Nursing students and occupational health medical.

EndOfDaze · 21-06-2011, 04:58 PM

Hi guys, hope you don't mind the new thread.
Anyway I have to go for my occupational health check/medical in July for uni in september, and I was wondering if anyone could shed some light on a few queries I have??
First of all, do they ask about previous self harm and if so, do they ask to see scars?
Secondly, has anyone had any problems with the occupational health team and your health issues? Maybe I'm just worrying too much, but I don't want the depression and self harm to jeopardise my chances. I've heard from my Doctor that it won't do but I'm just worrying still!

(P.S. I did put I have anxiety/depression on the health form but they never asked about self harm)

Thanks guys
Tasha xo

Embles · 21-06-2011, 05:53 PM

Hiya, MH nursing student here! =)
They do ask about self harm, but they dont ask to see scars and it wont affect anything to do with you getting in, and also in regards to the depression, a girl in the year above me has just been diagnosed with depression and it hasnt changed anything, the main reason they like to be kept informed is because it is a demanding course and they like to make sure you have all the support you need.
If you wanna know anything else, feel free to PM me =)

EndOfDaze · 21-06-2011, 05:58 PM

Thankyou so much for the reply!
Also, thankyou for the reassurance :) it'll stop me from panicking now!
:D

3nicky1 · 21-06-2011, 06:20 PM

I was asked about self harm (Im a MH nurse qualified in 2009) and the nurse did ask to see my scars. It didn't affect me getting in they just offered support. The nurse who saw me recommended I stay on antidepressants but I didnt want to and they didnt insist.

I've been to three occupational health places as I've moved trusts with work and theyve all been very good and suppportive. They see and hear this stuff all the time.

EndOfDaze · 21-06-2011, 06:26 PM

Thanks again for the reply :) I was advised by the Doc to stay on the anti-depressants for atleast another year to cope with the change from college to Uni.

Thankyou so much aswell, it really is reassuring to hear :)

Bellatrix · 21-06-2011, 10:58 PM

I had to leave coz of this and if I could do it again I would flat out lie.

But obviously I can't tell you to do that.

Best advice I can give you is to be 100% healthy before you start your course. Be able to say 'I HAD a problem but I am now FULLY recovered' because otherwise you get stuck with occ health appointments and shitty doctors every two seconds and they're funny about you going on placement.

And plus it's always best to be healthy yourself before you try looking after other people!

EndOfDaze · 22-06-2011, 06:33 PM

MeaCulpa - thankyou for the reply :) I'm a lot better than what I was last year so I guess that's good. But thankyou :). I'll just tell them that I feel a lot better in myself and see how it goes :)

Thanks again ^-^

melting_snow · 26-06-2011, 05:51 PM

I don't usually post - I'm a lurker, but I wanted to reply to this topic.

i'm a nursing student too. When I filled in my occupational health form it asked about mental health and self harm and things and i was honest on it. I wasn't called for an appointment or anything because at the time of applying and sending the form back I was relatively stable. I had my hep B jab at the occ health centre and they put it in your upper arm, which is where all my scars are. She asked about it and I said it was self-harm and she consulted my occ health form to make sure I had dislcosed it.

she was lovely about it. The next time I saw occ health was when my fitness to practice was questioned when I relapsed on a placement. I saw the doctor, told him what was going on and he said I was fine to continue with my course. I continued, but kept failing placements so have been on a leave of absence since February. I'm feeling much better now and my doctor has written the programme director a letter saying I'm well enough to go back.

I wouldn't worry about it - you'll be fine!

EndOfDaze · 27-06-2011, 02:58 PM

Melting_snow - I'm glad you're feeling better now and that they treated you well :) Thankyou for the reply, I appreciate it and it's good to know that they don't treat people who self harm like crap :)

Thankyou again :D xx

3nicky1 · 27-06-2011, 05:47 PM

I know I already replied but I would second what MeaCulpa said - you need to make sure you are healthy and it will not negatively affect your health (as I'm sure you are considering). But I'm finding out the hard way about this and its horrible.

Again I'd reiterate though, I've never been given any grief by occy health for self harm, in fact I put in a compliment form for the last lady I saw as she was so good/supportive.