Involuntary Psych Ward Commitment

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Not sure if this is exactly the right forum for this, but if you were involuntary committed to a psych ward, can that affect your chances of getting licensed/obtaining employment? Some people were telling me that if you were involuntarily committed to a psych ward, it can show up in a background check and affect your chances of employment. This doesn't seem right to me, I was under the impression that HIPAA and patient-doctor confidentiality prevents any sort of medical information from being leaked, but they were saying it's an exception when it's related to mental health and government-mandated psychiatric ward stays.

Specializes in Emergency & Trauma/Adult ICU.

Go to your state board of nursing website.

View or download the application for an RN license.

Read it, and see if there is any question on it regarding involuntary psychiatric treatment.

This will provide you with a much more substantive answer to your question than multiple replies from users of an internet website who are likely located in multiple states.

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Go on with your life and don't let past haunts disturb you so. You have a wonderful journey ahead of you. Good luck. ;)

Bravo! Great advice, best wishes with your nursing journey. Let the past stay in the past. That said, if necessary,

the best thing you can do for yourself is to go out of town, but within

your state and consult an attorney who specializes in family law including

mental health issues. They can put your concerns to rest by giving

you the facts about this past info and licensing or any other issue.

Attorney's are bound to confidentiality too.

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I know someone *ahem* that is very close to me that had this happen. That person now works at the same hospital they were involuntarily admitted to. This person worried and worried that this would come up and they would never find a job. It's ok. Lots of people have bad times, stuff happens, life goes on, you take care of yourself and get better. Don't worry, it's not going to hold you back and no one will know.

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Specializes in Hospice / Ambulatory Clinic.

I believe only the federal government can access records regarding involuntary commitment i.e if you applied for a gun permit or for a government security clearance.

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I know someone *ahem* that is very close to me that had this happen. That person now works at the same hospital they were involuntarily admitted to. This person worried and worried that this would come up and they would never find a job. It's ok. Lots of people have bad times, stuff happens, life goes on, you take care of yourself and get better. Don't worry, it's not going to hold you back and no one will know.

If you have any kind of desire to work in the mental health field this can be used as a positive point to get a job. I know of someone who did just that. They got the job.

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Specializes in Pediatrics.

I am pretty sure that I remember specific mental health questions on the application for the Board of Nursing - such as history of depression. I am not saying that this will prevent you from getting a license, but you should be prepared to report it when you apply.

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Specializes in Hospice / Ambulatory Clinic.

It depends on the state too. On the application for CA they don't ask but I believe TX does

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I have BPD but have always wanted to be in the Feds. I won't get to do that because in college I was 302'd (in PA, but live in NJ) because I was undiagnosed at the time. I still want to own a gun and I hope it won't be a problem, though I'm sure it will...

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What more likely would be a problem is the gap in employment during the commitment. If a long one, could require an explanation in the interview, which could be pretty easily sidestepped with a "taking care of some personal issues at the time."

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I had a recent experience regarding involuntary committment and this thread caught my attention and I felt a compelling need to share my story with others. I was a victim of cyber bullying and my home computer was compromised. For a week, personal information was being broadcast in a chatroom I visited frequenty. I attempted to tell family/friends what was happening and no one would beleive me. Then I made the mistake of going to law enforcement for help. When the police refused to take a report, I went into a panic attack. I felt this was a hopeless situation that had no means to an end. I went to the ER to get help with my panic attack and the next thing I knew I was being shackled to a bed. They had no idea I was an RN. I was treated like an animal, to include the ER nurse injecting me with 10 mg of Haldol ( which I think has created harm to me ). I was then held against my will for a week. All my rights stripped and was given power drugs during my stay. It took everything I had inside of me to keep some wit about me. I was never given a true explaination as to why I was involuntary committed, although they hinted it was for my own safety? After release, I was abrubtly withdown from the medication in the hospital then places on much less powerful medications although 2 new medications to my body. I had horrible side effects. The next doctor appt was scheduled 3 months away. After my release, unfortunately the so-called delusions ( I was still being harrassed ) continued to get worse. I had to get the state's SBI involved with my situation just to confirm I had not lost my mind. It was a long and frightening experience. I have not yet to begin the healing process, nor do I really know how to begin. I was lucky, something I said to the SBI agent during my first phone call made him listen to my story and help. What if he didnt? Would I have become a product of the system?

My experience demonstates a broken system when it comes to how mental health patients are dealt with in the health care system and the community at large. I feel a strong sense of duty, as a nurse, to fix these issues. In NC, I have submitted applications that have specifically asked about psychiatric problems. As a facility administrator, would you choose to hire someone that was "labeled" psychotic? Would this be a liability for the facility? Do I lie when Im asked this question on a future applications? Can the wrongful diagnosis somehow be removed from my records, now that I know I wasnt having delusions? Will I be able to find work? ( btw, I was a GREAT nurse ) ...I have more questions than answers!

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Specializes in Hospital Education Coordinator.

Texas BON does ask YOU about psych care/treatment. They are trying to prevent patients from being harmed. This does not mean your license is automatically denied, but they may require notes from MD and some follow-up. If you do not volunteer this info and it is discovered later then you are at risk for losing your license.

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You're okay. Back inn 1978? 79? I signed myself in for what would have been a 72-hour hold after a half-behinded suicide attempt. It's never come up.

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