Self Harm and nursing?

Question

I went through a period of self harming almost a year ago. I stopped after about 5 months after I realised what a mess I was making of my life and met some very supportive friends who had also self harmed before I met them.
I not have a lot of scars on my right wrist that, despite using creams, oils and patches are still very thick, purple and very visible which I usually cover with wristbands.
I've worked for 3 years towards a career in nursing and I want to go to university next year but I'm not sure if my scars will affect my application. Do I have to tell them? If I tell them of if they find out will it affect their decision much? (Although, I never went to a doctor and never needed to go to hospital so, thankfully it's not on my medical records.)
If I do get a place will I be able to cover them? Any help anyone can give will be gratefully recieved...

Thanks

Answer 1

my girl has this problem, both her hands are full of scars, slit marks with keloid formation and obviously the new skin is different in color that the original & tell u its so very visible, whoever she meets ask her wat has happened and she just covers up saying she met with an accident or some funny stories, but i think people do understand. I think a cosmetic surgery is the only way out. For you I suggest not to disclose the reason at the vey first go, u can cover up saying some story, else people geta very wrong idea.

good luck

Answer 2

I'm a nurse who lost her job through depression and self harm.

However all is not lost...I was allowed to practice for quite a long time despite it. I would wear long sleeved uniforms to cover my arms, which helped.

In the UK, colleges of nursing will not take someone for training, who has self harmed in the last 2 years. There is a good reason for this - nurse training is incredibly stressful, and they need to know that you are well enough to cope. You have a full medical on entry, and I doubt the scars will be missed, so be honest about it. If you lie and are caught out, you will not be offered a place, as honesty is a really important aspect of nursing. If you are honest, the occupational health dept will be able to support your application after the 2 year period, and help in things like getting you long sleeved uniforms.

When people asked why I had long sleeves, I would just say my armns were a mess - most people assume you have something like eczema...I didn't lie, I would just be economical with the truth!

The school of nursing have a responsibility to protect both you and your potential patients, so if they say no this year to your application, they will probably ask you to speak to a doctor about it, and then reapply the following year providing there is no further self harm.

Don't be put off.............it's a great career, but incredibly stressful, so you have to be both physically and mentally well to do the job. When you're ready...good luck!

Answer 3

First let me say how proud I am of you for beating your problem, well done! I'm a student nurse in 3rd year and I really think you should go ahead with your application. There are a great many qualified nurses who self harm and they are still allowed to practice. Aslong as your medical records are clean, then the university has to right or obligation to question you about your scars-they could have happened for any number of reasons. If you feel that you are pshchologically ready to start your training then go for it!!!! (2nd yr is a total b**ch by the way but I bet you do great)
Go on, go for it-you've done 3 yrs already, wots another 3!!! All the best hun xxx

Answer 4

First you don't have to tell anyone, continue with your career. Second though i think privately you should seek some counseling, it's amazing that the people who help people are the ones that hurt themselves. Nurses are notorious for self harm. Will give their lives to help someone else but in turn will harm themselves. Ive been told it's a self destructive thing it's not that we (nurses) don't like ourselves it's that we blame ourselves for everything. I'm not a good enough person.....it's all my fault etc. As you might have guessed i am a nurse and have faced similar problems, I almost died! The good news is i sought counseling and can now recognize when i might again fall into this pattern and what to do about it. If you would ever like to chat, email me. Good Luck in your career.

Answer 5

personally with my own experience i wouldn't tell them unless you truly trust them but honestly its non of their business.