Depression in nursing school

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Specializes in home health, LTC, assisted living.

I think the topic has come up before, but I have a unique situation. I will make the story short. I have PTSD, have been on treatment for years, had a flare up last semester. I met with my psychiatrist and a psychologist. In the meantime I managed to flub my physiology grade. I need a C to stay in the running for LPN to RN program. I have to petition the nursing dept. at my school (in writing) to allow me to retake the course. My question is would any of you recommend or not recommend having my physician and/or counselor write a letter in my support? Or would this disclosure do more harm than good? I will also have a letter of support from my DON at work. In my letter I do plan to outline what I will be doing to ensure I make a passing grade this time. Thanks. :nurse:

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Specializes in Acute Mental Health.

I wonder if a person has a legitamate (sp?) medical reason (that they can substantiate), can they be penalized? If you have a plan to succeed along with your letters, I would think (and hope) they would want to work with you. Maybe get the letter from your psych. just in case and feel them out at your meeting. Good luck!

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This may sound harsh, but Rules are rules!! I think all grades should be looked at on face value, but if you want to give me a looser standard to accomplish in school because I am a 46 yearold Male, I am sure my future patient will get a " warm fuzzy" knowing that I really did not measure up to the course minimum. :twocents:

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

There are many different reasons why a student wouldn't be successful the first time but the second time around, be just fine. I say go for it. About disclosure, I would have a generic letter written by the MD (and I wouldn't have him sign as a psychiatrist either) that due to a medical condition you couldn't give 100% but its under excellent control and he feels you could be successful at NS.

I'm sorry to say but mental illness still has a stigma in many places. I wouldn't disclose this.

I did want to add that in light of the Shoman's post: there are different feelings about this. However, I sincerely hope you rise above it.

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Was not meaning to sound Harsh, just hit a little nerve about preferential treatment for Guys, did not mean to sound cruel of be a PIA about it, if it upset anyone, I apologize. And yes Opinions are like Anal Orificies, everybody has one, and they all stink :-) and I am guilty as charged:oornt:

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At my nursing school, the set-up is pretty harsh. If someone has a medical problem that gets in the way of being a full-fledged student, they are dismissed from the program. A student had surgery that limited her ability to lift for 2 weeks and guess what? She was dismissed from the program! It's harsh.

If your program is anything like mine, I'd keep my personal problems personal if I were you. If you are truly with limitations, I'd take a leave for a semester or something without the psych reason involved. As long as you are willing to manage your condition and not let it interfere with being an effective nurse, I'd not risk missing out on an amazing career for yourself. You can recover from the grade (just retake the class), but you can't recover from the other if your program has a policy in place.

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