Bipolar/Mental Illness and Board of Registered Nursing

[laniw44]

I would like to hear from RN's that have experience with the BRN that have a mental illness. I received a letter from the BRN that there was a complaint about me and that I have a mental illness that may have violated the Nurse Practice Act. Of course it came with the Diversion Packet. They wrote that I can elect to do Diversion or not - and if not they will "investigate" and wrote the standard "you may be disciplined and lose your license, etc".

Of course, I politely declined Diversion - as there has not been ANY violation. Yes, I have BiPolar, but I have not worked since December 2009. I have stayed home with my kids, and been on disability (not for the bipolar) from intractable headache pain and sleep apnea (new diagnosis) that was causing me to pass out. Before that I was doing home infusion, and no one knew about my bipolar - so I know the complaint did not come from there.

What I am 99.99% sure of is that it came from my ex-husband, since I have not been able to work, he will be ordered to pay child support (which he does not want to do). The kicker is - if I can't work as an RN, then he still will have to pay support.

So - regarding the BRN - how to deal with this??? Of course they will sniff around medical records. But just "having" Bipolar in of itself is not cause for action against a license - right?? Is their "opinion" enough? And if I was not working, how could there be a violation? I certainly don't want their fingers in the pot, calling the shots of my psychiatric care - which is fairly stable now, with some sleep issues now and then - which is common for bipolar. Of course, when I am able to go back to work, I will have a letter from my MD indicating I am fit to work.

I could use feedback and support - Please!!

[pippylockstocking]

Wow! I didn't know the board of nursing could do that. What is a "Diversion" ? I'm unfamiliar with that. I don't see why it would be cause to lose your license. Aren't all americans supposed to be protected from descrimination against having a disability?

[grannyrn65]

I will try to answer you. A complaint has been filed with your BON. The first thing you need to do is to seek legal advice. You can contact your state's Bar Association and ask them for referrals to attorneys who specialize in representing nurses before the BON. They should be able to supply you with a list of three. Contact one and tell him/her you have ben referred by the Bar, it gets you and initial interview at a greatly reduced cost-$25 generally. He/she can advise you what to so and your rights.

I suffer from bipolar. I suffered my first depressive incident in 1965. I was not diagnosed until 1977. It wasn't because of a lack of depression but misdiagnoses. After I was properly diagnosed and treated, I worked but I did not share my diagnose, on the advice of my psychiatrist. My BON did not require I report my illness, so I didn't. When I got a new position, I answer questions but only stated I had suffered a disorder previously, and more information would be forth coming when I received a letter stating the reason for the additional question. Generally the statement on the health form was enought.

I did not suffered any adverse reactions for all most thirty years. It was from some of my peers, following a major accident, that they began to judge me. Either they expected me to figured out how to 'make' myself better or were afraid to trust me as a peer. I went back to school and got another job.

In all liklyhood your x is the one who turned you in. You need legal advuce.

GrannyRN65