anyone know what happens in rehab for nurses with depression?

Nurses Disabilities

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Hi, I have an appointment next month with a rehab place.They sent a lettter asking if I had SSD ir SSI and I do not. I do not even know how this works. I just know that with my on and off depressions and GAD, , I quit jobs easy because I do not know how to overcome my own hurdles in life. I hear from prospective employers that "you have went to alot of jobs,and I don`t know if I want to bank on you". So...I want to tell them that I suffer from (at different times extremm stress or depression) but I know my chances would be very slim.

I finally contacted NAMI who sent me literature for a rehab place for getting a job . I currently work in a research telemarketing, calling people for 5 hours a night. But I feel that it is unfair to not work as a nurse , I worked very hard at becoming a nurse.I can`t help having problems with stress or depression. I find I do well when I am not under tremendous stress and can work part time. But I did not see that in the beginning and went from job to job and finally I came to the conclusion after a deep depression this last time that i needed help.I would love advise and maybe some books on how to live with a illness and still be a nurse. I am still the soft sweet person with knowledge of nursing ,I just need a little help staying in a job that I do not give up on when things are not perfect.:cry:

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Specializes in Alzheimer's, Geriatrics, Chem. Dep..
Hi, I have an appointment next month with a rehab place.

Just now seeing this, gee it is hard keeping up with new threads, so sorry if you feel your thread was ignored. Usually we all have our pet places to go to (I check the break room, mostly) - so we don't always see new threads when they come.

Anyway - is this an alcohol/drug rehab or physical rehab? Not that it should matter, just curious.

I know this is a very sticky wicket. I recently applied to work at a place and they gave me a questionaire that asked me if I had any medical issues, and had to check off yes/no questions, including "mental illness". At first I wrote "no" thinking well I am stable right now. Then I said to the DON who was having me fill out ppwk, "gee I have a hx of depression; should I write that?" STILL not entirely honest bec. I actually have a hx of bipolar and anxiety and am on disability for these! She said that I had to answer yes/no honestly because if I lied it would be grounds for termination later.

Boy I hate this because that means I could be discriminated against for hire! On the one hand I understand - as a consumer of medical treatment I don't want some "nut job" taking care of me. Said with love lol... I am quite the nut job sometimes myself sometimes - but - do I want someone in active mania or psychosis taking care of me? Not particularly! Am I careful NOT to be actively manic or psychotic when I work? Yeah I think that is only common courtesy (snicker).

It really rots doesn't it - definitely a rock and a hard place. In the past it was a larger facility whose employee health dept was asking the questions - they are not allowed to tell my supervisor! But in the smaller facility - the supervisor doubled as "employee health". It was not cool. I did not feel comfortable disclosing to her. But - the way she put it, if I was on the floor unconscious in a pool of sweat, it was useful for them to know if I was diabetic or had hypertension for example! Yeah I can see that! And if I went off on a pt or another staff member, it would be only fair for them to know my hx!

If only I really felt they would not use it to discriminate against me! Argh! Wish there was some other way, sigh...

Anyway - can't be much help, only commiserate - there are a lot of similar threads in this forum for nurses w/ depression, anxiety, bipolar, mental illness, disability issues, etc. Take a look around at them. And good luck and God bless (I couldn't do this w/o God's help!!!)

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To Zoboboey, Thanks for writing, I was written a letter for rehab for introduction back into the work field regarding my emotional illness such as crying inapropriately and getting so much anxiety that a single pop would make me jump out a seat. Fear etc and many......past baggage that I carry around with me.Even though I KNOW that I should not quit a job , I would just quit and want to run away...Terrible because it only caused me to suffer more in the long run.But no, I have no drug problems.I don`t have bi-polar I guess it would be the opposite unipolar >>>no high at all ,just like wearing shades over my eyes on a beautiful sunny day and not understanding why I can`t see what others see..

I go tomorrow to shadow a nurse in the correctve nursing, wondering if I will be terrified but on the flip side wondering if I should wait and talk to the lady at the ADA rehab...I always don`t know what to do , wondering if I will make a new mess of things..I guess its a bit late now or tomorrow will be a horrow and I will see its either for me or not for me but I need a chance to begin again for the 1000th time because I want to be a good nurse and I always have , I just want to overcome my weaknesses..persioncat:confused:

Thank you though and truly I hope God blesses you for answering my e-mail...

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Specializes in Alzheimer's, Geriatrics, Chem. Dep..
To Zoboboey, Thanks for writing, I was written a letter for rehab for introduction back into the work field regarding my emotional illness such as crying inapropriately and getting so much anxiety that a single pop would make me jump out a seat. Fear etc and many......past baggage that I carry around with me.Even though I KNOW that I should not quit a job , I would just quit and want to run away...Terrible because it only caused me to suffer more in the long run.But no, I have no drug problems.I don`t have bi-polar I guess it would be the opposite unipolar >>>no high at all ,just like wearing shades over my eyes on a beautiful sunny day and not understanding why I can`t see what others see..

I go tomorrow to shadow a nurse in the correctve nursing, wondering if I will be terrified but on the flip side wondering if I should wait and talk to the lady at the ADA rehab...I always don`t know what to do , wondering if I will make a new mess of things..I guess its a bit late now or tomorrow will be a horrow and I will see its either for me or not for me but I need a chance to begin again for the 1000th time because I want to be a good nurse and I always have , I just want to overcome my weaknesses..persioncat:confused:

Thank you though and truly I hope God blesses you for answering my e-mail...

Can't hurt to have the practice of going thru the motions even if you don't want that job. I did 3 days of orientation last week on a job I ended up not wanting. I am glad I had that experience, it will help my confidence next time. My resume shows I haven't done nursing for 5 yrs so I have lots of esplaining to do lol...

Good luck and I am truly blessed already - but would never say no to more blessings LOL -

take care!

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Specializes in recovery room inpatient and outpatient.

That;s my question also. I have been off work for 1.5 years on LTD and SS. I would like to try to return to nursing but not hospital nursing. What do you say in your resume? Where have you been for this last year off work. I also thought the employer could NOT ask any questions about why or where have you been while not working that is discrimination of disability. For me it is time after a surgery to rest and heal but that is private. Vicky

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Specializes in recovery room inpatient and outpatient.

Has anyone known another RN to be of on SS disability and then go back and try to work again? Just curious. SS says you can have up to 9 months not continous to try to work again without losing benefits. If you can' t make it you get your SS paycheck and your medicare back if it is all under 9 month time frame> Ever here of anyone doing it and surviving it? Vicky

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Specializes in Alzheimer's, Geriatrics, Chem. Dep..

I thought I replied to these last few posts, sorry!

Right now I am working a 24 hour position and am on disability, I never can remember if it's SSI or SSDI. Anyway - yeah, you get a 9 month work trial. You can make as much as you want during that time. And if you go over a certain amount (a percentage of your previous income), social sec would stop. You would continue the medicare coverage for quite a while after that, I forget how long.

This is an experiment for me, I am hopeful to get off disability. I understand it's pretty easy too to get back on it if your experiment fails or you relapse. Which I am working on preventing :)

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About the rehab for me. i haven`t been on any disability,just needed some help getting back in the nursing due to the privaate issues related to depression and anxiety.I made the mistake of telling one HR person at a hospital and she acts different now,like she is too busy but before she seemed agreeable to work with me to keep on trying to find someone who would work with me .

As far as the rehab , I have so far done 2 things. 1#...talked to a councelor who says I meet the criteria for rehab. 2#met with a guy who gave me a aptitude test.It is all very slow and since then I have been working at a hotel for 8 dollars an hour for front desk.A big change for me ,doesn`t seem fair.I don` know why I need the rehb since I can get some kind of job myself.Oh, and the rehab lady said I should not tell anyone about my depression and anxiety.So what is it all about?:yawn:

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Specializes in Alzheimer's, Geriatrics, Chem. Dep..
About the rehab for me. i haven`t been on any disability,just needed some help getting back in the nursing due to the privaate issues related to depression and anxiety.I made the mistake of telling one HR person at a hospital and she acts different now,like she is too busy but before she seemed agreeable to work with me to keep on trying to find someone who would work with me .

As far as the rehab , I have so far done 2 things. 1#...talked to a councelor who says I meet the criteria for rehab. 2#met with a guy who gave me a aptitude test.It is all very slow and since then I have been working at a hotel for 8 dollars an hour for front desk.A big change for me ,doesn`t seem fair.I don` know why I need the rehb since I can get some kind of job myself.Oh, and the rehab lady said I should not tell anyone about my depression and anxiety.So what is it all about?:yawn:

It's a catch 22, on the one hand how are we going to get rid of the stigma if we can't talk about it at work? On the other hand we have to protect our livelihood.

I have always been fairly open in the past about my depression and anxiety, many people I have worked w/ have had problems and been on meds. But re the bipolar, I tell very few. People have quite the picture of what a bipolar looks like, usually someone going postal ... which is not the rep I wish to have!!!

Good luck to you! Hey, just one day, one step at a time, try not to anticipate. But it's ok to dream and have something to move toward!

xo

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Specializes in Surgical, PACU.

I have a hx of depression, my bosses and co-workers are fully aware and supportive and I know I'm very lucky. For the past few years on TV here (New Zealand) there have been a series of TV ads promoting support of people with mental illnesses and have very normal people with very normal families and friends telling their stories of living with a mental illness. Which I think has made the wider public a bit more accepting.

I have recently gone thru yet another low and without the support of my co-workers I don't know how I would have coped! I think you have to be a little bit cautious about who you tell, I certainly didn't start my job telling everyone about it but as I got to know and trust people I would confide in them. I can only do this when I'm well tho so you have to judge the time, and perhaps starting a new job might have to wait until you feel well enough to cope with it. Hope my ramble is useful!

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