Being an LPN with Hep C.

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Hello,

I have always desperately wanted to become an LPN and then maybe an RN later. Before I had my children (and stayed home with them), I worked in the health care field, once as a back office Medical Assistant and once as a CNA. I absolutely loved doing both jobs. Now my children are older and I am ready again to pursue my nursing career, permanently this time. However, about 5 years ago, I found out that I had the Hepatitus C antibodies. I am not exactly sure how I got it, or exactly when I got it. I am not sick, nor do I feel sick. In fact, I would have to say, that I feel better now than I have ever felt in my entire life!!

Does anyone know if I would be able to become an LPN, having Hep. C?? Would I be able to get into the LPN class, or to even get licensed, once I did get in?? This has been bugging me like crazy, not knowing. It would be devastating to go thru all the classes and then get denied a license because of it. I did email my local college career counselor, but got a returned email. So, I never got an answer. Just wondering if anyone knew of a nurse that had Hep. C, and if anything happened to them, like if they got fired or whatever.

Any help on this matter would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

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Specializes in Geriatric, LTC, PC, home care, pediatric.

I had a friend who had the hep C virus from a blood transfusion after being stabbed 20 years ago. She found out by accident a few years ago, did the liver biposy, little to no damage, and she had a strain easily treated. She is now Hep C free after 1 year of treatement, and she is a lucky one because she did not become very ill with the treatment. I am the only one she told, and since she followed standard precautions I was never afraid to work with her. I also know of a nurse who works for the same agency I used to work for, she had hep B? I think, it has been awhile. She just told all the families, gave them the choice of letting her care for her loved one or not. Find out if your hep C is treatable, even to the point of being cured and go from there. I myself don't think that it should keep anyone from working. We have many healthcare workers that are HIV positive and we don't know about it.

I just want to wish you the best of luck!

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Well I nervously called my states BON, and just came right out and asked them about it, and they told me that having Hep C would not prevent me from getting licensed. So I feel so much better now.

Thank you so much for your best wishes.

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