Can a nurse have seizures?

**canoehead, BSN, RN** · Mar 4, 2022

I think it could be a problem. You have the potential for injury on the job, and for interrupting patient care at a critical moment. If you could be sure that your seizures are always in the evening, and take a day job, maybe...

Lust4life, BSN · Apr 27, 2023

I am curious about this. I would hope so and I would think it would be illegal to not hire someone because of epilepsy, or seizure disorder.

Perhaps personally, one should think about how often or how controlled their seizures are with medications.

A paraplegic in a wheelchair got a nursing degree within the last few years. Things change.

If you are interested, you should talk to someone knowledgeable, perhaps the dept. of justice. Especially ask if it could make employment hard, but legally I don't think they can discriminate.

Best wishes.

Pale22 · Nov 9, 2023

I have Epilepsy also and it is my passion. I was admitted to Nursing school. I had a seizure during clinicals not with a patient but while on break then my whole life changed They found everything I did as wrong and tge teachers were down right mean. I was dismissed from the Nursing program saying I was unsafe to patients and anything else they could think of. And trust me the ADA was no help neither was my Nursing advisor. So good l Iuck. It's all about the money. I was told they had to protect the school. But now I have to find a new career path but hopefully in the Medical field

Tenebrae, BSN, RN · Dec 31, 2023

I would love to say go for it.

It would concern me that you are still having seizures. On my ward you are rostered a mix of mornings and afternoons and most bedside nursing jobs will require you to work a combination of mornings, afternoons and nights.

I'm going to use a couple of examples in the last few weeks. If you were giving a patient an injection and had a seizure, or inserting an IV lin doing wound care, all thing that have the potential to harm you and harm the patients. Most nursing schools will be very reluctant to take on someone who is still having seizures.

Could you give it a bit more time and work on remaining seizure free.

I am really sorry because I know this won't be the answer you want.

There other areas in health, that may fufill your desire to help people that arent less likely to exacerbate your epilepsy

Pale22 · Dec 31, 2023

Thanks

But could you please tell me something else that maybe I could do to stay in the medical field.

Been there,done that, ASN, RN · Jan 14

Think about this. You are responsible to take care of patients. If YOU become incapacitated , while having a seizure.. the other nurses are taking care of you ... and your patients.

Aw2024 · Mar 1

I have controlled seizure's. I can drive and work as a nurse. However with having a license if you have a seizure not due by missing your medication. My neurologist explained to me I can't work as a bedside nurse for 3 months until I am seizure free. So needless to say I make sure I take my meds, stay as stress free as possible and get plenty of sleep.

Mike Hunt · Apr 22

One seizure per week sounds like something that might impact your job performance. Let's be real here, there's about a 100% chance that you will seize at a very unfortunate time...maybe unfortunate is not the word; you will seize when your job needs you the most. Just assume the worst things will happen. However you can almost certainly still do your job if you downplay your medical issues - nurses have done much worse things and still kept their jobs for years. Do with this information what you will.

CaliforniaCNA · Nov 8

Been there,done that said:

Think about this. You are responsible to take care of patients. If YOU become incapacitated , while having a seizure.. the other nurses are taking care of you ... and your patients.

Think about this: nurses with epilepsy aren't morons, and we are completely cognizant of the risk of a possible seizure while at work (very small when well-controlled with medication and lifestyle choices.)

Your ignorant logic could actually more aptly be applied to RNs with histories of anemia, syncope, dysrhythmias, heart disease, hypertension, CVAs, MIs, or back injuries. Naturally, I presume you believe these RNs ought to be excluded from the profession as well, no?