Becoming a nurse after being sectioned?

LetMeSlipAway · 26-10-2008, 04:28 PM

hey guys...

I plan to go to university next September to do either Midwifery (main choice), general nursing or mental health nursing. I was meant to go this year but unfortunatly i was still in hospital at the time. I know that they do police checks but ive been sectioned twice this year (police not involved) and was wondering would they inquire into this because they have to check whether or not your fit and able to do the course. Although i am out of hospital, I am still a frequent self harmer and am seeing an outside worker 1-2 times a week!

I currently filling out my UCAS forms and they usually ask why you took a gap year so i guess i should just be open and honest right?

would they still see me as unfit and would me sectioning hold me back from being a nurse?

please help! thanx xo

Tig · 26-10-2008, 04:34 PM

I think they will enquire in to what happened and assess whether you are fit to work but it's not to judge you, it's just so the best happens for you.
They can't discriminate against you just because you are sectioned. If they do, then you are legally able to contest this.
x

alienshe_cheesycake · 26-10-2008, 05:47 PM

sorry haven't got any advice
just wanted to say that I'm very interested in this thread
because I want to do mental health nursing but I've been sectioned 3 times (once by the police) and I don't know if this would stop me from doing what I want to do

I'd be gutted if it turned out I couldn't do nursing cos of my past

I hope it doesn't hinder your plans though

sherlock holmes · 26-10-2008, 06:35 PM

To be a nurse you will have to be going through a period of stability with your mental health anyway, I'm sure occupational health would look into it and assess your case individually. I've heard of people getting jobs in medicine after being sectioned, so it wont be ruled out.

I am a cat · 26-10-2008, 06:55 PM

I training to be a nurse at uni and I am still always having problems with my mental health, but the uni were fine with it, but when you do your placement occupational health like to be aware!!

loopylucy08 · 26-10-2008, 07:02 PM

I was due to start reading medicine in September but I failed the occupational health assessment. You have to be assessed fit to practise for all health professions. And I was told that it would be highly unlikely that I would be allowed to start the course unless a) I had a BMI in the healthy range b) my mental health was stable c) there was a significant reduction to the point of almost stopping self injury.

Each case is assessed individually but you will normally need to demostrate a period of stable good mental health for them to allow you to start. Certainly for me, the occupational health department said they didnt feel that if I was having support twice a week then I wasnt ready to start the course.

But you can turn it to positive. You can still apply and see. Your situation may have changed in a few months and if they like you, you may be offered a deferred entry. It also gives you something to work towards and to motivate you into stopping self harming and getting well.

I am a cat · 26-10-2008, 07:04 PM

Gosh where was that?? I had no problem with mine and im still unwell :S I guess everywhere has different rules

Chrissyann · 26-10-2008, 10:03 PM

I applied for nursing a couple of years ago, and was doing well until the occupational health interview. I was told that I was unfit for the course because of my mental health problems. I'd been in hospital through an overdose about a year before it, and that was the main cause for me being unaccepted. Apparantly you had to be at least 2 years free of all mental health issues... including self harm (or at least that was what I got told). I was gutted because I was only told I couldn't do it at the last second. I'd even had my uniform fitted =o(

I hope you have more luck with your application hun.
Take care
*hugs*
Chrissy
xxx

loopylucy08 · 26-10-2008, 10:18 PM

The 2 year rule was under something called the Clothier Report which they are not allowed to use any more. There is a big old PDF file somewhere that you can find online entiteled "employing people with mental health problems in the NHS" and thats supposed to be the guideline that they work from. That said, in my experience and from the reactions I got from speaking to various professionals and from being turned away twice from NHS based work- once to start medicine at uni and the other to start paid work as a HCA done by two independent occupational health departments in two different hospitals- you need to demostrate stable mental health for a sustained period of time and your self harm must be under some kind of control. If you google it, you should be able to find the pdf file pretty easily but I personally didnt find it that helpful for deciding if I had a chance because it is largely guidance, and now all those things are supposed to be strictly done on a case by case basis.

lostandalone3 · 27-10-2008, 02:09 AM

Hey,

I was in your siuation a year ago. I was just honest on my aplication. I had to provide medical certificates about my mental/physical health and i think they may have rung and spoken to my Dr. They usually just do the police check and my sections didnt show up.
I am glad i was honest now as when i need help with something at uni i can just ask for it and not have to worry cos they dont know whats going on for me. My mental health isnt really stable tho, i have been hospitalised twice (briefly this year) and i know they have questioned whether i should stay on the course.

I did however stop self harming as i usually cut on my arms and i know if any of the people at uni saw this they would prob suspend me. Uni is hard work and can take its toll especially mentally and emotionally. So if they dont accept you, they are only looking out for your best interests.