Are you required to get a flu shot in the nursing program?

RN-BSNheather · Sep 29, 2013

Yes we do. Speaking of which, I need to get mine!!

FurBabyMom, MSN, RN · Sep 29, 2013

Definitely work on finding documentation of your previous immunizations - my school required documentation of everything (mostly for clinical sites and the fact that I lived on campus), and if you had no documentation then you had to get titers drawn and potentially repeat anything...

Long and the short - flu shots were required primarily by clinical sites, so in order to be anything other than a freshmen and in order to be able to go to clinicals and pass sophomore through senior level courses - we had to have them. Junior year we had to get the (then) "new" H1N1 vaccine, and we had to go stand in line for hours to get it. Not exactly our idea of "fun" or how we wanted to spend non-school time...but sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do.

It's required to maintain employment at my place of employment. There's a way to object based on religious beliefs, but they're pretty exclusive on what they accept for that. Allergies are the other exception (has to be to an ingredient) - and for us egg allergies don't count - the intranasal mist type we have apparently has no eggs.

MsKris_CarolinaGirl · Sep 29, 2013

My nursing program requires it because a majority of hospitals and skilled nursing facilities that we will be doing clinicals in requires us to have them.

CT Pixie, BSN, RN · Sep 29, 2013

Our school is connected to a hospital so I'm not sure who requires it but we have two options (this only applies if you are in clinicals where you will have patient contact)

1. Get the flu shot

2. Refuse the shot, sign the wavier and wear a mask at all times when you will be within 6 feet of a patient in any area of the hospital. You are required to wear the mask during the duration of 'the CDC determined flu season". No one had an exact answer of when the CDC says the flu season stops and starts.

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · Sep 29, 2013

My hospital requires it, so if you're assigned to do clinicals, you're going to need it or have to wear a mask every single time you show up. No mask, no clinical.

Wrench Party · Sep 29, 2013

I also think flu shots can be a total crap shoot depending on the way the viral strains mutate, but wearing a mask is way more annoying than the shot.

(Have a few pts with respiratory issues where you have to wear a mask every time you go in the room and it's like that x 12 hours).

FurBabyMom, MSN, RN · Sep 30, 2013

I also think flu shots can be a total crap shoot depending on the way the viral strains mutate, but wearing a mask is way more annoying than the shot.
(Have a few pts with respiratory issues where you have to wear a mask every time you go in the room and it's like that x 12 hours).

I no longer find wearing a mask annoying. At one time I would have agreed with your statement. I work in the OR and work 10 hour days, so I spend at least 9 of those hours wearing a mask daily (if I get relieved on time). It's really not so bad. What's annoying is having to wear an N95 mask for hours on end. Done that too and while it sucks, it's better than getting TB!

juniper583 · Sep 30, 2013

Our program requires it for clinical purposes. All the facilities that are used for clinicals require it of their employees and we are held to the same health standards.

I am 30 years old and this year was the first time I have *ever* had a flu shot.