Nursing with schizophrenia.

[Ambwee]

Hello. I'm diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder. I want to do nursing. My roommate recently suggested that I aim for high end colleges and tell them about my experience with schizophrenia because it would "fascinate them more than the average smart student". I was planning to keep it a secret. Do you think it would hurt me if I went that way and told them my real, true, deep reason is because I want to get into psychiatric nursing because it interest me because I want to know everything about schizophrenia and the brain and other peoples experience. I have so many plans. But yeah. Do you think telling the nursing school admissions about my diagnosis would boost or hinder my chances?

[Whispera, MSN, RN]

Indiana asks on each and every renewal...

[elkpark]

I've never heard of having to go to the board of nursing to explain a mental illness. This is absurd unless a grievance has been made against you....how with the board of nursing know about your mental illness in the first place? I'm sure you wouldn't seek them out to tell them. Personally I've had anxiety and depression and been on medication and never revealed it on any application. As far as I'm concerned it's nobodys business but mine and my doctors and whomever I choose to tell. I am a safe and sane nurse and as long as you are a safe nurse you need not disclose your mental illness. If however your schizo affective disorder is not well controlled you may want to work on that before becoming a nurse. I worked in inpatient psychiatric for two years and several fellow nurses had "reasons" why they gravitated toward psychiatry. It is a fascinating field of nursing and I wish you the best of luck!

Many (most?) states do ask. Obviously, it would depend on the specific wording of the question and one needn't volunteer any information not specifically asked for, but there would be nothing to gain by withholding information the BON specifically requested. If someone didn't disclose information about a psychiatric disorder (or anything else!) that had been requested by the BON, and the BON later found out, that dishonesty on the application would be grounds for the license being revoked. I'm not saying that would ever necessarily happen, and it's certainly not likely, but it could happen. (Someone who knew and had some beef against the nurse could report her/him; an acute exacerbation of the psychiatric illness that led to problems at work could come to the Board's attention; someone could just talk to someone else. Things happen). Is that a risk worth taking?

[OcMurse93]

I would be honest about your condition and look into getting a letter from your doctor recommending your for the program. If you have a mental disorder and it is well managed, you dont pose a threat to your patients/others, and are honest, they cant discriminate against you for purposes of admission. Just like they cant discriminate against people for other disabilities, age, gender, etc.

[Perspective]

The school I plan on attending does ask in the application about mental and health conditions.