Pre-Nursing school immunization catastrophe!

[DisneyNurseGal]

I want other people to know what happened to me, so the same does not happen for them!

When I received my nursing school admission, [of course] there was a long list of immunizations that I had to obtain before school started. I am 38 years old, so who knows where my shot records are from when I was a child, and I wasn't going to pay for the titers so I went to my local health department and sat down with a nurse, showed her my list of shots, and we came up with a plan to get them all done.

I couldn't get all the shots at once because of cost and because some of the shots had to have multiple shots spread out over 28 days. The first day I received some of my shots and left with a calendar of when I was to get the rest of them.

Long story short is the nurse messed up. I went to get my (first) TB test yesterday and a different nurse told me that it was too close to my recent MMR. In to get the two TB tests and my second MMR, I would have taken me past the deadline to have everything done. My school has a zero tolerance for late items. The advisor at my school told me I would have to give up my spot in the program .

We came up with an alternative, for me to get a chest X-ray (ILO the TB test itself). I don't have insurance so this is an expensive option, but I don't have any other choice.

I should have been more educated about my program requirements - I don't blame anyone but myself; hopefully, I can share my knowledge so other people know as well.

[SBJustBreathe, ASN, RN]

The secret to getting all your shots and titers for free is to volunteer at a hospital while you're doing your prerequisites.

This is exactly what I did. They did my titers for free. I had to have MMR vaccines done because I didn't show immunity to mumps. They also did my TdaP and flu shot free :) They gave me copies of everything for school.

[ShesAcuteNurse, ADN, LPN]

I am somewhat past 35 myself and I could not get my hands on my childhood immunizations through the usual way because of the doctor retiring and the office closing. I ended up calling the last high school I attended and I was able to get the shot record they had for me. It took a couple of days, I'm guessing because she had to go down in the dungeon and blow the dust off the records but it only took a phone call. I would definitely try that, for those who are having a time getting your immunization record. I ended up getting the titers anyway because some shots were not available when I was a child. I remembered actually having the diseases chicken pox, mumps, and measles so I ended up only needed one shot and the TB test. I went to a medical center where I pay a sliding scale fee and all of that including titers only cost me $25. The lpn program here is strict on deadlines also.

[ProudStudent]

I made a visit to my Primary Care Physician, who orders a CBC anually. He added a request for the titers for the 5 or 6 immunizations I needed to prove and my health insurance ended up picking up the bill. I wasn't even sure if they would cover it, but it was worth a try. The explanation of benefits from the insurance company arrived and it showed that I owed nothing, they covered the cost of $1,046.00!! I knew they were expensive, but had no idea they were that much.

[tothepointeLVN, LVN]

I think it all depends on what the billing code they put it in for. If its for something your insurance is already paying for treatment it might get automatically get approved since in terms of lab cost $1000 for 6 labs isn't bad.

I found a place in my area that lets you self order titers and then go to a LabCorp branch for the sample drawing. I'm posting the link in case anyone needs it. Have not used the service, not affiliated etc etc.

Order A Titer Test For Varicella, MMR & Hepatitis B

[SunshineDaisy, ASN, RN]

. As for the Hep B shots I've been through two complete cycles and I still have not "converted". Apparently there is a segment of the population for which the Hep B series doesn't take.

I am the same way! I've had 2 cycles as well and it still doesn't show on a titer.

[PrayeRNurse, ASN, RN]

That is so sad you lost your place in the program. Will they let you go in the next start? I hope so! I was so blessed that my doctor did the titer and my insurance picked it up. I would not have had the $$$ for it if it had not worked out that way. Let us know when you start! You will make it!

[SENSUALBLISSINFL, BSN, RN]

I was told by my school that they would not accept the Quantiferon test in lieu of the PPD. I had the former done since I worked full time and my clinicals were during the weekends. It was hard for me to get off work twice in one week (plus the time I would get docked for not working) to get the PPD done and again repeat it again, plus my insurance paid for the Quantiferon. I thought this was reliable and it sure cost more than having the PPD. Since it was my last semester my professor for clinicals took it, but now I have to deal with this again.

[tothepointeLVN, LVN]

Well remember it's not your school that requires it persay but the hospitals where you are doing your clinical and that want PPD and even if they accepted the other test the school couldn't make that decision on their behalf. Factor in multiple different placements and you see it gets complex pretty quickly. I was fortunate my school paid for everything and did everything during class. The Dr and his nurse just showed up one day and did all the physicals and started on Hep B vaccines and placed the PPD's which were read by our instructor. Very efficient. It was impossible to miss any of your shots and they didn't tell you when they were coming so the needle phobic couldn't hide that day.

[angieglaese]

I live in a small town and found a clinic that has a sliding scale. I also found the County Clinic had government funds available which saved me alot of money!! They dont offer.... you have to ask. I was surprised at how expensive the vaccines were!! I am 50 years old and did the titers. I did have to get additional vaccines. Did you lose your spot? Hope not!