given the topic of the thread.

[Anna Flaxis, BSN, RN]

I'll let the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) know they need to change their name ASAP!!!

NAMI: National Alliance on Mental Illness - Mental Health Support, Education and AdvocacyThis is our country's largest advocacy org for this population; are they perpetuating the stigma?

I don't think you understood my statement. Clearly, NAMI is referring to mental illness itself, not people with mental health diagnoses as "the mental ill". Do you not see the distinction?

[VivaLasViejas, ASN, RN]

In fact, NAMI used to stand for "National Alliance for the Mentally Ill". That's progress right there. =)

[VictoriaGayle]

I think the history and nature of the individual's behavioral diagnosis is significant in this case, s/he is going to have direct access to medications. It may not be in anyone's best interest for some individuals with certain behavioral health issues to have unfettered acces to drugs.

I agree. I can see denying someone with past drug use, or someone who has been previously involuntarily institutionalized, but the idea that any form of mental health problem warrants such a reaction is worrisome.

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

Many states have mandatory reporting to the state board of licensing if a licensed individual seeks psychiatric services or addiction services.

Stinks doesn't it.....

[VivaLasViejas, ASN, RN]

Many states have mandatory reporting to the state board of licensing if a licensed individual seeks psychiatric services or addiction services.

Stinks doesn't it.....

Yeah. It sure does.

My state isn't that bad, but the nursing license renewal application asks directly if you have been diagnosed with a physical or mental disorder that could affect your practice. TPTB don't care that it hasn't, they just want to know if you've ever been dx'd......and you'd better tell them the truth and explain it thoroughly, because if you wind up in the middle of an investigation and they find out then, things are very unlikely to go well for you.

This chaps my hide, to say the least. I've been a competent nurse for 15 years, and was a competent CNA before that. I didn't pick up my mental-health diagnosis until last February, but I'm reasonably certain that I had the condition for many, many years prior to this. I'm the same nurse, the same person I was before I was diagnosed.....and NOW the BON is going to see me as a problem child? Really?!

[wish_me_luck, BSN, RN]

Viva, that is why I disclosed. I am not saying that I am going to do anything; but all it takes is someone making something up because they have "beef" against you. The Boards have to investigate everything. They look at it as guilty until proven innocent. It would not help my case if I lied about the mental health diagnosis. Plus, I can't stand a liar; it's the pot calling the kettle black, if I lied. I am like you, I did not pick up a mental health diagnosis until the end of last year and then, my psychiatrist left the facility I was receiving treatment at. A new psychiatrist came and considered the old psychiatrist's notes and did his own assessment and came up with a different diagnosis. I have had mental health diagnosis for about 10 months and the new diagnosis for about 5 months. When I applied for initial licensure at the beginning of the year, I said "yes" to the question about mental impairment because I looked at it as asking if you have a mental impairment/illness/dx, because that could affect your ability to practice. Maybe it is how I read it; also, it gives you a block that you have to explain. I explained what my then dx was and that I was receiving treatment and a letter from the psychiatrist was to be sent (along with a letter from me). If I misunderstood, then I thought they would just say thanks for disclosing, but it isn't what the question was asking. But, that's not what happened. I received approval with a board order for monitoring with Board of Nursing and a denial from Board of Pharmacy.

[mariebailey, MSN, RN]

I don't think you understood my statement. Clearly, NAMI is referring to mental illness itself, not people with mental health diagnoses as "the mental ill". Do you not see the distinction?

Points taken, Stargazer. It is something I had not considered before, & I'm actually a member of NAMI. I would not want to perpetuate a stigma that I fight against, and you have valid points to consider. I was trained in my psych rotation to teach patients to say, for example, " I have bipolar disorder" instead of "I am bipolar". I mistakenly did just the opposite in this thread.

[VivaLasViejas, ASN, RN]

I was just having this very same discussion on the mental-health forum I frequent. Many of us, myself included, have no issue with saying "I am bipolar"; it's no different than saying "I'm diabetic" or "I'm an alcoholic". Bipolar (or whatever illness we have) is a part of us, like having brown eyes or big feet, so we're not putting ourselves down when we self-identify with it. Just my $.02 worth. :)

[wish_me_luck, BSN, RN]

I just got back not too long ago from my psychiatry appt. I explained to my psychiatrist what happened. He told me if I needed an updated letter, he would be happy to oblige. He told me to cite the Americans with Disabilities Act and that the boards tend to feel threatened when ADA is mentioned (I don't know how he knows that). He also said that I could contact NAMI and they would probably be able to tell me all about my rights and everything. I told him that I didn't want to sue, I just want my license. It would be very unfortunate if it got that far as to me having to sue and I hope it doesn't happen. I just want to work this out in a diplomatic way and be respectful of the boards. We'll see after tomorrow (that's when my letter in response to the denial is presented to a committee).