Mental illness and BON

[Naruhina9669]

Hello everyone. I was wondering if anyone with mental illness has direct experience with reporting it to the Board of nursing ? What was it like ? What did you have to do after reporting it ?

I am currently afraid to apply for a license in a different state because I have depression, generalized anxiety, and panic disorder. I go to therapy weekly and follow up frequently with my MD. The state I want to apply to asks us to report it (new jersey)

[ertoclinics]

I have never reported it because they are usually referring to active illness. I have a chronic condition just like if I was to go to the doctor for my high cholesterol. I did go to therapy at the time too and see a psychiatrist monthly.

[VivaLasViejas, ASN, RN]

My experience: I self-reported my bipolar 1 diagnosis when my license was up for renewal in 2015. It had significantly affected my life and career, and I wasn't even working at the time. Nothing ever came of it, so when 2017 came around I updated the BON as to my condition, which was stable and well-managed. I had to give up my license this year and put it in Retired status because I haven't worked since early 2014 and thus didn't have the required number of practice hours.

This doesn't mean that other states don't have other requirements. Some will even put you through a monitoring program which is set up for nurses with addictions and diversion problems, which is unfair because having a mental illness shouldn't mean being treated like a criminal, and that's exactly what these programs do. Check out the Nurses/Recovery forum for details.

Now, even though I advise being honest with the BON, I have absolutely NO problem telling people that they should never disclose a mental illness to their employer or co-workers. I've done it twice and paid dearly for it in lost jobs and opportunities. In fact, it torpedoed my career, while the board never even looked at me askance. (However, if your state BON is one that doesn't ask that question, feel free not to bring it up to them either.)

Wishing you the best whatever you decide to do. Viva

[Naruhina9669]

I know NY does not ask about anything regarding this and more states are opting to get rid of the question altogether. Unfortunately NJ isn't one of them

[jzdelona, BSN]

I would think that this is confidential information protected by HIPAA, and when you get your license the board will be looking at things like prior arrests, they don’t chase applicants therapists and doctors trying to dig up mental illness. I honestly haven’t met too many people who don’t have some degree of anxiety and depression, myself included! If you had a mental health problem that could cause harm to patients then that could be relevant, but otherwise it’s really none of their business.

[Snatchedwig, BSN, CNA, LPN, RN]

That is no ones business but your own.