Does your state require mental health reporting?

Nurses Disabilities

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Hi,

This has been a common question here lately on AN. So, I started this thread in hopes that 50 people (plus DC, if there's a license for DC) from each of the 50 states, plus DC, could share whether there is a mental health/chemical dependency question and how it is worded. Please no repeats (the hope is that everyone can find their state and if/how the question is worded). Moderators, if this is against TOS, please remove. Use your own judgment and/or call your state board for further questions regarding the question and other questions on the application. I will start.

State: Virginia

Is there a question regarding mental illness/chemical dependency? Yes

How is it worded? "Do you have a mental, physical, or chemical dependency condition which could interfere with your current ability to practice nursing?" (I have asked the Board of Nursing to clarify and I was told that if you have a mental illness/chemical dependency, you must report. It is not an opinion question.)

Again, please no repeats. Virginia has been done. :up:

State: West Virginia

Is there a question regarding mental illness or chemical dependency? Yes

How is it worded? "Do you currently possess any condition which may in any way impair your ability to practice or otherwise alter your behavior as it relates to the practice of registered professional nursing?"

There's like 3 questions about narcotics, substance abuse, etc. and then conviction questions.

State: Wisconsin

Is there a question regarding mental illness or chemical dependency? Yes

How is it worded? "Do you have a medical condition which in any way impairs or limits your ability to practice nursing with reasonable skill and safety? If yes, please explain."

"Does your use of chemical substance(s) in any way impair or limit your ability to practice nursing with reasonable skill and safety? If yes, please explain."

"Are you currently engaged in the illegal use of controlled dangerous substances?"

"Medical condition" includes physiological, mental or psychological conditions or disorders, such as, but not limited to orthopedic, visual, speech, and hearing impairments, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, cancer, heart disease, diabetes, mental retardation, emotional or mental illness, specific learning disabilities, HIV disease, tuberculosis, drug addiction and alcoholism."

"Chemical substances" is to be construed to include alcohol, drugs or medications, including those taken pursuant to a valid prescription for legitimate medical purposes and in accordance with the prescriber's direction, as well as those used illegally."

"Currently" does not mean on the day of, or even in the weeks or months preceding the completion of this application. Rather, it means recently enough so that the use of drugs may have an ongoing impact on one's functioning as a licensee, or within the past two years."

State: Wyoming

Is there a question regarding mental illness or chemical dependency? Yes

How is it worded? "Do you have a physical or mental disability which renders you unable to perform nursing services or duties with reasonable skill and safety and which may endanger the health and safety of persons under your care?"

"Are you now or have you in the past five (5) years been addicted to any controlled substance, a regular user of any controlled substance with or without a prescription, or habitually intemperate in the use of intoxicating liquor?"

Then, there's conviction, disciplinary questions.

State: District of Columbia

Is there a question regarding mental illness or chemical dependency? Yes

How is it worded? "Do you have a mental condition that currently impairs your ability to practice your profession?"

"Has the use of drugs and/or alcohol resulted in an impairment of your ability to practice your profession?"

Then, it asks about convictions.

I do not have access to the other states not listed in this thread. They have it set up to where you must pay first or you have register. Sorry if you are in one of those states.

Specializes in NICU.

Florida = yes to both. Here is what I found on the application for endorsement.

*In the last five years, have you been enrolled in, required to enter into, or participated in any drug

or alcohol recovery program or impaired practitioner program for treatment of drug or alcohol

abuse that occurred within the past five years?

*In the last five years, have you been admitted or referred to a hospital, facility or impaired

practitioner program for treatment of a diagnosed mental disorder or impairment?

*During the last five years, have you been treated for or had a recurrence of a diagnosed

mental disorder that has impaired your ability to practice nursing within the past five

years?

*In the last five years, were you admitted or directed into a program for the treatment of a

diagnosed substance-related (alcohol/drug) disorder or, if you were previously in such a

program, did you suffer a relapse within the last five years?

*During the last five years, have you been treated for or had a recurrence of a diagnosed

substance-related (alcohol/drug) disorder that has impaired your ability to practice

nursing within the past five years?

http://www.doh.state.fl.us/mqa/nursing/ap_endorsement-RN-LPN.pdf

I would love it if someone could share their knowledge on California...

Georgia does ask the question. It is worded:

"Do you currently possess any condition which may in any way impair your ability to practice or otherwise alter your behavior as it

relates to the practice of nursing?"

Specializes in LTC and Pediatrics.

MINNESOTA

In the last 5 years, have you ever misused or abused alcohol, other drugs or chemicals or been considered chemically dependent?

Do you have any physical or mental disability or illness that may impair your ability to practice nursing with reasonable skill and safety? Provide a statement explaining management and treatment.

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