Rn Health requirements?

CanuckLPN73 · Nov 24, 2010

Just curious to how ADD or ADHD is a mental illness? From my understanding many have ADD or ADHD and are not treated as they have not been diagnosed, on that note I have heard that ADD and ADHD are over diagnosed as well..that the diagnose is thrown out at almost anyone.

That said, from talking to a councellor as one who has been diagnosed myself I understood it to not be a mentall illness as all that it is is not having the ability to keep ones attention on task (usually if that task bores them) and that there are many ways to overcome ADD/ADHD as well...

I dont know I guess I look at it as a Gift...not as an illness :)

(All the jobs Ive done ADD has not affected, though I do find it hard to stay on task in certain subjects, for example if Im taking a distance course, which is why I do better in class as I am able to stay on task)

FutureRNontario · Nov 24, 2010

Just curious to how ADD or ADHD is a mental illness?

I don't think it's an illness either. But it is a condition, just like eczema, acne or IBD for that matter. :) And I'm definitely not trying to put anyone down or single people out. I'm sure your great at your job! I was just curious.

CanuckLPN73 · Nov 24, 2010

No ....I understand...

I thought your post was interesting and just cannot comprehend how ADD or ADHD is a mental illness as it is a attention deficit...

We were actually discussing mental illness in our class the other day....even depression is considered a mental illness and depression is something that many do suffer from (Ill be the first to admit to having depression)...

Our instructor said that when we take the mental health nursing next year we will be astonished at how many suffer from a mental illness...including nurses!!

I just thought this was an interesting topic :)

Gluteus Maximus · Nov 24, 2010

"graduates wishing to be registered will be asked by the College of Nurses of Ontario to sign a declaration of their status regarding not be suffering from a physical or mental condition that makes it desirable in the public interest that he or she not practice. An applicant for registration who does not meet one or more of these requirements must inform CNO and provide details about the incident or situation. The applicant will not be necessarily refused registration because CNO's Registration Committee will review information about the incident or situation to determine if an exemption from the requirement(s) will be granted. An applicant for registration, who does not inform CNO, may have the application for registration canceled, or any certification of registration which may have been issued revoked."

Whatever this declaration of status is, are they actually having new applicants to the CNO sign it? I never signed anything 6 years ago when I became licensed. And why bother with this at all if they aren't going to follow up yearly? I just renewed my registration online and nowhere was I asked to disclose such information, if applicable. Seems to be inconsistent at best.

It's meaningless anyway, the wording above states "not be suffering from a physical or mental condition that makes it desirable in the public interest that he or she not practice" is very vague and subject to interpretation. A nurse may very well feel her "illness" as it were, is well managed and a non-issue so feel no need to disclose. Unlike a criminal conviction, it can't come back and bite you in the orifice.

Considering that a large percentage of people that go postal and have psychotic breakdowns have no previous history of anything remotely resembling a mental illness seems to make this doctrine completely pointless.

huntercary · Jan 23, 2011

Okay , Now it's my turn: I am an RN x almost 25 years , actively working in Nursing in Ontario for that entire time , and in the past 2 1/2 yrs. , and still on-going , I have been under investigation by the CNO for a Fitness to Practice issue , based on an Incapacity issue , because my employer of 2& 1/2 yrs ago , wrote a letter to the CNO , stating they had "concerns" about my "fitness to practice" , based on a so-called fact-finding(a.k.a. 'witchhunt') they conducted after they suspended me without cause .

They were annoyed by my so-called higher than average absenteeism ( for which I had supplied them doctor's notes ) , even thought there were other nursing staff members with higher absenteeism rates than mine . Hence , they wanted me to quit , & when I would not just 'quit' , they suspended me , then told me they were conducting an investigation on me ( would not elaborate as to why or about what , so I didn't actually find out 'why' I was suspended ...they said they didn't have to say ).

All of my problems with this employer , for whom I worked more than 11 years , seemed to begin when I : 1) challenged a new Nurse Manager who began to pick on me ( an RPN who had worked at our facility & whom on occasion I had supervised , without incident , who went back to school , got her RN Diploma , & returned as a manager , with something to prove , or a need for power ). and :2) when I was off for a 10 week LOA due to some issues with Clinical Depression & was opne & candid about it to the Nurse Management Team , wrongly assuming that since they were all RN's , they would show compassion & understanding to a Nurse with Depression. (WRONG!!)

Since then , I have been in this battle , with a lawyer provided by ONA , representing me , and my hearing with the CNO will be next month , after the CNO has already imposed interim restrictions on my licence , rendering me only able to work at my current place of employment until my hearing , and they may , at the hearing , decide to suspend my licence for a time , or permanently , for what reason ???....ALL based on information gathered on this witchhunt from such experst as a bunch of Health Care Aides/PSW's , Dietary Aides , a Ward Clerk , and a a couple of RPN's , most of whom I was their immeditae supervisor , and all of the info from these so-called reliable sources is based on rumour , hearsay , & the like ( example: it was rumoured that I was working as an escort/prostitute on the side , while employed there as an RN , and despite my informing my Nurse Manager that she needed to get to the bottom of this rumour , who started it , where it was coming from , the rumour was used as evidence of my having paranoia , problems coping , etc)..

My point?? The CNO , the governing & regulating body in Ontario where we all must obtain our licences , is so concerned with protecting the public ( and NOT you , the Nurse ) that they will go OVERboard in scrutinizing your entire private & personal life , once they get a whiff of ANY concern whatsoever from ANY employer .

Yes , it has been an experience I do not hope to ever have to go through again , and it is not over yet , not by a long-shot .

The CNO is akin to the Salem Withc Tribunals , Big Brother Watching YOU , and they weild an awful lot of power ...enough to make or break your career , for as long as they see fit , and all in the interest of protecting the public. Well , I have never had a drug or drinking problem , have never committed a crime or been convicted of same either , have never been violent , abusive , physically or verbally abusive with ANYone , let alone my patients/clients .

I have up to the present , had only positive feedback from my clients & their families , and my clinical practice has been such that not one employer has been able to find fault with it , YET the CNO is of the opinion that due to my openness about my clinical depression , I may be a danger to the public .

Go ahead & comment , as I am very interested in what you have to say . Supposedly we are living in an age in Canada where the Canadian Government is working to make strides in removing the "STIGMA" attached to Mental Illness . Not what I am finding . I have written to the Mental Health Commission of Canad for help in this matter , with no reply , as well as the Human Rights Commission , with the same lack of response .

So , as a soon to graduate RN , all I can say is be careful whom you judge , how you judge & consider how you yourself would feel to be scrutinized as I have been by our governing body & past employers , all of them Nurses themselves ..

FutureRNontario · Jan 28, 2011

i'm sure if you have done nothing wrong the cno will vote in your favour (or whatever it is that they do?). i'm just winging it here, but i'm sure that they are probably required to investigate you and your personal life after receiving a complaint such as the one they received from your employer - so they can determine if the accusations are true or not. there are similar boards/ rules for all public professions ie. police, doctors, paramedics, counselors etc. if there's nothing to find then everything will be fine. personally, i'm glad that there are people doing this job, it lets me feel better about the people who are caring for me when i am ill or hospitalized - but i do feel for you in the fact that you are going through this because of false accusations. if it is found that your employer was in the wrong, or went too far with minor issues, than i hope there are consequences for their actions.

good luck:)

Fiona59 · Jan 28, 2011

I'm just glad that somebodyelse pointed out that the provincial colleges are there to protect the public and crucify their membership. I've never had the misfortune to be under scrutiny but have had co-workers who have been called in front of the College on what were basically fabricated charges by students and irrate families.

I would never wish a College investigation on my worst enemy.

dishes, BSN, RN · Jan 28, 2011

huntercary

I am sure you feel angry and hurt by the complaint to the college, but it is not in your best interests to post details about your situation on a public forum.

regards

dishes

huntercary · Aug 28, 2011

Time for me to post a reply. I agree , that posting my current situation on a "Public Forum" may not be considered a wise thing to do...but I needed to vetn , & find some support from other Nurses regarding my plight.

As I am writing this note , my situation with the CNO continues...having my hearing postponed yet again ...now looking at January 2012 as my hearing date. That will make it 3 & 1/2 yrs. that I've been enduring this very stressful scrutiny by the CNO.

The positive side of the postponement is this: I will by then , have been employed by my current employer for close to 2 yrs with an excellent employment record. My attendance is in excellent standing , my employer is very pleased with my performance & this can only go in my favour when it comes time to meet with CNO.

The point is this however: Canada claims to be working diligently to END the stigma attached to "mental illness" & the discrimination that has been associated with it . My experience has been that those so-called efforts are more lip service than anything .

I wish to take this time to thank those of you who showed me compassion a hearty thank you. Having anyone breathing down your neck for a prolonged period of time is not conducive to a stress-free workplace situation & one would think that in Nursing especially there would be more understanding given toward someone who has a ben diagnosed with clinical depression that is well-managed by antidepressant medication & you would think anyone with an ounce of common sense would realize that being under such scrutiny would be tough for any nurse , let alone someone with depression.

I am functioning very well , because my depression has been in remission for 6 years now & despite all of this pressure , I have risen above it , have managed to keep a job in nursing , and am flourishing despite my situation with the CNO.

I can't pretend all is well....my financial situation has been drastically affected by their restrictions on my hours of work. I now bring home 1/2 what I used to make & can't do much about that until my case is over. I have had to pick up another part-time non-nursing job just to try to make ends meet. Why non-nursing? Because the CNO will not allow me to work anywhere except where I am currently working in nursing .