We have a long way to go as health care providers

[wish_me_luck]

Hi,

I, initially, was going to post this in Nurses/Recovery but I wanted to say something to everyone.

The past couple of days has been bittersweet for me. Yesterday, I took NCLEX and according to the PVT, I passed. My license isn't posted yet but NCLEX scores transmitted, so it should be soon. I was also in the process of licensing my pharmacy technician certification because I wanted a part time job eventually as a pharmacy technician for a little something on the side of nursing and to hone my skills/ knowledge of medications in order to improve care of my future patients. Well, today, I received a letter that I have been denied a pharmacy technician license due to mental illness. I can and will appeal it at an informal conference. I think it wasn't the denial that hurt as much as the decision being based on me having a mental illness.

I have never worked as a pharmacy technician, so there's no poor work performance to say that I could be a danger in a pharmacy. I am in treatment and in a monitoring program.

The reason I posted this here is because I often find threads talking about how nurses generally dislike taking care of mentally ill patients (and unfortunately, I have witnessed first hand nurses saying vile things about mentally ill patients). We are not bad people; we are ill and some of us are trying really hard to get better. It's a blow when we try and seek help and better our lives through trying to get decent careers and helping others and we are met with people who think we are nothing more than crazy and a danger to society.

I think we can all agree that our health care service for the mentally ill have a lot to be desired; but please do not contribute to the problem. Keep this in mind and please be kind and show compassion (this goes for all people; sane or mentally ill).

" Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle". -- Plato

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

As per the Terms of Service we cannot offer legal advice but we can give moral support. I am so sorry you are experiencing this and seem so calm....I would be devastated. I would seek the advice of an attorney and call the EEOC for they will answer any questions for you and make inquiries for you for free...so will the NLRB.

My prayers and positive thoughts are on their way. :hug:

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

The state regulatory board are not health care providers, they are overseers of the legal process to obtain and mantain licensure.

Your complaint needs to be with your state legislature , not health care providers.

Certainly, you will hear negative comments from NURSES caring for the mentally ill on this site.

Venting about the challenges of caring for that population is allowed.

[VictoriaGayle]

*hugs*

I am so sorry, that is horrible and scarey (it scares me that people can get away with doing that)and I hope they realize how unfair it was for them to do that and give you your liscense (along with a huge appology).

[mariebailey, MSN, RN]

The state regulatory board are not health care providers, they are overseers of the legal process to obtain and mantain licensure.

Your complaint needs to be with your state legislature , not health care providers.

Certainly, you will hear negative comments from NURSES caring for the mentally ill on this site.

Venting about the challenges of caring for that population is allowed.

Most of the members of the board in her state are nurses; I would imagine most SBONs have nurses on them. Encouraging nurses to avoid stigmatizing the mental ill is allowed as well. I was happy to see this thread.

[Anna Flaxis, BSN, RN]

Most of the members of the board in her state are nurses; I would imagine most SBONs have nurses on them. Encouraging nurses to avoid stigmatizing the mental ill is allowed as well. I was happy to see this thread.

Members of the Virginia Board of Pharmacy are nurses? I find that odd, especially when the list of board members contains nobody with L.P.N., R.N., or N.P. after their name.

And, referring to those with mental health diagnoses as "the mental ill" is arguably perpetuating such stigma. Why not "avoid stigmatizing mental illness", or "avoid stigmatizing people with mental health diagnoses"?

[mariebailey, MSN, RN]

Members of the Virginia Board of Pharmacy are nurses? I find that odd, especially when the list of board members contains nobody with L.P.N., R.N., or N.P. after their name.

As you are likely aware, I was referring to the VA Board of Nursing. 10 out of 13 of them have some sort of nursing credentials after their name. The post I responded to made a blanket statement that state regulatory bodies in general were not HCPs. I felt it was pertinent to mention b/c this is allnurses.com.

[mariebailey, MSN, RN]

And, referring to those with mental health diagnoses as "the mental ill" is arguably perpetuating such stigma. Why not "avoid stigmatizing mental illness", or "avoid stigmatizing people with mental health diagnoses"?

I'll let the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) know they need to change their name ASAP!!!

NAMI: National Alliance on Mental Illness - Mental Health Support, Education and AdvocacyThis is our country's largest advocacy org for this population; are they perpetuating the stigma?

[wish_me_luck, BSN, RN]

I appreciate the kind words and thoughts from everyone. Stargazer, I referred to it as mental illness due to that being the technical name. Marie, I understood what you meant. The Virginia Board of Nursing (the staff and the board members through their approval decision) has been very kind to me. The licensing specialist lady from the Board of Pharmacy has been very nice as well. It's more of the views of the pharmacy board members and perhaps, the directors. I don't think that pharmacy people take classes regarding psychiatry. I wish they had someone on their board, such as a nurse or physician as a consult person that could provide more insight to them.

I think the reason why I haven't gone through the devastation phase yet is because there is a small glimer of hope for an overturned decision at an informal conference. I might be facing devastation after that informal conference.

I don't want to sue the Board of Pharmacy. I, however, would appreciate it if they would overturn their decision. I am going to figure out how to write a letter to the state legislature. Been there, done that, the board members are pharmacists. Therefore, they are health care providers in some capacity. The Code of Virginia says a person may be denied a license due to mental illness, not that it is an automatic denial. I think there needs to be a clause that states that denial can only be made upon finding sufficient evidence that the person is absolutely a danger in the pharmacy. In my case, I have never even worked in a pharmacy, therefore, that argument cannot be made. It was the board that made the decision. I was thinking that the outcome was going to be that I would be offered approval for pharmacy technician licensure upon compliance with the monitoring program; any uncompliance/problems would be cause for going before the board and possible revoke of licensure. That's essentially what the Board of Nursing did.

[Wet Noodle]

Wish_me_luck, you were treated very unfairly. I hope you find justice.

Aside from that, my father was a pharmacy tech, and I can tell you that the salaray pales in comparison to that of an RN (you might as well spend your spare time working the counter at Dunkin' Donuts), and the opportunities for education are not great, but are minimal compared to what you will deal with as a nurse, handling the same drugs.

[BlueDevil,DNP, DNP, RN]

I think the history and nature of the individual's behavioral diagnosis is significant in this case, s/he is going to have direct access to medications. It may not be in anyone's best interest for some individuals with certain behavioral health issues to have unfettered acces to drugs.

[wish_me_luck, BSN, RN]

Wet Noodle, thanks. I know the money is not nearly as much as nursing but it was going to be something on the side. Just something to make extra money and learn drugs at the same time.

BlueDevil, I understand your perspective. I am a female, by the way. To me, whether someone is receiving adequate treatment for the condition trumps the nature of the condition. You also have to consider the severity of the condition. Not everyone is on the same level.

[EMTtoRNinVA, MSN, RN]

wish_me_luck I feel for you. I too live in VA (close to multiple states) and I have a friend who has a couple mental illness dx assigned to her, but the VBON was nice to her as well and she's been a CNA for many many years. I saw, probably 10 years ago now, this same friend have trouble with other career paths because of those dx. I'm sure you'll find the path that is right for you and will be a stronger person from this experience. Best of luck to you!