Can a diagnosis of a mental illness potentially harm your chances of getting a job?

[BlackBettyRN,OCN]

Hi everyone,

I'm about to start nursing school, and I have been stalking allnurses.com for several years. I've always been interested in mental health, and I was curious as to how a mental illness diagnosis (especially one of the more highly stigmatized mental illnesses) could affect a nurse's prospects for employment. I didnt think that potential employers could access a person's medical records, but from some of the posts I've read on this site, it sounds as though a mental illness diagnosis could somehow harm a nurse's chances of gaining employment. Do you have to disclose mental illness with your employer if you work in the healthcare field? Or is there some way your employer could find out about a mental illness diagnosis? (I apologize if my post doesn't make sense or if it sounds as though I am rambling). Any information would be greatly appreciated!

[HappyPepper]

As others stated, I wouldn't worry about it when you're not even officially diagnosed. I would like to add though, I encourage you to talk to a therapist or counselor when the need arises, rather than trying to deal with difficulties on your own. At least from my experience, most counseling services are explicitly confidential, except for cases with potential harm to self and others, of course.

I live in CA, and never had to disclose mental health history to employers, nursing school or the board. I even went to see a therapist during nursing school when I needed help. It was the university counseling service but no one in the school of nursing had to know about it.

[BlackBettyRN,OCN]

Thanks everyone for the advice. I know I need to talk to someone to find out for sure what is wrong. I guess I've just been avoiding it out of a fear of being stigmatized.

[VivaLasViejas, ASN, RN]

Thanks everyone for the advice. I know I need to talk to someone to find out for sure what is wrong. I guess I've just been avoiding it out of a fear of being stigmatized.

That's very understandable. When you hear on the news every time it happens that the latest wannabe school shooter or mass murderer "had a history of mental illness", the stigma gets worse, and the harder it is to face up to our own inner demons. It is SCARY to be mentally ill in America.....so scary, in fact, that I believe it takes more courage to ask for help than to pretend we're OK when we're dying on the inside.

Please do see someone qualified to diagnose and treat you. Life does get better---I promise! I've been burned by disclosure in the recent past, but that didn't make me regret facing the fact that I was ill in the first place, or getting help for it. I wish you the best!

[grateful2b]

Several people have commented that you do not have to disclose to your employer which is true, but not if they offer you a job conditional on a medical examination. At that point, according to ADA the employer can ask any health question they want. Also some state's BoN applications ask about your mental health.