Coworkers discussing my health info

Nurses Disabilities

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I have been an RN for over 30 years, and I currently work in home care. I also have bipolar disorder, which is very well controlled. Recently I was hospitalized because I was getting suicidal. The day I realized I was in trouble, I called my patient's mother and asked her to come home. It was a difficult recovery, and I missed 2 months of work. The mom knew I had bipolar disorder (big mistake on my part). My company gave my job away after 2 weeks, even though they held my job in the past when I had surgery and was out for a month. Not nice, but legal. Now I am healthy, and there are open hours on my job. My employer is OK with my return, and I do have a doctor's note stating I am fit to work. My problem is that the other 3 nurses on my case are telling the mother she should not let me come back. I don't even know 2 of the nurses, and the third takes daily medication for depression. Keep in mind, I was employee of the month earlier this year, for the entire southwest region of my state. I have NEVER endangered my patient or anyone else for that matter. I am taking issue with my coworkers discussing my personal health information and deciding if I am fit for duty. I have an appointment scheduled with my supervisor next week, but I'm looking for some advice as to what to say. I just want my coworkers to mind their own business and avoid making the work environment hostile. I hadn't been hospitalized in many years, and even if I was, it doesn't make me a bad or dangerous nurse. Help me please!

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Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

I'm so sorry you've had to wait such a long time for a response. I just saw this tonight and wanted to see how things went, since you've already had your meeting with your supervisor.

What I'm wondering is, how did your co-workers know you have BP? They've got NO right to spread your health information around, but the fact that they know about it is troubling. Did you disclose your illness? I made the mistake once of letting my bosses and my co-workers in on the fact that I have bipolar disorder as well, and the results were catastrophic---a few days after returning from a leave of absence (I was manic and admittedly out of control), I was fired. I was told my staff didn't trust me to care for the residents (this was an assisted living facility) and that the reasonable accommodations my psychiatrist and I were asking for were not, apparently, reasonable. Since it was impossible for me to continue in the job without them, I had to go.

I understand why it happened that way now, but I learned the hard way that it's best that NO ONE in the workplace knows about a nurse's mental health status. There's still too much stigma.

Hope you've been able to continue in your position. Best wishes.

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I'm so sorry you got fired. They knew because my patient's mother kept making comments about bipolar people and how terrible they were. After listening to her misinformation for 2 years, I tried to educate her, saying that not all BP people were loony toons, and that many have successful, productive lives. At that time the mom and I were pretty close, which was I mistake I regret. When I got manic this summer, the police were looking for me and went to their house. The mom then told the other 3 nurses what was going on. Not right, and then the company gave away my hours at her request. When she wanted me back and I said no, she commented that it was sad she lost an excellent nurse to BP. I said no, you lost a great nurse to judgement and gossip. I'm working a different case now, but the mom from the case I left still calls me now and then begging get me to come back. Not happening!

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Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

What a mess. Sorry you had to go through that. People can be so ignorant...they believe the stereotypes instead of educating themselves. Intellectual laziness, I call it. I think you were incredibly patient to put up with the mother's bigoted remarks for as long as you did.

How is your job situation now?

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I have a different case with the company. Surprisingly, my supervisor and the DON were very supportive. The mom frim the problem case called me last week, begging me to come back. I told her it's not going to happen, and she said "I know you'll be back!" Uh, NO.

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Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

Good for you. You could never trust her again anyway. I hope your current case is better.

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