This may seem like a silly question, but since I truly don't know the answer, I'll ask anyway! :chuckle
A student friend of mine wondered about our medical histories and if it would have any affect on future nursing careers. Her example was a dx of depression or anxiety and that perhaps those things might be thought of as a risk within certain areas of healthcare.
My thought was that we have the same rights as patients when it comes to privacy, but I know that I've also been asked to list any medications I was taking anytime I've applied for a healthcare job, or had a physical. So even without giving our medical histories, if we were on a med for a condition, it could feasibly be known by our employers. Also, wouldn't be discriminatory to not hire someone because of a dx?
Are our own medical histories something we will have to share or have concerns about when we become nurses? Thanks for any insights!
ha! I agree with Kim. I Did'nt begin to take Effexsor until nursing school. I used to be a Correctional officer in our local jail and that was wayyyyyyyy less stress than nursing school. :)
It may be the school is following State guidelines. There has to be some criteria to screen for unstable people having access to narcotics or to vulnurable sick people. Do not lie on any documents, even the school admission form. You would rather be turned down by the school before spending all that tuition, than at the Board of Nursing after you graduate. Of course, if turned down you might want to followup with the Dean or the BON. I know of one student who was graduated, then not able to get his license for more than a year while he worked out a plan of action devised by his MD and the Board. He had been on SSRI's. Remember that the Board's job is to protect the public, and you aren't it. After you get your license, you still need to follow state guidelines or risk losing what you worked so hard to obtain. Good luck to you and your friend.
I was diagnosed with severe depression and PTSD years ago and was on meds. the last time they accepted me. I am no longer suffering from either and am not on medication. I sincerely hope that at this point, they wouldn't use that against me in any situation. Frankly, I think anyone who is receiving help for their illness should not be discriminated against.
I was diagnosed with severe depression and PTSD years ago and was on meds. the last time they accepted me. I am no longer suffering from either and am not on medication. I sincerely hope that at this point, they wouldn't use that against me in any situation. Frankly, I think anyone who is receiving help for their illness should not be discriminated against.
Kim
good to hear you are better. hope things work out for you. i still feel it dangerous to let anyone know your hx. i agree with the guy that says they are breaking the law by simply asking you about your hx. and we who have "histories" need to protect ourselves. you have no control over how that info can be used....all the laws put in place cannot circumvent human nature.
Okay, so here's my question...is there any way what-so-ever for anyone to find out your medical history without you relating it to them? There "shouldn't" be by law correct? But are there ways to get around that?
I have to fill out a health form for my admission in September, plus have a physical, with the required TB tests and immunizations.
I'm also an insulin-dependant diabetic. I've never hidden that from anyone (heck, I wear a pump, and though it looks like a beeper, it surely isn't), and won't start now either. I'm well-controlled, and I know that I cannot be discriminated against because of it. That MAY still happen, but they'll have a fight on their hands if it does.
I also take meds for migraines. 99% of the time my Migranal spray works for them, or even 800 mg of ibuprofen. But I do have a script for a narcotic in case all other meds fail me, which they do about once a month. Of course I would never take it while doing clinicals, or even driving, but I feel that it is prescribed for a certain reason, and there is no reason to hide it.
My advice is not to lie. I would think that would get someone into more trouble than being honest.
I was wondering about that. I've needed to go to the ER for narcotic pain control 3 times for migraines in the past year and I will be asking for a script for narcotics as well to avoid the hospital (as I'm sure you know why) Well what happens if you've taken or been administered say your demerol,morphine, codeine or whatever, and coincidentally the floor goes short 50 or 100 mg of EXACTLY what you've taken in the past 24 to 48 hours...obviously the urine screen will come up positive...is your career over ? Has this happened to anyone? I'll start a new thread if nobody responds because this I need to know. But wouldn't it be awesome if I never got another migriane again and avoided meds all together? sigh. What bliss that would be.
Okay, so here's my question...is there any way what-so-ever for anyone to find out your medical history without you relating it to them? There "shouldn't" be by law correct? But are there ways to get around that?
there are laws. hippa. but this is not fully in place
I was wondering about that. I've needed to go to the ER for narcotic pain control 3 times for migraines in the past year and I will be asking for a script for narcotics as well to avoid the hospital (as I'm sure you know why) Well what happens if you've taken or been administered say your demerolmorphine, codeine or whatever, and coincidentally the floor goes short 50 or 100 mg of EXACTLY what you've taken in the past 24 to 48 hours...obviously the urine screen will come up positive...is your career over ? Has this happened to anyone? I'll start a new thread if nobody responds because this I need to know. But wouldn't it be awesome if I never got another migriane again and avoided meds all together? sigh. What bliss that would be.[/quote']
no, you nut. you have been given a script for the pain killer right? you come up positive on a urine it is from the script. so what if the dope goes missing? you're in the clear. unless you took it from the floor......
no, you nut. you have been given a script for the pain killer right? you come up positive on a urine it is from the script. so what if the dope goes missing? you're in the clear. unless you took it from the floor......
Nut?!?........thanks... :)
Understand that I get the "look" when I need the ER temporarily, I'm just thinking of what it could be like when I'm there all day and may have to deal with the "look" again for a different but related problem. yeah I know. suck it up. I just worry. I do feel better after your post. I wouldn't even even touch the pt's cracker supply
I am almost positive that when I gave my health history in 2001 when I went for a semester and was preparing to enter the RN program that I already told them about the depression. PTSD isn't necessarily "cured". I think it is all in how you handle it and my way of thinking is totally different than what it used to be regarding the situation I was having the PTSD about...does that makes sense? :chuckle
Anyways, in this instance, I am probably better off telling them the truth since I don't remember what in the world I told them before. I will not, however disclose anything that I am SURE they don't need to know. I think it's getting a bit too personal and if I am in no danger of harming anyone then I don't think they need to know.
I never in my life considered harming another person....and can't imagine ever consciously doing so.
If you are currently on medication it is probably best to list it on any forms that ask just in case you have to go through drug screening.
One of the hospitals where we do clinicals does drug screenings on everyone who is going to be working there, including students who are there to do clinicals. One student in my class was dropped from the program because he failed that screening and couldn't explain why he had the drugs in his system.
What happened years ago is none of their business as long as it isn't a problem for you anymore.
Has this happened to anyone? I'll start a new thread if nobody responds because this I need to know. But wouldn't it be awesome if I never got another migriane again and avoided meds all together? sigh. What bliss that would be.
RNKITTY04
353 Posts
ha! I agree with Kim. I Did'nt begin to take Effexsor until nursing school. I used to be a Correctional officer in our local jail and that was wayyyyyyyy less stress than nursing school. :)