Anxiety

allnurses Guide · Sep 5, 2014

Lots of nurses have anxiety to one degree or another. It can range from mild butterflies to crippling anxiety that prevents a person from performing their duties at work.

Simply "having anxiety" is most likely not why your friend lost his job. That anxiety probably led to some sort of performance issue.

It's hard to discuss what is really a medical/psychological condition that can be treated on a message board where we don't know pertinent details.

Sometimes people in treatment for Anxiety Disorder are prescribed meds that can impair judgement, such as benzodiazepines but again every case is unique. I'm not aware of anyone who was fired purely for "anxiety" and nothing else.

ItsJustMe78 · Sep 5, 2014

He was having an anxiety/panic attack and his speech began to slur. His boss thought he was on drugs so she sent him home and then fired him. He did numerous drug tests which were all negative. Since the employer didn't have any evidence of him taking or being on drugs, they then said it was because of his anxiety. Then the nursing board grasp on that and revoked his nursing license because of his slurred speech.

ItsJustMe78 · Sep 5, 2014

The state of california is now investigating the nursing board for this and he's searching for other nurses who have also been disciplined or revoked based on anxiety/panic issues.

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide · Sep 5, 2014

There are a lot of variables when it comes to dealing with mental illness and holding an RN license. There isn't really enough information in your original post to be able to comment effectively.

Some states require that licensees report any MI diagnosis and/or psychiatric treatment to the Board of Nursing. Other states are more ambiguous, asking only if the applicant has a physical or mental condition that could impair their ability to practice nursing safely.

My state is one of the latter. I have bipolar 1 and have had anxiety and panic attacks at work to the extent that I had to take medical leave. Did it impair my ability to practice safely? Yes, and that's why I told my psychiatrist that I was losing it and he took me out of work in lieu of hospitalization. I would never have endangered my patients by practicing while I was so sick. A few months later when I was working at a different place as a floor nurse, I realized that I was unsafe at any speed, took myself off the floor permanently, and am now 'retired' from nursing. I have way too much anxiety, and I'm much too forgetful and easily distracted to take care of patients. I keep my license active only because there still are a few nursing jobs I could handle, like being an advice nurse or investigating insurance claims, and I want to keep my options open.

I don't know why your friend lost his license. It would seem that there's more to the story than meets the eye......BONs don't usually strip nurses of their licenses unless there has been deception and/or the nurse's issues caused them to take unsafe actions that put patients at risk.

ItsJustMe78 · Sep 6, 2014

yeah there is a lot more to the story. He was showing slurred speech at work. Didn't realize it until his boss came and told him. He was having an anxiety attack and wasn't fully aware. Boss thought he was on drugs so sent him home, then fired him. She reported him to the nursing board. When all the drug tests came back negative, and there was no evidence to support the drug accusation, the board then turned to being "impaired" and used the anxiety as the impairment.

Lmariani55 · Sep 23, 2014

There should be no reason for your friend to have had his license be in jeopardy. If he has anxiety/panic disorder, see a psychiatrist and get treatment, then get a letter from the doctor when ready to return to work. I have been diagnosed with Bipolar Depression and anxiety/panic disorder. I am able to work in the state of Florida. Discrimination due to a mental illness is illegal. Be an advocate for yourself. I knew when I was unsafe to work in ICU so I took a leave from work. I am in remission at present, my psychiatrist says I'm able to work. That, I believe, is the path your friend should take with his problem. He has the right to dispute his termination for his illness before his states BON. Hope he gets back to work soon.

ptcwhit · Oct 8, 2014

I recently lost my job due to a panic attack. Of course they didn't come right out and say thats what it was for. They told me i was rude with a supervisor which would have NEVER taken place because i'm one of the nicest people i know....really. I love everyone.lol But they did and it made me feel like a complete failure. But as far as your friend goes there is no way that it legal. It should fall under the disability law. They can't fire him for his disability and that's exactly what that is. I would suggest a good lawyer. God Bless

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide · Oct 8, 2014

I recently lost my job due to a panic attack. Of course they didn't come right out and say thats what it was for. They told me i was rude with a supervisor which would have NEVER taken place because i'm one of the nicest people i know....really. I love everyone.lol But they did and it made me feel like a complete failure. But as far as your friend goes there is no way that it legal. It should fall under the disability law. They can't fire him for his disability and that's exactly what that is. I would suggest a good lawyer. God Bless

I respectfully disagree. They CAN fire you for a disability, although they have to make it look like the firing is for some sort of misconduct or deficiency. All they have to do is say they "can't" make reasonable accommodations for your disability (assuming they know about it) and you're out the door. The ADA is basically toothless.

It happened to me a year and a half ago. I had to go out on a medical leave of absence for stress-induced anxiety and mania during what was unfortunately a crucial time (state surveyors were due in for a re-survey since we hadn't passed our first one). When I returned, I came with a set of accommodations requested by my psychiatrist to help me cope better. They were promptly torn apart by the company and I was told I could not be accommodated for my disability. Two days later, my employment was terminated and I was escorted out of the building which had been my "home away from home" for 2 1/2 years, because I couldn't perform the duties of the job without said accommodations.

I knew it would take a bruising battle and an attorney to fight this, and I wasn't up to it. I'd barely escaped going inpatient during my crisis and I wasn't well yet, so I filed for unemployment (which I got) and let it go. I still don't know how they got away with firing me in essence for being mentally ill, but they had an office full of lawyers who would have been only too happy to fight me.

That was the beginning of the end of my career. I'm not sorry that it's over---I was getting burned out anyway---but the way it ended was just horrible. I hope you have more success in recovering from your situation.

Chica22 · Oct 18, 2014

Sorry that happened Viva. I wish you and others out there dealing with illness vs ADA the best. There are plenty patients who need nurses who understand exactly what they are going through. This is an asset in addition to the other many specialties of expertise you carry!!