Can a nurse lose license for hospitalization due to mental illness

[flava66]

Hello,

I could really use some help.

I suffered from anxiety and depression about nine months ago and was hospitalized. I am currently trying to renew my RN license, and a question asks if I have ever been treated for a mental illness such as depression that would affect my cognitive abilities. Well, during the acute period of the illness, yes my cognitive abilities were affected, but I have since received the help I need and have the cognitive abilities back to safely perform my nursing duties.

What are the consequences of saying yes to this question?

Does the BON conduct an investigation? It doesn't seem right to penalize somebody who had a mental illness but has since received treatment.

Thank you so much, nurses.

[TravelingRN21]

flava66 said:

Hello,

I could really use some help.

I suffered from anxiety and depression about nine months ago and was hospitalized. I am currently trying to renew my RN license, and a question asks if I have ever been treated for a mental illness such as depression that would affect my cognitive abilities. Well, during the acute period of the illness, yes, my cognitive abilities were affected, but I have since received the help I need and have the cognitive abilities back to safely perform my nursing duties.

What are the consequences of saying yes to this question?

Does the BON conduct an investigation? It doesn't seem right to penalize somebody who had a mental illness but has since received treatment.

Thank you so much, nurses.

If you are still on the site, what ended up happening?

Tiernimarie said:

Yes. I did. It's devastating. I was in HPSP because I had gone to treatment for alcohol. Then a year later had a psychiatric hospitalization. They reported me to the board, who really gave me one option: voluntary surrender of my license. Never would have thought I would be so harshly punished for seeking help. It can and did happen.

Did you have a lawyer?

[Bonnie987]

In reading your response, be very weary about what information you give to the board. If your cognitive ability has not been affected to treat patients to the best of your ability, then do not disclose any issues related to your mental health. The purpose of this question is to maintain the safety of the patients you will have. Will you have the ability to keep your patients safe? That is the point of this question. If you do disclose such information, you may or may not have to sit before the board of nursing and present yourself. You most likely will be asked to be evaluated by a mental health provider to ensure you are safe to practice. You may even be asked to be monitored by an Intervention project for nurses as well. Be very wary of how you answer that question for your own mental health and sanity.