selected for QA; leaving profession

[mermaidsoup]

I don't know what to do. I have been out of work as a nurse since September '13 due to a complete nervous breakdown and severe mental health issues. I maintained my license into 2014 as a precaution if my health improved but my mental health continues to decline. Can barely work at my new minimum wage job without having daily panic attacks. Have done some soul searching and now know I CANNOT return to nursing. I was going to renew as a non-practicing class next year if I can save enough money.

I got a letter from CNO on Thursday saying i have been selected for mandatory QA. I broke down in tears when I got the letter. I can't handle this. I am done done done. I am not even working in heath care field anymore so I don't know how i can even fill anything out. Due to my illness much of my knowledge has been lost.

I haven't spoken to my therapist about the letter yet as i can't get in until next week. This stress is too much. Should I contact CNO and explain my situation? I have no idea what to do. I can't compete QA. What happens if i don't? Are there legal repercussions? Or will I simply be barred from heath care for the rest of my life? I am so scared. Is there any advice a nurse can give me?

[NewGrad2014]

You could call CNO and let them know about your situation - that you are no longer practising and will be renewing in the non-practising class. They are the best people to let you know how this comes into play with quality assurance. When you do you can ask how this will affect renewing your licence in the future, if you ever did decide to practise again I don't know how it would affect that.

Good luck, I hope things turn out okay!

[NotReady4PrimeTime, RN]

I think you should be very careful about what you reveal to the CNO. Most of the colleges take a very harsh line on mental illness and the treatment often required by those with a mental illness. There's the perception that people with mental health issues are not "fit" to practice, either because they have their illness or because the meds they take have side effects that could affect their practice. The stigma is still strong, unfortunately, especially given the supposed compassion and understanding that nurses should have toward others. It's been my experience that once a nurse has become "one" with the college (involved in more than just a fee-paying way), they become holier-than-thou and totally above reproach. So if you choose to disclose your situation to the CNO, be very circumspect in how you word it. Are you an ONA member? Perhaps you could ask someone there for advice. They've got a ton more experience in managing this kind of issue than any of us here would.