Can our medical histories be used against us?

[Nurse Jeni]

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!

[kids]

I asked a pharmacist about the drug tests. She told me the drug test only detects illegal drugs like cocaine, marijuna. The other stuff they cannot find. That is what I was told.

NO NO NO!!!

Urine drug tests DO NOT only detect illegal drugs!

There are several different "panels" that can be run to test for different combinations (of drugs) but usually a full screen is done. It can and will detect both legally prescribed and illegal drugs and the screen does NOT differentiate between illegal (street) and prescription drugs. Stimulants both illegal (street) and prescribed show the same positive result for amphetamines, the test will show the same positive result for opiods weather it is heroin or a prescription pain med.

As for drug testing (from an employment standpoint):

My 19yo son is on Adderall for ADHD and I am on a sustained release opiod for chronic pain. We have each had to do drug testing for employment more than once. On every occasion we submitted a copy of the current prescription (not a doctors letter) to the testing location with the lab slip/questionaire. Neither of us has ever had a problem nor did we have to disclose our conditions to the employer as we were not requesting accomidation (under the ADA).

I can understand being hesitant to disclose medical information to a nursing school but at the same time I can see the schools point in asking for it, my State has requirments that have to be met before issuing a license to a nurse with a mental illness. Given the limited number of slots in nursing programs it seems reasonable to me that schools screen for people who may not be eligible for licensure.

I strongly discourage anyone from lying to their school.

I went to school and graduated with a woman who had a "nervous break down" and was hospitialized for 3 weeks following the death of her husband and 2 of her children. It occured 5 years earlier, on the other side of the country. She lied on the school health forms. When the time came to fill out the NCLEX application she got worried and disclosed the hospitialization. She was able to sit for boards. But it was 3 years before the BoN would issue her probationary license...not because she had been hospitialized, that could have been resolved in just a few months, the delay was because she lied to the school. For a while there it even looked like she was going to have to re-pay the grants she got from financial aid because of the lie of omission.

[menetopali]

my school only asked very general questions:

current perscription medications,

current OTC's that you take reguraly,

herbals and alternative meds that you take reguraly,

TB test results,

Hep B vaccine,

and

'mental or physical conditions that may limit your ability to perform nursing functions' or some similar thing (its been a couple years) and required a physical from your doctor that stated you could 'perform the duties of a nurse unencumbered unless otherwise specifically noted'

also had a 'wiz quiz' that asked for a list of all meds taken within the last 72 hours.

i had no pressure to disclose anything outside of the general statement from the doctor's office. one of my colleagues did have a script for a narc in school and the only issue was that he couldn't take it within 12hrs of a clinical rotation. lots of people in my class had SSRIs and nobody said a word to them one way or the other.

[rn undisclosed name]

I was always under the impression that the school asks for this info because the clinical sites required it. At least that is what I was told by my CNA instructor when I went through my CNA class. We also just have to answer general questions such as physical limitations, contacts/glasses worn, difficulty hearing, history of TB, mono, diabetes, epilepsy and heart disease. The dr has to say if I am taking any meds/treatments, capable of participating in health science program, allergies, drug sensitivities, and free of communicable disease.

Honestly I can understand why they ask many of the questions but who really cares if you wear glasses or contacts? There is also a notice of nondiscrimination on the back that states you cannot be discriminated against but I know people are still discriminated against if they can get away with it.

[ceceliajane2003]

(B/) hi,

Hate to say it, but the law can do anything. A lawyer can subpeona med records if it could pertain to the case, most judges agree.And, the fact is, its Guilty until proven innocent: why else would people be incarcerated before they were lawfully convicted?

----------------"have you ever been hated and discriminated against, I have,......"

Eminem :angryfire

[Carafaith]

I am wondering when you take the drug test for getting into school. I f you were taking an antidepressant, would it show up on it and would they tell the program instructor? Like P*****. Wouldn't that kill the chances of getting in? I know X***x will show up on it and as it does wouldn't that also like really kill any chance of getting in? Or does the doc just put on the paper that these are prescribed and not name them specifically. I think if he does name them, the program would definitely REFUSE me, but what do I do, ya know. I can't function normally without them. I take them and live or I don't take them and try to commit suicide again. Any thoughts on this?

[Atheos]

I got into nursing school. MY counselor/adviser and professors know about my Bipolar, I also informed them of my effexor, xanax and lithium...

No problems. I had MORE problems getting my MD driver's license...

[uscstu4lfe]

i think they can hold it against you. for instance, i doubt they would want someone in the program that has paranoid schizo or something like that.

[Atheos]

i think they can hold it against you. for instance, i doubt they would want someone in the program that has paranoid schizo or something like that.

Schools can't use medical issues against you. The Americans with Disabilities Act prevents it. Or at least deems it illegal.

However the BON can use it against you.

[uscstu4lfe]

They would find a way to keep you from entering the program, or at least find a way to X you from the program. They would not say "sorry, but because of your X disorder, we will not be admitting you."

A little off topic but it proves my point. During my 1st semester there was this very bossy student (she was middle aged, heavy set, and just damn bossy to everyone). In lecture, she did well. In clinical, she did well. They ended up saying that her care plan was bad, and gave her a chance to fix it. She came back with improvements, but it was still "inadequate." They failed her out of the program over this. A few of us saw her careplan and it was obvious that nothing was wrong with her careplan - the staff just did not want her in the program anymore.

[Atheos]

They would find a way to keep you from entering the program, or at least find a way to X you from the program. They would not say "sorry, but because of your X disorder, we will not be admitting you."

A little off topic but it proves my point. During my 1st semester there was this very bossy student (she was middle aged, heavy set, and just damn bossy to everyone). In lecture, she did well. In clinical, she did well. They ended up saying that her care plan was bad, and gave her a chance to fix it. She came back with improvements, but it was still "inadequate." They failed her out of the program over this. A few of us saw her careplan and it was obvious that nothing was wrong with her careplan - the staff just did not want her in the program anymore.

Which is why you lay a GOOD paper trail. You also make sure everyon is aware and keep all your grades and evals. Then when they do bump you you have your case.

It's also the first rule of nursing...

CYA

[Carafaith]

Thanks for your thoughts on this subject. I will stay away from anything that would show up on the drug test. I have read that prozac is an antidepresant and would not show up, I will just have to do my best to make it without Xanax. I really want to get in, I hope that this drug (prozac) will stop my anxiety/panic attacks and depression. Oh, about the BON. How can they use that against me? Like when I take the NCLEX or actually get licensed? Your advise is appreciated-thanks.