Medical history form for nursing school

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I start college in the fall and I am just wondering... in a few semesters when I apply for nursing school, I am required to fill out a medical history form that asks questions about any previous conditions I have had. Well, one of those conditions is "depression, anxiety, attempted suicide, or other psychological symptoms." I have to check yes or no, then explain the condition below...

Well, when I was 12/13, I developed anxiety and was put on medication. I went on several different medications for anxiety/depression and my mom was always hyper-vigilant and took everything I said or did to the extreme. She had me hospitalized for about a week when I was 13 because I was depressed and she thought I was suicidal. Well, after I got out of the hospital, I gradually stopped going to the psychiatrist and didn't have to take my medication anymore. I haven't had to take medication and haven't had any anxiety or depression problems since. So it's been like 5 years and it'll be like 7 years when I'm applying.

I'm just wondering if I should put any of that on the medical history form, because I know I'll have to sign a medical records release and I don't know if that's in my medical records or not but it probably is so they'll see it. Could this prevent me from becoming a nurse even though I haven't had any issues in years? If I check no, and they somehow find out that I lied because I've been hospitalized for depression, could I get kicked out of nursing school? What should I do?

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Your school requires a full medical records release? That's... something. I would find out exactly what they need and go from there.

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Specializes in Hospital Education Coordinator.

Agree with Dembitz. Ask how detailed they need it to be (but do not explain over the phone what your history is actually. You want info from them, not the other way around). That said, I doubt a childhood history of anxiety would affect your licensure. They are looking for disabilities, TB and other stuff that would interfere with school or would affect your classmates/instructors. So if you have to put anything, put " anxiety as a child".

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Yeah, I have to sign a medical records release and I have to fill out a medical history form that asks a bunch of invasive questions and has me check "yes" or "no" then explain...

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Yeah I need to try to downplay it as much as possible. I don't know if I'll even mention the hospitalization. I don't see why this is necessary.

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I agree with Classic. They are looking for physical impairment or something that could be passed to your patients mostly.

If you were currently being managed for something psych that "is part of you" and by that I mean those conditions that are pervasive and life long and that must be managed on a consistant basis for you to function on your own each day or with others whose lives you will be responsible for ...these are what you must list. Many nurses function with psych dx, and are well-managed but the key here is managed. If you come up in a drug screen with a major psych med on board - you would definitely need to explain it's presence.

You would be the only one to know if it's something that is as described above. If it's not, then you "need not tell them what color your underwear is"

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Specializes in Emergency Nursing.

Wow I cant beleive your school is making you do this! Ive been to nursing school twice and never had to release any of my previous medical records. I just had to do a physical and immunization records. Yes I would go ahead and be upfront and honest. Talk the nursing chairman first and explain your situation to them. Its never good to start off on lies!

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Wow I cant beleive your school is making you do this! Ive been to nursing school twice and never had to release any of my previous medical records. I just had to do a physical and immunization records. Yes I would go ahead and be upfront and honest. Talk the nursing chairman first and explain your situation to them. Its never good to start off on lies!

When you have met many, many, many people in life, and actually understand what's behind the release of personal information, you will probably change your admonishment to the OP.

Remember that college is a transaction not a marriage. You pay them, and they had better serve you well.

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It just makes me nervous because what if they go into my records and find it, ya know? And if I checked "No" then I lied on the form because it asks "have you ever." I'm just not sure how intrusive they'll be and I don't know if it's worth it or not.

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I would be lying if I checked "no" but I don't see why they want to know this at all... I just hope it doesn't put a red flag on my application.

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Specializes in Emergency Nursing.

Like I said call the chairman and just tell them your concerns and your situation and see what they have to say about it. You dont have to tell them your name just your situation. You can ask them why they need to know. If you have been treated and have had no problems for several years I would say you should be fine. If anything they may want you to be reevaluated by a clinician as part f your physical.

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Specializes in Pedi.

I don't see why they want to know it either. My school asked for proof of immunizations and an annual PPD. I think I had one physical in my entire 4 years of college and I didn't even share that with the school.

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