nurses that take anxiety meds

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I was recently prescribed clonazepam 0.5mg @ bedtime for severe anxiety. I started it over the weekend to measure my reaction. So far I am more relaxed, have more energy, and have an easier time focusing on my work. Am I required to tell my employer? There seems to be a big stigma against individuals with anxiety and depression at my place of employment. Any advice is appreciated.

Keep it private !!!! I wish you the best !

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Specializes in Critical Care.
KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT!!! Honesty will bite you in the *ss, it did me. I'm now in IPN for emotional impairment but they insist on abstinence of any mind altering medications. So the Ativan and Ambien that I take only occasionally were required to be discontinued or I was not allowed to re-enter practice. And I reported Percocet which was in my cabinet left over from cervical fusions, grafts and plating about a year and a half ago...trying to be honest...and look what it got me. 5 years of what amounts to parole in an IPN contract or face discipline by the board.

I'm so sorry for what you've had to go thru! My God what do they expect you to do you've been thru neck surgery obviously for pain and anxiety/depression are an epidemic with bedside nurses! I wish you the best but most I pray you can find a decent job away from the bedside where you won't be worried about getting injured or being overloaded with stress and anxiety!

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Specializes in Critical Care.

Beware of the "you don't need to worry if you have a prescription" myth. Many employers only screen for "abuse" (use without a prescription), but employers are also allowed to screen for drugs even with a prescription.

Make sure you're familiar with your employers policies so that you don't get caught failing to make a required disclosure. I worked with a Nurse who thought she was safe with a prescription and didn't disclose to our employer what she was taking and was fired.

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Specializes in pediatrics, geriatrics, med-surg, ccu,.

I agree with the above posts. DON'T SAY ANYTHING! It will only cost you in the end. I was honest and it only got me removed from a job after 21 years and reported to the board. Which is still under review. Your personal life is your own. You are better off not saying anything to anyone that involves your personal life outside of where you work. It is not any of their business. I thought after the years I put in that I was safe. Sad part is the joke was on me...

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Specializes in none.
I agree with the above posts. DON'T SAY ANYTHING! It will only cost you in the end. I was honest and it only got me removed from a job after 21 years and reported to the board. Which is still under review. Your personal life is your own. You are better off not saying anything to anyone that involves your personal life outside of where you work. It is not any of their business. I thought after the years I put in that I was safe. Sad part is the joke was on me...

and the ones that are after your license would pass a drug test. Tell me another one. The only stress they have is where to take their vacations. They couldn't live one day with the stress that the average nurse has. Yet, we are supposed to be strong. Nothing should affect us. If human suffering, consent supervision, inspections, goofy government laws, knowing that our next move could cost someone his life did not affect us, we would all be accountants.

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If any employer who is probably taking multiple medication i.e, anti depressants, antipsychotics, and sedatives looks down upon you for helping your anxiety, remind her that this is 2012 and we all in a stressfull world. If she can't appreciate you as a person and a nurse and all your good skills, then tell leave that job in a nice way, and find a job that will appreciate you. I have been an R.N.over 30 years. Graduated the College of Staten Island, took the N.Y. state boards which took ten years off my life. I have lived and worked in Florida, Pa. and N.Y. Nurses are in high demand these days. So take my advice you won't be sorry.

Sincerely,

[email protected]

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Honesty, will always save you from getting caught up in a big web some day. You should be honest at interview always. NO LYING, DOESN'T WORK AT ALL.

[email protected]

Sorry for the errors while typing skipped some words and put some where they didn't belong, but i think you will get my message.

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Specializes in med/surg, home health.

:no:Do NOT tell. They don't care about your well-being, they care about lawsuits, their insurance premiums, absenteism, etc.. I recently applied for a job, was given a form to list medications,(I assumed it was for the drug screen) found out later the list was NOT for the screening company, but for their own records. I found out when I was called to a meeting in front of a board. I felt like I was on trial!! They drilled me on the what's/why's. Asked if I often worked "under influence of drugs" It was horrible. I even had presented a medical release from my own MD. NOT GOOD ENOUGH!!! I now have to go for testing (to see if I'm physically/mentally capable) at a facility of their choice, which also happens to be the one that did the drug screening, so I won't be tested on how I perform (I've been a nurse over 10 years with a spotless record) but will be judged on the meds I take and my medical history. No way around it. I'm sure I can kiss that job goodbye:kiss..So KYMS!!(keep your mouth shut)

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Specializes in Hospice / Psych / RNAC.

I don't say anything and I always write "no meds" on any forms...as for the employers getting to know if you have a legal Rx is bull. The testing agencies must keep your confidence about what you take. A legal Rx ensures that the report back to the employer is a negative one. Believe me it happened to me and I went legal of them. I got compensated from the employer, the drug company that blabbed to the employer big time and got my job back to boot. I'm sure that's the last time that drug testing place tells any employers anything unless they are absolutely sure of what they're doing.

As for the ones that say honesty is the best policy...in this case; it's just plain suicide.:twocents:

PS...only disclose to the doc that calls from the drug testing place to find out what Rx/Rxs you take. Nothing has to be written down. Confidentiality is key.

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Specializes in Rehab, Psych, Acute care, LTC, HH.
I agree with the above posts. DON'T SAY ANYTHING! It will only cost you in the end. I was honest and it only got me removed from a job after 21 years and reported to the board. Which is still under review. Your personal life is your own. You are better off not saying anything to anyone that involves your personal life outside of where you work. It is not any of their business. I thought after the years I put in that I was safe. Sad part is the joke was on me...

I agree to not say anything to your employer or co workers, but I would disclose it at the time of the urine test. I hope HIPPA protect any nurse. That is why I never would have my surgery or procedures done at the hospital I work. Some nurses are already cruel to each other, they don't need another reason to riddicule you. I took care of a nurse who also presently worked with us only to hear snide remarks about her medication list which had an antidepressant and antianxiety on it. I personally never saw a question about what type of meds you are taking on an employment application. Hope I never will....

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Specializes in ONC, Med-Surg, Outpatient.

I agree with cfsleo812. Even though you are working with other nurses, sometimes things are better left unsaid. I would however, disclose all medications at the time of random drug screenings. While I was working on the floor a medication list was required and my director had to sign it (HIPPA?). There was a time when I was trying to find the right medication for myself and I didn't want my director to know everything; I didn't change my list. :redpinkhe

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Does anyone know if screening companies ask for a med list before a Pre-employment health screening or just if there is a UA positive? I don't want to have to disclose my prescribed, low dose, clonazepam for fear I won't get a hired.

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