A Graduate Nurse with a failing kidney needs your opinion...

pca_85 · Sep 30, 2009

I don't know that they can deny employment, but I've not been in your shoes. I'm terribly sorry you're going through this, you'll be in my prayers.

allnurses Guide · Sep 30, 2009

Wow.

I'm of two minds myself. While they aren't allowed to discriminate against health problems, I would feel taken advantage of if I invested a lot of time and orientation in you and then finding out later. What about after the transplant, would you not be vulnerable while taking the antirejection drugs for a time? Which might affect which patients you would be able to care for.

My advice, ask a lawyer who specializes in employment laws. :redbeathe

Medic/Nurse, BSN, RN · Oct 1, 2009

I hope that you find a match quickly and get well. I cannot imagine the challenges that you have already overcame. I think this alone will speak to your dedication - you are wickedly determined and I applaud you. Wow!

As for your duty to "inform" - I think this is close to a "disability" and I am near certain that discrimination is not legal. Sure, there are positions that cannot modify duties (HEMS for example - certain disabilities just cannot fly in helicopters) and some that can. There may also be some that won't given a choice - well, federal law prohibits that.

Although I hope your wait is short - the reality is that you may have a long wait and will be in a position that dialysis becomes necessary and transplant may be in the distant, not near, future.

So legal vs. ethical. Like JBudd, I'd prefer to know as a hiring mgr, but at the end of the day - you have no strict duty to inform as long as you can fulfill the outlined duties withOUT special arrangements.

I'd hope that any nurse would come equipped with your certain compassion and understanding of chronic illness - but, that too is only obtained if you pay the price - one that is so high in your case. Living with chronic illness and as a transplant patient must be very difficult. I wish you good health, a dose of great luck and certain success in your nursing career.

I say - live and job search and work as you are today, no one ever knows for certain what our future health holds - great nurses are hard to find.

Good Luck.

:angel:

JomoNurse · Oct 1, 2009

Your personal medical history is no one's business but your own and only those with whom you decide to share. Personally, I would *not* disclose that information. A hiring manager would never deny you employment based on that alone, but they can certainly find *other* reasons not to hire you based on that alone.l

Lacie, BSN, RN · Oct 1, 2009

Your personal medical history is no one's business but your own and only those with whom you decide to share. Personally, I would *not* disclose that information. A hiring manager would never deny you employment based on that alone, but they can certainly find *other* reasons not to hire you based on that alone.l

I agree with the above poster on this one. I find not many employers, even medical are really in tune to chronic dialysis or the transplant criteria. Sad to say I know. Once you are offered a position then you may disclose when it becomes time to do so. You would definitely fall under the ADA. By law they must make reasonable accomadations. Sad that FMLA doesnt become effective for use until after 1 year of employment at a specific site. Good luck on your journey. It was always such excitement for me and my staff when we got the call one of our clients had a kidney waiting!!

Hoozdo, ADN · Oct 1, 2009

Personally, I always disclose, but my liver transplant was 10 years ago. There is no law saying you have to disclose and it is illegal for employers to access any of your health information.

IMHO, it is a time issue whether you disclose or not. Do you have a living donor lined up for a transplant? Will your transplant be

If you are feeling fine doing dialysis and have to sit on a waiting list, I would not disclose. It could be up to 5 years before your transplant. If your transplant is imminent, then I would wait post transplant before you job search.

Best of luck:redpinkhe

Trauma Columnist · Oct 1, 2009

I would not disclose unless asked IF you are on the cadaver list. If however, you have a living donor, then I would certainly tell them the timeframe you would need

Good luck.

RN <>< · Oct 1, 2009

That was so sweet, thank You for your prayers

RN <>< · Oct 1, 2009

Wow.
I'm of two minds myself. While they aren't allowed to discriminate against health problems, I would feel taken advantage of if I invested a lot of time and orientation in you and then finding out later. What about after the transplant, would you not be vulnerable while taking the antirejection drugs for a time? Which might affect which patients you would be able to care for.
My advice, ask a lawyer who specializes in employment laws. :redbeathe

I have thought about my health with the anti-rejection medications and wanted to be a nurse so bad that I did not care. Though I did ask my physician and he was fine with it. He told me that he had quite a few kidney recipients that were nurses. Standard precautions is a must. And mainly told me stay away from CMV.

RN <>< · Oct 1, 2009

I hope that you find a match quickly and get well. I cannot imagine the challenges that you have already overcame. I think this alone will speak to your dedication - you are wickedly determined and I applaud you. Wow!
As for your duty to "inform" - I think this is close to a "disability" and I am near certain that discrimination is not legal. Sure, there are positions that cannot modify duties (HEMS for example - certain disabilities just cannot fly in helicopters) and some that can. There may also be some that won't given a choice - well, federal law prohibits that.
Although I hope your wait is short - the reality is that you may have a long wait and will be in a position that dialysis becomes necessary and transplant may be in the distant, not near, future.
So legal vs. ethical. Like JBudd, I'd prefer to know as a hiring mgr, but at the end of the day - you have no strict duty to inform as long as you can fulfill the outlined duties withOUT special arrangements.
I'd hope that any nurse would come equipped with your certain compassion and understanding of chronic illness - but, that too is only obtained if you pay the price - one that is so high in your case. Living with chronic illness and as a transplant patient must be very difficult. I wish you good health, a dose of great luck and certain success in your nursing career.
I say - live and job search and work as you are today, no one ever knows for certain what our future health holds - great nurses are hard to find.
Good Luck.
:angel:

Thank you for your kind words. I am hoping that I will be able to do peritoneal dialysis again while waiting because it did not effect my daily living. I always felt that managers should know, but some of my family claim that I give to much info that they do not need so that is why I am asking for opinions amongst fellow nurses.

RN <>< · Oct 1, 2009

Personally, I always disclose, but my liver transplant was 10 years ago. There is no law saying you have to disclose and it is illegal for employers to access any of your health information.
IMHO, it is a time issue whether you disclose or not. Do you have a living donor lined up for a transplant? Will your transplant be
If you are feeling fine doing dialysis and have to sit on a waiting list, I would not disclose. It could be up to 5 years before your transplant. If your transplant is imminent, then I would wait post transplant before you job search.
Best of luck:redpinkhe

Congratulations to you for your 10 years of a new start, what a blessing. You are right though (could be 5 years), that is why I am worried. I don't want to miss out on 5 years of nursing....that would be horrible. So I am hoping that they do hire me knowing or not knowing my situation. Thank You for your reply.