TB RESULT HELLPPPP!!!

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Hello,

Ok I was originally born in Croatia Europe and moved here when I was 9 in 1996. While living in Croatia I was exposed to TB and my TB results always come up positive but I have always had a clear x-ray. Its dormant in me I guess since I was exposed.

Is this going to be an issue with getting accepted into the nursing program???? I am reading the instructions for the acceptance into the program for my college and it states you need a negative result on your TB, WELL i ALWAYS get positive and then have to do an X ray...AM I GOING TO GET ACCEPTED??????? IM WORRIED NOW!!!

HELLPPP

I did post this in the student thread also but thought Id ask in this thread to see if any nurses have been through this...

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Specializes in 10.

Relax. You should get accepted all you need is to show the results of the XRAY, and if you need anything else they will explain specifics. Good Luck.

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You should be fine. They will more than likely just have you get an xray.

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Thank you!! :yeah:That makes me feel better

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I've lived in the U.S. my whole life and I tested positive 20+ years ago. :D I had to take INH for 6 months and have had to have an xray done whenever I needed proof of a negative TB screen, usually ever 2-4 years (I've been a teacher for 20+ years and a TB screen is required). In fact, I just had my xray done last week for nursing school admittance. As long as your xray is negative, you'll be fine.

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Specializes in Hospice / Psych / RNAC.

I've lived in the US all my life as well and tested positive but didn't take the drugs to try and clear it. You are not required to (please remember that). As long as your Xray is clear there's nothing to worry about.

Some people do the meds to clear it and some don't. I didn't because of the research I did made me decide against it. I am fine and my employers don't hassle me about it. It's not the end of the world.

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Specializes in Med Surg/ Rehabilitation.

For my program, the way they do it is if your TB results come up positive, you must have a clear x ray to be accepted into the program. Some people have gotten an immunization and now their TB results are always positive as well. Can't remember the name of it, but I don't think it will be a problem!

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Hello,

The vaccine for TB is Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) which is offered in alot of European countries. Once you have this vaccine you will always show up positive on your PPD. With you being from Croatia you may have recieved it which also may be why you are showing positive. The shot leaves a circular scar on your arm. I am from England and had the vaccination when I was young. Like everyone has posted, to attend nursing school and work in the field all I needed was a clear chest x-ray. Although, when I joined the military, prior to nursing, I didn't have an option but to take 6 mos of INH, even though I told them I had the vaccine, which has left me with mild tremors in my hands :(

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Since I'm from the caribbean I had the same problem. As long as you have the result of the chest X-ray that indicate you dont have the disease you should get accepted. So, don't worried about that:)

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ER NURESE- you are right about the vaccine as well. I do have a circular scar on my arm as well as all of my siblings and fellow croatians :) I just didnt know if it was from the vaccine or from my father having had TB back when I was little.

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I tested positive and have no idea how or when or even if (? False positive) I was exposed. I just had to get an x- ray to verify no active TB infection.

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Specializes in COS-C, Risk Management.

I tested positive in 1982 or 83, took the meds for 18 months, no problems ever with being accepted into nursing or throughout my nursing career.

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