[thepeach80]

We're a non-vax family and I'm going in to the nursing field. I have decided for myself that getting the Hep B series is worth it. I have 2 of the 3 but don't want to get the last one till Olivia is done nursing, so it could be a while. Not sure how particular they'll be on that and if a note from her Dr would help or if I should even fight it if they ask.<br><br>
Here's my issue. They require the MMR in the past 10 yrs. I actually had one after AJ was born in 03 (right before we stopped vaxing) so I'm good there. Do I submit the vaxes I've had and just ignore my exemption now or go the exemption route? I'm thinking of just giving them the info I have since this is just for school for a year right now, but I'm worried they'll push the Hep B. Any thoughts?

 

[Marnica]

I guess I'm confused. If you plan on getting the Hep B at some point in the future than you can't go the exemption route I would think. If you give them the info about what you have had, whatever you haven't had that is required for school (ie the last of the hep b series) they will expect you to get, unless you can swing a doctor's note. I suppose you could just submit an exemption - tell them nothing and get the last of the hep b series on the sly when you feel you are ready.<br><br>
So I guess I would find out first if you can get a doctor's note excusing you from the last hep b, and if they will except this. If not I'd just submit an exemption and be done with it. Do you know if they will allow exemptions??

 

[7thDaughter]

I went thru nursing school 10 yrs ago all the way thru with religious exemptions. You can do this.<br><br>
It was a pain because every semester I had to wait for the clinical sites -- the hospitals, nursing homes, rehab center, psych center -- all had to accept the exemption, but they all did. I think the nursing school administration ran some interference for me because clinicals are temporary (3 months or so) and most places won't/can't refuse a student on religious grounds. We also had a 7th Day Adventist in my class who had to submit a form saying she couldn't handle blood products; it didn't seem a big deal. The charge nurse on duty would find someone to cover those tasks.<br><br>
Several times I had to go down to the student health center and show them my exemption form to stop them from bugging me themselves, as it was protocol for the school to check vax status on all students.<br><br>
I didn't give them any paperwork on the vaxes I had gotten before, didn't want to muddy the waters.<br><br>
Might I ask what career path you're planning?

 

[Drummer's Wife]

I'm wondering about nursing school and my vax status, too. Subbing to read and come back...

 

[AnnaNova]

hello, drummerswife! are you looking forward t ostarting classes?<br>
i dont think vaxing is really an issue at school, i have a friend whose son went to school without some vaccines, and when they requested it, she wrote a letter to the med services there explaining her decision NOT to give them, and she never heard anything about it again.<br>
when i started working at the hospital, the requested childhood vaccines which i had and thats all. asked me if i had a hep b, i said i wasnt sure if i did or not (i actually didnt), and the nurse said that if i want, they can give it to me, if i dont, i just sign a waiver. so i just signed it and that was it.<br><br>
good luck with classes!

 

[thepeach80]

I'll have to look at my paperwork today again to see if I can clarify things or I can call and ask too before going in for my visit w/ them. I have a physical today w/ my PA and then I have to go do my drug test as a different place. They're the ones that handle everything for the school. If I meet the requirements, they give me a health card and it has an expiration date on it. At this point I just need to be cleared for a year as I'm just doing the LPN program right now. I'll worry about the rest in another year when I do my RN. The MMR I had will be good till 2013 even though I've had my titers checked and they're gone. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/img/vbsmilies/smilies/eyesroll.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="roll"> I want to eventually go into labor and delivery. I have a friend who is a hb MW though and she has doubts on if I can take it w/out slapping someone, lol.<br><br>
If I did the exemption, I would just keep using the exemption at this point and leave out if I got the hep B while I was still in school. It's very frustrating.

 

[7thDaughter]

Really curious to know how many nurses/med workers are out there who are non-vaxed. And how you handled it with your career.<br><br>
My family refused the childhood immunizations for me, but I did do the german measles as required by my state to get married. My titers show I'm immune for german measles & chx pox, but I'm just below the threshold for measles, meaning in their opinion I'm not immune. I'm sure I was exposed and probably had a low-grade case, or it wouldn't show up in my titer as it does.<br><br>
I had a hospital refuse me a maternal/infant job because I'm a "threat to babies." They thought I can still get measles and/or be a carrier. In that instance they wouldn't bend for my exemption. But in nursing school I got through the maternal/infant clinicals with just my exemption, so I think it had to do with permanent employment status; they'd accept the temporary risk of a nursing student with an exemption backed by a school, but not an employee.<br><br>
Anyone else have experiences we can all learn from? What has worked / not worked for non-vaxed medical workers?<br><br>
Did you just give up and get vaxed?

 

[taren]

<p>D</p>

 

[thepeach80]

I looked at the paper again yesterday and it was Tetanus I had to have in the last 10 years, not MMR (I still have to show proof I had that one too though) so I'm just going to do the exemption since I'm not getting the tetanus and haven't gotten since I was 15 iirc. I saw my PA yesterday for my physical and she just marked on the vaccination part that I was going to be using a religious exemption so hopefully since it's been 'approved' by my PA it'll go smoother. We shall see in a few wks when I have time to go get my drug test and my medical clearance card.<br><br>
7thDaughter, I was wondering about that too. At what point do you just give up and get vaxed? I have issues w/ all vaxes but specifically w/ the ingredients and manufacturing of the MMR and my oldest reacted to the DTaP so I'm leary of that one too of course. This is a dream 7 yrs in the making and I'm finally able to do it and I'd hate to give up on it b/c of vaccines. It sucks that that's even an issue.

 

[7thDaughter]

As Taren said, I think there are some areas of nursing practice where it's easier to be non-vaxed than others. So her comment was a positive & hopeful one. I'd like to hear from people in different fields. This is the first time I've ever seen the issue discussed anywhere!<br><br>
They fussed a bit about my lack of tetanus or Hep B, had me to sign a waiver releasing them from responsibility. But the measles they saw as a risk to babies. And I did the tuberculosis scratch every year.<br><br>
Honestly, the anxiety of dealing with this has been so tiring.<br><br>
I really would like to hear from others. Tell us your story!

 

[PAflower]

i"m going into school in the fall and i can get a waiver for Hep B, Tetanus and Diptheria. The others i can do a titer test and see what happens. if it's negative, I have to get them. i've already tried to argue but no go because of the clinicals in so many different hospitals. I'm actually more concerned about Hep B because of accidental needle pricks than any of the others and I can waive that one!

 

[7thDaughter]

Here's a question: are there any non-vax-friendly (or less difficult to deal with) nursing schools and hospitals?<br><br>
I went to Marymount U in D.C. graduated 2000. At the time they were reasonably supportive of my exemptions.<br><br>
I did a labor/delivery internship at Naval Bethesda in D.C., it was fantastic, but I was still a student using my student exemption.<br><br>
Lovelace in Albuquerque wouldn't let me work with babies.

 

[thepeach80]

I haven't had time to go yet to get my clearance so I'm not sure how they'll respond here yet. I will try and do it next Friday I think.

 

[thepeach80]

I walked in, handed them my papers, passed my drug test and walked out w/ my clearance card no questions asked. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile"> I'm good till next May.

 

[JAZE MOMMIE]

I am thinking of online LPN to RN program -partly because I do not want any vaxes .<br>
I am an LPN and have no problem with not vaxing but DO get the Mantoux every year -(better than a yearly chest x ray in my opinion)

 

[CrazyCatLady]

Maybe it's bad to say this, but I just forged everything on a vax card. I figure if they're not monitering this stuff in a computer somewhere by now, then it just must not be that important to them yk. I wasn't risking my career at the time over trying to push an exemption. I realize that had I stayed in the field, this may have gotten more tricky with the flu shot fiasco's and all. But when I handed my fake vax card to the school person in charge of all that (and I was so nervous), she didn't even really look at it. She checked a box next to my name on a list and then off to clinicals I went.<br><br>
Thought I'd shre my experience, but it already looks like you've recieved some better advice. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile">

 

[thepeach80]

I thought about that too, lol. I have a vax record, but I grew up military and I'm 30, it's not easily accessible or even around for all I know (thanks to SIL, grrrr). I've never seen an online LPN to RN program, I'm not even sure how that would work. I've seen BSN to MSN online programs.

 

[Sharon RN]

If you delay the 3rd Hep B shot, they will want you to restart the series when you are ready.<br><br>
I've actually had 2 Hep B series, but I'm non-reactive to the vaccine. Go figure!<br><br>
IIRC, when I started working at the hospital as a nurse (ICU), the things they really cared about for me was my yearly TB test (we did get a fair amount of patients w/TB) and my varicella (chx pox) status. I either had to have a positive titer or the vaccine. My titer was +, so I was good. I've never done the flu shot.<br><br>
Otherwise, I'm fully vaxed, so I didn't have a problem in nursing school. I'm sure they'll take your exemption; although, I agree, it may be harder when you go to get a job.<br><br>
Good luck!

 

[MisaGoat]

I am a fully vaccinated RN.<br><br>
The only thing I ran into trouble with is measles, I had to get an exemption or excuse note because even though I've had the MMR several times (I was in the Air Force and they vaccinate for good measure along with prophylactic Penicillin shots). I had my vaccinations documented but my titer levels for measles didn't show up as immune. At the time I was nursing my son too. I didn't want to get the MMR again because I didn't feel it would be beneficial. However even without have the appropriate titer for measles I was able to do a student nurse externship in a NICU which was run by the hospital and not at all affiliated with my nursing program. I haven't really had trouble with it since as long as I explain the situation. I have been told that if there is a measles outbreak or exposure I wouldn't be able to work but it sounded like more a liability for the hospital getting me sick.

 

[thepeach80]

I've never had anyone say anything about restarting the hep B series and I've never read that so if they say that, I can back that up I'm sure w/ evidence that that's unnecessary. I got my first Hep B probably 7 years ago (I think), then 1 right before I got pg w/ Olivia (so 2008), and then I just need my 3rd to finish.