Be aware...

rn/writer, RN · Jul 20, 2012

This may have happened to you personally, but I don't believe this is the usual situation throughout the country. For one thing, each state has its own BON and its own rules and regulations. There is no uniform effort to take licenses away from nurses who are dealing with depression or other mental illnesses.

Besides that, divulging your medical information without your consent is a violation of HIPAA. The only exception that I can think of would be if you posed a threat to yourself or someone else.

I know of a number of nurses and other healthcare practitioners who have received mental health services--from counseling to meds to inpatient treatment--who have not had any problem keeping their licenses. In fact, none that I know of has even been contacted by the BON, much less threatened with a loss of license.

I'd rather be taken care of by someone who needed help and got it than by another person who remained untreated out of fear of backlash.

I hope all goes well for you.

imintrouble, BSN, RN · Jul 20, 2012

No offense intended, but I find your post hard to believe. I've even visited the DPR website and never seen a nurse license suspended for psychiatric reasons.

Never heard of it in almost 20 years. Definitely was not taught that in school. Nursing programs terrorize the students with stories of nurses losing their license, with that particular scenario never mentioned.

VioletKaliLPN, LPN · Jul 20, 2012

I am bi polar, so I am not going to discuss the amount of mental health services I have taken advantage of in the past, as I am sure most can guess. I am currently stable. I have been for years now, and on 3 different psych meds. I am consistently monitored by my physicians, for the record. The NCBON is aware of this, and I have had zero issues with my licensure.

I am not going to ask you to divulge what happened, your diagnosis, the nature of your hospitalization, etc. It is none of my darn business. I am not insinuating anything, but perhaps your case was one that required the BON to take action.

marydc · Jul 20, 2012

I'm sorry you suffered such an experience, but this is definitely not the norm! I don't understand why they were notified. Even more difficult to understand though, is why the board was so intent on taking your license for this. Many nurses and a few physicians, have been patients on our psych unit and I have never seen anything like that happen. Many others, including myself, have been treated on an outpatient basis.

However, a poorly controlled mental illness, affecting reality and judgement, is another story. This could make someone a danger to self or others. At that point we would file a commitment for long term hospitalization.

Diagnosis with a mental illness does not mean you can no longer be a competent medical professional. Please don't discourage others from getting the treatment that can help them remain stable and functioning.

DizzyLizzyNurse · Jul 20, 2012

That's definitely not the norm. At least in NY state. I'm in counseling now. I've been in counseling before, paid for by my insurance. I've been on anti depressants, again paid for by my insurance. Why would they cover that stuff if they can turn around and take your job and license? Where I worked before it seemed like everyone was on anti depressants and everyone was pretty open about it.

rn/writer, RN · Jul 20, 2012

Apparently, some states require reporting and others don't. Some nurses have been known to cross the border into a less restrictive state if their own state would hassle them for getting help.

Probably a very good idea for folks to find out ahead of time if their state requires reporting before seeking treatment. Depressed people don't need any more problems just for trying to take care of themselves.