Wednesday, August 19, 2009 sunfire asks

Q: if someone is on schiz meds can they go to nursing school?

If someone is on schizophrenia medication, are they allowed to go to nursing school? I was told by an instructor that alot of meds will keep people from being allowed to progress thru nursing school such as prozac. He was'nt talking to me but the class as a whole no one there knows that I am on meds. He said if any of the class are on meds it may cause them to be dismissed from the program when they actually get into the program. I am curious if this is true and if so what types of careers does this apply to? And what all medications would cause a dismissal? Thank for any input it is appreciated. IS THIS ETICAL? I don't feel that it is..

Answers (4)

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Christina Bruni

8/20/09 8:43am

Hi sunfire,

This is discrimination. If your mind is sharp and clear enough to attend school and study for exams there is no reason why you can't go to nursing school.

I would not disclose to this professor, nor to any professor, if you are in this program.

You certainly have the right to go to nursing school. That is your choice.

I also chose to go back to school, although for a library science degree.

Even here, the type of degree doesn't matter. There are practicing psychiatrists who have bipolar and schizophrenia, so of course a nurse could have SZ as well.

Hold on tight to your dream. If you want to continue in nursing school by all means do that.

Regards,

Christina

Daleri

8/20/09 12:21am

It doesn't sound right to me, I am not so sure that you would have to disclose what you take unless they do drug tests. I know someone who actually joined the Army with sz symptoms but he never did take any medication for it. In a previous job, he was telling people of his delusions. I guess they didn't know whether to believe the things he was saying but he learned not to tell anyone about his hallucinations or voices and eventually learned how to get rid of the sz symptoms so by the time he got out of the Army, he was as good as symptom free but he still never told anyone for another twenty years or more. He now plans to retire from his current job that he has had for many years but he is not about to tell anyone at work about what he went through.

Donna-1

8/20/09 6:05pm

I don't know exactly what the Americans with Disabilities Act says about denying training programs or university degrees to those with mental illness, but I bet it is forbidden to do so. It would be the ultimate in discrimination to me, to deny opportunity to receive education to anyone. After all, I know there are people with schizophrenia who are practicing psychiatrists. And many others have gone to work in the healthcare field because of their own experience with mental illness.

I agree with Christina -- do not disclose to anyone involved with your education, even other students. Although discrimination is not supposed to happen, it still does.

Best wishes,

Carolyn

Daleri

8/21/09 12:07am

A lot of good advice there. Don't volunteer any information that you don't have to. Don't give them a reason to think any less of you.