Being an HIV positive nurse

seanpdent, ADN, BSN, MSN, APRN, NP · Aug 23, 2008

I honestly do not know the legality of this answer, but I am very curious to see if someone does!!

justme1972 · Aug 23, 2008

I am about to start nursing school and I am concerned about policies towards people with HIV. My partner is HIV positive and I am therefore at a relatively high risk for infection. If I become infected is my nursing career then over? I am hoping to be a traveling nurse and work in Australia and The UK. Has anyone ever heard of someone being denied a work visa because of their HIV status?

Yes, I have. For whatever reason, I'm thinking that the USA is one of them. The only reason I posted this, is because I could have sworn I read this recently.

justme1972 · Aug 23, 2008

Here is a better source.

http://www.aidsmap.com/en/docs/C92D5639-E779-44EC-B8F8-0CECCC23275A.asp

Larry77, RN · Aug 25, 2008

I would think it wouldn't be anybodies business if your partner is HIV positive. Why would they need to know? To say that you are at "relatively high risk" I think is a slight understatement however. If you are sexually active with an HIV positive person it would be hard to get at any higher risk (maybe sharing needles.)

I simply cannot understand why you would be putting yourself in this situation. You seem to be planning for a life with HIV simply because your partner is positive. I have known couples in a similar predicament as you, but they were not sexually active because the risk is just too high.

Become a nurse and do not plan on becoming a nurse with HIV unless you already are positive. Then for me, it is not anyone's business what my medical history is. If you are using standard precautions the risk to your patients is almost unmeasurable.

jjjones69 · Oct 12, 2008

Yes, there are restrictions on what nations you may and may not visit if you are HIV positive. Some actually test you at the border station as you try to enter their country, and some will imprison you if you try to enter and are HIV positive. Probably because these nations are still living in the 80's and don't know how to address the issue, or because HIV/AIDS care is not available in their country so they don't want to risk their citizens contracting the disease. You can go to www.hivtravel.org for a complete listing of all nations and their up-to-date rules on visiting. Yes, the US is one of the nations that will not let an HIV positive person in the border, and this is mostly why the World AIDS Conference hasn't been held here because half the people who would need to be here for it couldn't be let in the US...but apparently there was a bill that passed recently that the President signed that treats it like the "don't ask, don't tell" thing in the military, if you don't talk about it or disclose, they are supposed to let you through now. Who knows though.

herecomestrouble · Oct 13, 2008

:down: :angryfire

I would think it wouldn't be anybodies business if your partner is HIV positive. Why would they need to know? To say that you are at "relatively high risk" I think is a slight understatement however. If you are sexually active with an HIV positive person it would be hard to get at any higher risk (maybe sharing needles.)
I simply cannot understand why you would be putting yourself in this situation. You seem to be planning for a life with HIV simply because your partner is positive. I have known couples in a similar predicament as you, but they were not sexually active because the risk is just too high.
Become a nurse and do not plan on becoming a nurse with HIV unless you already are positive. Then for me, it is not anyone's business what my medical history is. If you are using standard precautions the risk to your patients is almost unmeasurable.

You are so wrong on so many levels I don't know where to begin,this is the stuff that continues the stigma,being sexually active with an HIV+ person does not automatically put you at high risk.You have no idea what precautions they are taking,the use of condoms and latex dental dams will prevent the spread of HIV,I know of many couples where one person is pos and the other neg who have been together for years and having sex without problems.

As to why the OP would be putting his/her self in this position,it's probably the same reason anybody falls in love with another person.Or maybe they were together before the person found out about being HIV+.Remember you can be pos for years without any symptoms so unless you get tested regularly you don't know for sure.

I was diagnosed with AIDS over four years ago and it has not stopped my yet,I have dated men who are negative and it has not been a problem they are always aware of my dx and if we end up having sex we use the proper precautions no one has gotten HIV from me.

Please take the time to read up about the disease,make sure the info you have is up to date,and if you have any questions PM me.

herecomestrouble · Oct 13, 2008

I am about to start nursing school and I am concerned about policies towards people with HIV. My partner is HIV positive and I am therefore at a relatively high risk for infection. If I become infected is my nursing career then over? I am hoping to be a traveling nurse and work in Australia and The UK. Has anyone ever heard of someone being denied a work visa because of their HIV status?

The US has always banned HIV+ people from coming into the country,it's our sad dirty little secret.Bush is supposed to lift the ban,I don't have much faith in the man myself.I don't know about the UK or Australia.

The fact that you know about your partners dx puts you at an advantage to protect yourself,I didn't know the status of the man that infected me although I should have taken precautions anyway.Good luck in nursing school and don't let the worry of what may happen stand in the way of your dreams.I'm still working as a nurse and have no problems.

Larry77, RN · Oct 14, 2008

So you're saying having being sexually active with an HIV+ person does not increase your risk....I disagree.

"Similarly, numerous studies among sexually active people have demonstrated that a properly used latex condom provides a high degree of protection against a variety of sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV infection." (CDC website)

I did not mention safe-sex, I was implying without proper precautions because the OP did not mention any. I do think even with condoms someone who is sexually active with an HIV+ person is a lot more at risk than say me, who is not very active with my wife of 10 years :)

I'm not fearful of people with HIV an do not even blink an eye with IV starts and other procedures because I understand the disease better than I wish I did having a close friend die of AIDS. I'm sorry for your situation and hope you have a better understanding of my post.

herecomestrouble · Oct 14, 2008

I did mention safe sex,because that is the only way to keep yourself safe,not going to get into sharing needles.Since my dx I advocate using condoms at all times with all sex partners no matter how long you've been together,unless of course you're trying to get pregnant.I know of a few women who have found out their husband was + after many years of marriage,one woman was in her 70's and had been married for 50 years to the same man.Apparently he was up to something and brought the virus home to her,she found out at the hospital when he died of AIDS.

Ferae · Sep 23, 2010

To Herecomestrouble...your comment that the use of condoms or latex dams PREVENT the spread of HIV is flat out wrong. Do you have any idea how many children are conceived each year despite the fact the parents were using a condom? The use of condoms and dams definitely reduce the rate of transmission, but never 100% prevents it. Your denial and romanticism of your plight is understandable, but your reckless and negligent campaign of misinformation should be, and may be, criminal.

bigtim · Sep 23, 2010

U realize he posted that comment 2 years ago? Its like me saying the war on iraq is wrong when the war already started years ago.