Vaccinations/Immunizations/Flu

Specialties NP

Published

I'm interested in becoming a NP but can no longer receive vaccinations/immunizations/flu shots.

I was wondering if your NP school required you to have updated vaccinations/immunizations/flu shots?

Working as a NP, does your facility/hosp/private practice/etc require vaccinations/immunizations/flu shots?

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Specializes in Cardiac, Home Health, Primary Care.

My school required vaccinations or titers for hep B and varicella. Also required flu shots each season. They did have a form if you were unable to get the vaccine.

You should ask the school you are considering regarding the issue so you don't pay an application fee and such and run into issues.

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They are "required" my all the schools I've ever heard of, but I would strongly encourage you to contact the school and explain your situation to them. If you're imunnocompromised or have some medical reason, I could see them providing an exemption for you. I can also say that at least in private practice, I have seen several places that don't require vaccines for providers. Not too sure about major hospital systems, though.

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Medical contraindications to vaccination to not keep you from school/employment; you just need appropriate documentation from your provider. I've never heard of someone being unable to receive any vaccinations whatsoever, however.

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Specializes in Adult Nurse Practitioner.

If you are unable to receive the vaccines, your school should provide a form for exemption.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, High-Risk L&D, Antepartum, L.

As long as you have a true medical reason for not being able to receive the vaccines...you should be fine. If your reason is questionable...you will be questioned!

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The problem is not so much with the school, as with the clinical sites. Clinical sites require their partner nursing schools to confirm that every student is fully vaccinated, not just for flu but for a whole host of things. We had to prove vaccine or titers for Varicella, rubella, hep B and MMR Plus get the flu shot. If you have a genuine contraindication to all vaccines, the clinical sites are legally bound to making reasonable accommodations, but that could include your wearing masks whatever stepping inside the facility or being unable to work on certain floors. It would also involve a whole lot of paperwork. So it is definitely something that you want to look into now as others have advised.

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