Does my mental illness make me unfit to be a nurse?

ClaraRedheart, BSN, RN · Nov 17, 2016

Anxiety was an issue for me. During nursing school, they prescribed clonipin and fluoxitine. Bad idea for me. Anxiety was kind of a motivating factor to get me to study and take school seriously. After being held back a semester, I finished without meds, but a nervous wreck. As a new nurse off orientation during the first year, anxiety crept back up. My genius of a doctor prescribed propanolol. That (and switching to the day shift so I could ensure that i was properly rested) helped SOOO much! I didn't even need the propanolol again after a few months. Now, I only get anxious rarely or if I haven't gotten enough sleep. You can be anxious and a nurse, you just have to find ways to control it. Like Elsa says, "conceal, don't feel... don't let it show!" Lol :) My patient was complaining about their night shift nurse, who... sadly reminds me a LOT of myself several years ago. "She was so late with everything, shaking so bad she could hardly draw up the insulin in the bottle". We all have to start somewhere. Anxiety will decrease with time and experience. As someone else said, I doubt the BON will care unless you're taking something that could effect your performance. Best wishes!

fawnmarie, ASN · Nov 17, 2016

I have had several psychiatric hospitalizations and take an antidepressant, Prozac. No one has ever inquired about my mental health history or whether I take psychotropic meds. I don't disclose to anyone, because I feel that it is strictly my own business. People with mental health issues are more than capable of having successful careers, including nursing careers. Prozac helps me with my depression, so that I can be an effective nurse. The fact that you have an anxiety disorder is nobody's business but your own, and it doesn't mean that you can't or won't make a good nurse. I have encountered many great nurses in my 14-year career who have had mental health struggles and take medication for depression or anxiety. Remember that no one is perfect!

middleagednurse · Nov 17, 2016

Are there any nurses who aren't anxious/depressed?

MrChicagoRN, RN · Nov 17, 2016

"Applicants who have been convicted of a felony or treated for mental illness or substance abuse should discuss their eligibility status with the Utah State Board of Nursing. The Utah State Board of Nursing makes final decisions on issue of license."

I googled the above quote and it really only comes up on educational sites, mostly state universities. The only thing I found on the licence application asks about incapacitation, which you apparently never experienced.

And from the Utah Human Services Code: ""Mental illness" means a psychiatric disorder as defined by the current Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, that substantially impairs a person's mental, emotional, behavioral, or related functioning to such an extent that he requires care and treatment for his own welfare, the welfare of others, or the community."

Contact a group in Utah like NAMMI if you'd like, but I think you're golden.

metrodome · Nov 18, 2016

The only way I see it being a problem is if your psychiatrist reported you as non-compliant to your treatment regimen, and he deemed you as a danger.

abbieshere · Nov 18, 2016

I took the NCLEX for licensure in Utah just over a month ago. I do not recall the actual RN application for DOPL asking about mental illness. You must download the application form and its 2-3 pages of questions regarding your address, college, and whether or not you do drugs (no, DOPL didn't test my pee, but my future employer sure did). Based on ADA laws, I don't believe that you can be denied the opportunity to get a license, or the opportunity to be hired unless your mental illness affects your ability to carry out required job tasks.

That being said, I'm not sure whether you are trying to get your license transferred to Utah or are applying to test for a license in Utah (its very possible that you included that in your original post; its late where I am and I'm tired :singing: )

But I've been treated for mental illness in the past and also got accommodations for AD/HD during college, and none of that was an issue while trying to get my RN license in Utah.

Best of luck! Feel free to pm me with any questions you have.

fawnmarie, ASN · Nov 18, 2016

Anxiety was an issue for me. During nursing school, they prescribed clonipin and fluoxitine. Bad idea for me. Anxiety was kind of a motivating factor to get me to study and take school seriously. After being held back a semester, I finished without meds, but a nervous wreck. As a new nurse off orientation during the first year, anxiety crept back up. My genius of a doctor prescribed propanolol. That (and switching to the day shift so I could ensure that i was properly rested) helped SOOO much! I didn't even need the propanolol again after a few months. Now, I only get anxious rarely or if I haven't gotten enough sleep. You can be anxious and a nurse, you just have to find ways to control it. Like Elsa says, "conceal, don't feel... don't let it show!" Lol :) My patient was complaining about their night shift nurse, who... sadly reminds me a LOT of myself several years ago. "She was so late with everything, shaking so bad she could hardly draw up the insulin in the bottle". We all have to start somewhere. Anxiety will decrease with time and experience. As someone else said, I doubt the BON will care unless you're taking something that could effect your performance. Best wishes!

I remember reading your posts when you were working nights. I'm glad you're feeling less stressed out these days!

maggieb17 · Nov 23, 2016

As far as I know, several people in the nursing field have bad anxiety or depression or other things....I have heard vets/doctors that are schizophrenic. As long as you can separate it from work, there's no reason it should exclude you at all.