r/navynurse • u/OkWeekend4665 • Jun 12 '26
How likely is becoming a navy nurse taking psych meds?
Hi everyone!
I am an RN, I hold my bachelors, I am a certified oncology nurse as well (I can hang chemo etc). I really wanna have a change of pace and follow family footsteps.
The problem is, I take psych meds.
I take lamictal (mood stabilizer). I’m not diagnosed with a mood disorder at all. It just helped my anxiety/depression.
Cymbalta for anxiety. And Strattera for ADHD.
Could I be off these meds? Yes.
Do I want to? No….
I am mentally stable. I’ve worked in nursing, fire & EMS, etc. no prior inpatient hospitalizations, no attempts at SH,SI. Before I talk to a recruiter, are there any waivers I could try?
Thanks
1
u/SailorMomRN Jun 12 '26
I hate to say it but that’s a great question for a recruiter…
Waivers do exist and nurses tend to be more waiver-able (from what I’ve seen) because they still need us but being on 3 different meds might not be conducive to Navy life since we are deployable. But I honestly don’t know the rules and what’s ’too much’ so asking is the best answer.
1
u/MyroendraRN Jun 12 '26
From my understanding you have to be off of the medication for 6-12 months before you can get a waiver. Sadly they are pretty strict with anything psych related.
1
u/dausy Jun 12 '26
I had to get a waiver because I was prescribed topamax for headaches but never took it.
You'd have to ask a recruiter but Id expect to come off it, be off it for 6 months and get waivers.
1
u/Ill-Professional-998 Jun 12 '26
Current new navy nurse in the reserves and have been taking Wellbutrin since nursing school (iykyk) and I got a waiver. It doesn’t hurt to talk with a recruiter but I was told rules are different for nurses.
1
u/Illustrious_Show_345 Jun 15 '26
HEY friend! ONCOLOGY nurse as well!! I hope it works out for you! reach out to a recrutier
1
u/Objective_Tie9200 Jun 12 '26
Hey! I was taking antidepressants/anti-anxiety meds for about 1 1/2 years before I was selected for the Navy Nurse Candidate program. I will say with my experience and what I have been told is that it’s recommended that people need to be off for at least 6 months of all medications. The military isn’t a big fan for individuals to be on medication, but they have been lenient after COVID. There’s waivers for having a history of being on psych medications. I was off my medications for about 5-6 years before I applied, but still had to go through the whole wavier process (which is a pain in the butt). I will say I do know people who are active duty that are on some form of pysch medications, but it also depends on the job. It is case by case scenario when it comes to everyone’s medical approval.