Do I share my medical history as part of my story to become a nurse?

[LeviY]

Hello, I appreciate the advice and insights given from so many Nurses through this site.

I'm a new LPN graduate looking for my first job. Last year while in clinicals I was diagnosed with cancer and had to withdraw from my nursing program to go through treatment. I have since then completed treatment, finished getting my LPN degree, and I'm in full remission.

I recently had a relative tell me I shouldn't let any future employer know that I had cancer because they could reject me as a good candidate for fear that my medical history could be future problem for them, both in time and insurance cost.

The cancer I had was Burkitt's Non-hodgkin's lymphoma and remission rates are extremely high so it is unlikely it will come back.

I feel that my cancer experience has only farther given me insight and compassion for those suffering with health issues and it has in my mind become part of what is going to make me a better nurse. So my question is, how should I present myself and my story to future employers?

Thank you for any insight you may have. I look forward to the day when I can move on to get my RN degree and overtime move from a new grade to a professional experienced nurse.

[rn1965, ADN]

NOPE !!! Employers do not want to hear their health insurance rates may go up because of POTENTIAL large claims!

While other nurses tend to sympathize and want to help that person out, keep it to yourself.

[FolksBtrippin, BSN, RN]

I am not solidly on the side of non-disclosure. I think it could work in your favor or against your favor and most likely you would get some combination of both.

Certainly, your experience as a cancer patient will help you be a better nurse to cancer patients. Whether or not hiring managers will care is a gamble. Some will care in a good way, some will care in a bad way. If you live in an area that has a lot of opportunity, you might choose to disclose to narrow down the place you want to work. Maybe you want to work at a place where they see your personal experience as an asset.

Regardless of what you choose, you should communicate your passion in your interview. I am a psych nurse, and I'm very passionate about it. Probably some people suspect that my passion comes from some personal experience.

I will tell you about a woman I worked with in community mental health who chose to disclose some much more stigmatizing history than a cancer diagnosis. She was a recovering heroin addict and a licensed drug and alcohol counselor. She had a sordid history of prostitution and imprisonment related to her addiction. She also had 10 years clean. She shared details openly as she felt that her experience made her uniquely qualified to work with our population. She got the job.

I thought she was great, but not everyone agreed. Some people saw her as unskilled. She also was very lighthearted while sharing her history which did not sit well with a lot of folks. It made her a target. Eventually that led to her being blamed for some things that were definitely not her fault. She eventually quit.

I don't think she made a mistake in disclosing that she was in recovery. Many of our employees are and we also hire peer counselors. I think she did disclose too many details though, and I think she over-shared with our clients.

[CommunityRNBSN, BSN, RN]

If it were me, I might say something like “When I had a serious health scare myself, I realized how important my nurses were. Now that I am healthy again, I really want to share that with others.”

[BSN-to-MSN, ADN, BSN, RN]

4 hours ago, CommunityRNBSN said:

If it were me, I might say something like “When I had a serious health scare myself, I realized how important my nurses were. Now that I am healthy again, I really want to share that with others.”

No, would not say even that much. This prompts a question: "What serious health scare?" I don't think they ask, it's not like going to the doctor the first time. They don't ask, you don't tell.

[Kooky Korky, BSN, RN]

On 7/11/2019 at 10:12 AM, myoglobin said:

I certainly agree that you shouldn't give this sort of information before being hired. However, afterwards is a matter of personal preference and belief system. I believe that most people are loving, and sincerely desire to help others (especially their coworkers). People are best equipped to help others when they have a more complete picture of the challenges that they have faced in the past and struggle with currently. Thus, there are coworkers who I know have "back issues" and I put in extra effort to help them bath their patients, turn their patients and transfer their patients (from the ICU to the floor). We had a nurse undergoing chemo at one point. It helped me understand why she was moody and feel asleep once or twice during a shift for a brief moment. Again, it is a personal choice but I would tend to tell the world even if I were impotent or incontinent, but I am probably at one end of the spectrum in more ways than one.

Why do you think your coworkers or bosses want to be responsible for your personal problems, like incontinence or impotence. IMPOTENCE? Do you work in sex therapy and need your member at work????!!! If not, your sexual issues should not be brought to work. Go to work to work, to earn your daily bread, not to tell your whole life story to people who might very well try to use the info against you, might be whispering about you, and telling your business to everyone they know. Pretty soon the whole facility knows way, way too much about you. Talk about the job and leave the rest at home.

Please. Pollyanna was probably not a real person. I was once as naïve as you seem to be, but then I lived a few more decades. No naivete here any more.

And it's nice that you want to help those with back issues or whatever, but do they help you in return? what if you are ever sick or injured and need help with tasks? Will they help you? I hope so but people tire quickly of having to do the work of others, with no extra pay or recognition or help when they need it. I used to think that was severe and unloving but I have worked with so many people who didn't hesitate to express their dislike of situations like that, plus aging and my own physical limitations have me unwilling to do very much that isn't really my job. If you come to work, you have to work.

That is the terrible reality of life on Planet Earth. I know people run out of Sick time, PTO, etc. But that is why we have lawyers, disability pay, and welfare. Hopefully people can get help from family, friends, religious groups, charities. Otherwise they end up living under a bridge - in America anyway.

They wash in a sink at the laundromat and nap at the library. I am not kidding. I want to help all of them but I cannot afford to do so financially, physically, or emotionally.

For OP, you would have to be insane to disclose anything to your interviewer or employer or coworkers that you don't have to. If you need FMLA in the future, for whatever reason, that will be time enough to tell your health information.

Best wishes.

[klone, MSN, RN]

On 7/11/2019 at 8:00 AM, myoglobin said:

I wouldn't disclose before being hired. However, afterwards I would "be ready" to apply and activate FMLA, if I had any concerns about disease relapse. Also, keeping a strong immune system (meaning adequate rest/sleep between shifts) may be an important part especially for you of staying healthy. Thus, if this became an issue (for example your employer scheduled you with three on and then only gave you one day off before another three on), I would consider raising the issue of the previous diagnosis (again after being hired).

You can't "activate FMLA" until you've been there at least a year, and without actual ongoing medical issues that you or a family member are dealing with. The OP is in remission, and it does not sound, from his/her post, that she is getting ongoing care for the health condition.

[Cricket183, BSN, RN]

I have a different take on this. I have just recently returned to nursing after a long absence due to being on disability for a serious medical issue. I felt like I needed to disclose during my interview for two reasons: (1) to explain my more than 10 year gap in employment, and (2) my condition, although no longer physically limiting, does require ongoing treatment that directly affects my schedule.

I chose to very, very briefly mention my medical condition. And then focus almost entirely on how I was looking forward to returning to nursing and then hit on some past career highlights. I also focused on the things the experience of being on the other side of the bed taught me (perseverance, hard work, compassion, importance of holistic care, etc) and how those qualities would be an asset to my future employer.

And finally, of course, I had to mention my accommodations, which really aren’t much-my schedule (I’m PRN and we self-schedule but I do require 4 consecutive days off every 6-8 weeks) and I cannot accompany a patient to MRI because of an implanted neurostimulator.

For me, disclosure worked. I was hired with my first interview. I have not shared with my coworkers about my medical condition, nor do I plan to. I have been asked why I was away from nursing so long and have answered for medical reasons. I don’t know if that is the best way to handle it or not. Time will tell.

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

No way, never ever ever! I too had cancer after being employed for 10+ years with the same employer...you do not want to disclose this ever!

1. Life insurance - good luck with this one once you've had cancer, no need for anyone to know this unless it is required.

2. Nursing is not about "us" its about patients, again no need to disclose

3. No reason for employer to think you would be able to give 100% to the job.

4. Other co-workers have problems too - again no reason to ever disclose this.

[Mergirlc, MSN, APRN, NP]

This is slightly off-topic, but in the same general area of OP's original post. I'm seeing from the responses that it seems more are in favor of not disclosing any of these illnesses on nursing essays, pre-nursing and/or pre-employment physicals.

I had to have a partial shoulder replacement when I was a teen (20 years ago) due to a car accident. Has not affected my ROM one bit and I lift weights 3-4 times a week at the gym. I have a scar. My question is: if I do not disclose this, won't the physical uncover this? Do physicals get this involved where they would see this faded scar?

[Alex_RN, BSN]

On 7/10/2019 at 1:54 PM, NightNerd said:

I'm pretty sure they can't legally discriminate against you based on medical history.

Just because discrimination is illegal does not mean it does not happen every day based upon anything that might make the interviewer uncomfortable.

Unless the discrimination is overt, like a declarative statement, "We don't hire people with CA hx," it is very difficult to prove discrimination without being able to cite a pattern and multiple examples.

The OP needs to use her best judgment and decide for herself based up the situation.

[Megan1977, MSN, EdD, RN]

On 7/10/2019 at 1:54 PM, caliotter3 said:

For Pete's sake don't divulge a cancer diagnosis to a prospective or an actual employer!

This ^^^100%. If you can do the essential job duties without need for accommodation, you do not have to share any of your medical history.

[Forest2]

On 7/10/2019 at 4:54 PM, NightNerd said:

I'm pretty sure they can't legally discriminate against you based on medical history. This really depends on your comfort; I know I would not want to share a ton of personal information in an interview, as it's really about how you will meet their needs as a nurse. If you feel it's appropriate, you can always briefly say that your past experience as a patient has reinforced your goals as a nurse, whatever they may be; then focus on other academic and professional experiences. Best of luck with the job search!

They can't legally discriminate against her, but they sure as heck can do it illegally. They just won't tell her. There is a lot of discrimination out there, it's all illegal. Examples: They won't hire a pregnant nurse, a nurse that is older, not pretty, has had cancer, overweight, etc. Fortunately it won't be obvious when she interviews. I hope she doesn't say a whisper about it. It is none of their business.