So I have a lot working against me. I flunked out of my first year of college as a freshman. I had health issues both physical, and mental which I will get to later. I retook those classes, and my cumulative GPA after my last A in a prereq is now around 3.4, and I might be able to get it up to 3.5 before applying after taking my last prereq at community college for the ADN program I am applying to. I know nursing is very competitive. I suffer from severe depression it got so bad I started to suffer psychosis as a result. I was having delusions related to musical lyrics which I know is quite a common symptom of mental illness. I realize that now, but didn't realize it then. Had I done more research I might have saved myself a lot of time, and pain. I was hospitalized twice for it, and misdiagnosed. Now that I am on anti-depressants the psychosis is gone my psychiatrist thinks there is no reason for any setbacks as long as I remain constructive with my life, and stay on the medication. I KNOW ITS BAD, but I would like serious advice on how I should handle the situation do I come forward, or keep my mouth shut. I am leaning towards keeping my mouth shut, but I want to be honest if I get an interview this fall. I also have had chron's disease, and a lung abscess the reason I want to become a nurse is to help others who have been suffering from chronic physical illness. I developed chron's my first semester as a freshman when I flunked out. I have had depression for near a decade now, but went undiagnosed because I was to proud, and stupid to seek help until it was at the life ruining stage. I am trying to turn the negatives in my life into positives, by becoming a nurse, but I have a lot working against me. Like flunking out in my first semester. How do I prove I have the situation under control, capable, and competent if I am lucky enough to snag an interview with the board of nurses. Don't tell me you shouldn't pursue this because I am determined to pursue it regardless. My counselors think I am a good candidate, but they are not aware I was hospitalized for psychiatric reasons. Its a period of my life I want to leave firmly buried for obvious reasons, but I know its a mark against me if it comes up. Do I get a letter of mental competency from my psychiatrist? Do I not even bring it up? My grades are up across the board in my prereqs despite being hospitalized with a lung abscess, and missing two weeks my first semester taking prereqs. I have put to much effort into this to just give up, so serious advice on how to handle my situation is appreciated. Well the cat is now really out of the bag. Sorry just needed to vent, my life has been a series of setbacks which I am trying to turn into positives. If you are going to tell me I wouldn't want you taking care of patients with your condition, you don't know me very well. I am highly intelligent, motivated, empathetic, and compassionate. My life experiences have taught me to do the very best I am capable of because I may never get another opportunity. You have no idea how much I want this, because I have been on the patient side of things. It really made me bitter, upset, and angry. The nurses however where all wonderful. That is why I want to do this so badly.
I agree with the poster that said you are overthinking this. In an interview for nursing school, I highly doubt they will ask you about any psychiatric illnesses. It's a little thing called HIPAA. I would concentrate on your final prereq and then fill out the application to start the process. Your doctor will perform a physical and sign off that you are physically and mentally capable to go to nursing school.
Now, if you pass nursing school, then you will send paperwork into the BON and have to pass NCLEX. You may have to disclose to them depending on what your state requires. At that point and time you may have to have your psychiatrist send something in but that's a long way off. Focus on the here and now, not what may or may not happen at some point. But never volunteer information you don't need to. That comes to job interviews down the road as well. There are ways to get around the ADA. And it costs a lot of money to involve a lawyer and claim discrimination as one poster tried to tell you to do. Get through school first and go from there.
Here's why - depression is so incredibly common. And it has an easy fix for almost everyone who has it: pop pills that balance those neurotransmitters, and maybe go talk it out with someone. We are at the point that the medical world understands depression and other neurobiological disorders are not a reflection of character or personal values.
Keeping that in mind, here is how I would respond:
Interviewer: do you have a history of mental illness?
Me: I do have a history of depression. I take an antidepressant and have not had any struggles with it for years now.
Interviewer: do you have any reason to believe this may affect your performance at work?
Me: I do not think that it would affect work. I've become very self aware and sensitive to whether I may need to make adjustments to help myself be successful. I am used to functioning long hours in a fast-paved environment that challenges me, so I feel confident that depression will not cause problems while I am in school/work.
Always put a positive spin in there, when you can. If your interviewer can feel your sincerity (which comes through rather clearly here), they will appreciate that you are self aware.
If they ask point blank, have you ever been hospitalized for depression? Be candid. Tell them - I was stretching myself very thin at that time and began feeling bad. I didn't realize what was wrong at the time, but I figured it would pass. When I began to notice I was having flight of ideas triggered by song lyrics, I knew I needed to get help. When I did, it opened this whole world to me. Getting diagnosed gave me such relief because I finally started feeling better. Now that I recognize it, I know how to stop it before it becomes problematic.
Proactive, is the angle I went for there.
I'm not trying to put my words in your mouth, of course, but as others have said - you are overthinking this. Depression is something millions of people live with every day. It's very normal, and is all about those brain chemicals, which your interviewer knows. The whole of society still might place a stigma on mental illness, but nurses typically don't. So breathe! Don't stress it!
Specializes in ED, Cardiac-step down, tele, med surg.
I don't understand why you would have to reveal private medical information in an interview. That makes no sense to me. I don't recall any interview required at my nursing school that required disclosure of medical information. That seems odd.
I live in illinois. It came up on an application for my last job. I got the job anyways, but I needed a letter from a psychiatrist to get it. My new job didn't ask however, but that is a job at my school. My fear is I will be deemed mentally incompetent, and end up on disability, or welfare for the rest of my life. Something I do not want to do. I want to put this behind me finish my education, and have a career at the end of it. Looking back it's a wonder I went without treatment as long as I did, and held down a full time job, while going through these issues.
Specializes in ED, Cardiac-step down, tele, med surg.
I guess every state is different. Try not to be shameful of the experience and a simple explanation I'm sure would suffice. Just make sure to take good care of yourself. Nursing is a very stressful job but also very rewarding.
Now that I am cognizant and aware of where I went wrong I am hoping to correct the problem. My lack of a degree, and career. I get my asociates this fall, and if I don't get into the program for whatever reason, I plan on entering a university, and trying again.
Sigh. I'm a part of the "don't tell anyone and lie your ass off" crowd.
I'm a little bit older and came through life at a time when any hint of mental illness meant being ostracized, bullied, and dismissed.
Yes, legally, if you have a disability covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act, your job is protected. But that's it. Your employers don't have to be nice to you and, in my experience, will find a way to fire you based on job performance.
I self-disclosed to my employer a couple of times out of the goodness of my heart and it backfired terribly.
I call it being "put on watch." Each time, I was monitored constantly for mistakes and written up for things that I had never been written up for before. I was also ostracized by my coworkers and bosses. No one would eat lunch with me (which sounds silly and whiny, but it actually hurts), I was left out of company wide communications and then penalized for not knowing about projects and deadlines, and I had one boss actively sabotage my projects in an attempt to generate enough paperwork to get me fired.
So, now, I lie. I figure I'm protected by HIPAA just as much as the next person and if my employer ever finds out about my mental health history, I will find out who told them and sue the heck out of them.
I may be a little bitter.
You don't have to choose the same route as I have, but be careful about who you disclose to. It may end well, but it probably won't.
Sigh. I'm a part of the "don't tell anyone and lie your ass off" crowd.
I'm a little bit older and came through life at a time when any hint of mental illness meant being ostracized, bullied, and dismissed.
Yes, legally, if you have a disability covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act, your job is protected. But that's it. Your employers don't have to be nice to you and, in my experience, will find a way to fire you based on job performance.
I self-disclosed to my employer a couple of times out of the goodness of my heart and it backfired terribly.
I call it being "put on watch." Each time, I was monitored constantly for mistakes and written up for things that I had never been written up for before. I was also ostracized by my coworkers and bosses. No one would eat lunch with me (which sounds silly and whiny, but it actually hurts), I was left out of company wide communications and then penalized for not knowing about projects and deadlines, and I had one boss actively sabotage my projects in an attempt to generate enough paperwork to get me fired.
So, now, I lie. I figure I'm protected by HIPAA just as much as the next person and if my employer ever finds out about my mental health history, I will find out who told them and sue the heck out of them.
I may be a little bitter.
You don't have to choose the same route as I have, but be careful about who you disclose to. It may end well, but it probably won't.
I self disclosed to my last employer, and ended up resigning, but I look at it this way now I can finish my education. My boss kept "coaching me" on what I should say to my psychiatrist. Which ended up being a disaster. Turns out when I am myself with my psychiatrist he is much better able to diagnose my problems, and foresees no setbacks.
I have to agree with the "disclose as little as possible" crowd. Sure, depression is becoming more widely understood but not all neurobiological illnesses are. And if you mention flight of ideas you may make them uncomfortable.
As far as the BON, in Texas the licensing application asks you to disclose and history of mental illness and if you do, the result is that you are put into the same program as all those who have been caught diverting or abusing drugs/alcohol. For the next 5+ years your practice is limited and you have to basically have a "sponsor" to help you stay stable. You have to disclose this to all employers and just hope somebody hires you when they know that you are in this special program and that somebody else will have to dispense all controlled substances for you for the next few years.
I am talking about getting into an interview to get into nursing school. I just heard there where interviews to get into nursing school. I read you needed a letter of mental competency if you where ever voluntarily admitted to the hospital for psychiatric reasons. I suppose I am trying to cover my bases.
It took a lot of courage for me to post this, and I am ignorant as far as the process goes. I have never done this before. I probably won't get one.
Should I be so fortunate however I would like to know how to handle the situation in an interview.
Okay, so you are not going to be interviewed by "the BON." You are going to be interviewed by someone in the position to determine nursing school admission. BIG DIFFERENCE.
My school did not require an interview, so I can only speculate. The subject of mental health may not even come up. I certainly wouldn't bring it up if they don't.
There are plenty of competent and successful nurses who have had past and/or current mental health issues. You can be one of those if you wish.
I have to agree with the "disclose as little as possible" crowd. Sure, depression is becoming more widely understood but not all neurobiological illnesses are. And if you mention flight of ideas you may make them uncomfortable.
As far as the BON, in Texas the licensing application asks you to disclose and history of mental illness and if you do, the result is that you are put into the same program as all those who have been caught diverting or abusing drugs/alcohol. For the next 5+ years your practice is limited and you have to basically have a "sponsor" to help you stay stable. You have to disclose this to all employers and just hope somebody hires you when they know that you are in this special program and that somebody else will have to dispense all controlled substances for you for the next few years.
Good luck.
The ideas are gone. I wish I could go back, and never go through this. I fear I have my work cut out for me. I have no intention, of going into my disturbed belief system at the time. The intent is more to talk about why I want to be a nurse. My crohns, and the lung abscess I developed. I want to give back. I will not be talking about the depresion induced flights of fancy at the time. I used my lung abscess experience as an example of what I am capable of overcoming as an example for my peer mentoring, and tutoring position. I intend on doing the same for the interview if given the oportunity. Pasion is not something I am lacking. Training and time is what I need. I suppose I will have to disclose something. I was a voluntary admision, not involuntary so there is that.
NurseGirl525, ASN, RN
3,663 Posts
I agree with the poster that said you are overthinking this. In an interview for nursing school, I highly doubt they will ask you about any psychiatric illnesses. It's a little thing called HIPAA. I would concentrate on your final prereq and then fill out the application to start the process. Your doctor will perform a physical and sign off that you are physically and mentally capable to go to nursing school.
Now, if you pass nursing school, then you will send paperwork into the BON and have to pass NCLEX. You may have to disclose to them depending on what your state requires. At that point and time you may have to have your psychiatrist send something in but that's a long way off. Focus on the here and now, not what may or may not happen at some point. But never volunteer information you don't need to. That comes to job interviews down the road as well. There are ways to get around the ADA. And it costs a lot of money to involve a lawyer and claim discrimination as one poster tried to tell you to do. Get through school first and go from there.