Can A Nurse Lose Their Nursing License If They Tested Positive For HIV?

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First of all I am HIV NEGATIVE. I have the papers, got tested last week, My papers regarding My HIV stats are required so I am able to do some amateur cage fighting (LOL @ myself as an 40 hr q week LVN NOC Shifter who does amateur cage fighting q 3 - 4 months)

Please understand that I only worked LVN for 1 year and still learning my nursing skills and I have limited knowlegde regarding HIV/AIDS though I read my nursing text books on that topic

Here is my Fake Scenario. Hypothetical Q

There is a nurse who works at a hospital. She is a "sex addict" and goes around comes around during her day/night off's. Going to bars/clubs and if the flirtatious conversation goes well, she goes and sleeps with some random guy. Although her sex partners uses condom, she still gets unlucky and gets infected. Then out of the blue she decides to get HIV test get her blood drawn. The test results becomes positive...

As a health care provider, A nurse who gets recently dx with HIV+, does she lose her nursing license? Is a HIV+ nurse putting patient a small risk of getting infected by accidental needle sticks or accidental coughing blood droplets (if HIV opportunistic disease worsens) Or AIDS dementia sets in

I just got the idea since and forgive me that I am a guy who gets surrounded by estrogen filled CNA's and Nurses and working with pretty female nurses and I cant help my male brain to think "what if she acts like a good girl nurse during on duty, but off duty shes actually a nympho/a cheating wife?":lol2:

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Firing/termination of someone for having AIDS/HIV is considered discrimination.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

The answer is a big fat NO. A nurse's employment absolutely cannot be terminated due to HIV positivity. As long as the nurse is able to perform the physical functions that are required of the job, the employer will not be able to legally terminate.

In addition, many (if not most) employers do not screen nurses for HIV prior to offering jobs, so I do not see why this would be an issue. There are successful nurses in the workforce who have HIV, hepatitis, and other bloodborne issues. They still deserve to work and be a part of society.

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First of all I am HIV NEGATIVE. I have the papers, got tested last week, My papers regarding My HIV stats are required so I am able to do some amateur cage fighting (LOL @ myself as an 40 hr q week LVN NOC Shifter who does amateur cage fighting q 3 - 4 months)

Please understand that I only worked LVN for 1 year and still learning my nursing skills and I have limited knowlegde regarding HIV/AIDS though I read my nursing text books on that topic

Here is my Fake Scenario. Hypothetical Q

There is a nurse who works at a hospital. She is a "sex addict" and goes around comes around during her day/night off's. Going to bars/clubs and if the flirtatious conversation goes well, she goes and sleeps with some random guy. Although her sex partners uses condom, she still gets unlucky and gets infected. Then out of the blue she decides to get HIV test get her blood drawn. The test results becomes positive...

As a health care provider, A nurse who gets recently dx with HIV+, does she lose her nursing license? Is a HIV+ nurse putting patient a small risk of getting infected by accidental needle sticks or accidental coughing blood droplets (if HIV opportunistic disease worsens) Or AIDS dementia sets in

I just got the idea since and forgive me that I am a guy who gets surrounded by estrogen filled CNA's and Nurses and working with pretty female nurses and I cant help my male brain to think "what if she acts like a good girl nurse during on duty, but off duty shes actually a nympho/a cheating wife?":lol2:

No, a nurse doesn't lose their license for being HIV positive. Nurses are far more likely to get stuck by a contaminated needle than they are to stick a patient with a contaminated needle. Not even seeing how that would be a remote possibility. If you a nurse stuck herself with a needle, do you really think she's going to continue on and use that needle on the patient? And if the nurse develops an infection which involves coughing up blood, or has AIDS dementia, do you really think she would even be physically able to work?

I don't see why working with "pretty nurses" has led you to go down this thought path, but whatever. In summary, I think the nurse has a better chance to being exposed to blood borne diseases than infecting a patient with a blood borne disease.

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Specializes in Med surg, LTC, Administration.

I think your post is sick.

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How would anyone know? Patient confidentiality applies to healthcare workers, too.

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This is a prime example of why LPN's are looked down upon.... educational resourses are available, online, bookstores, libraries, etc.. This post is offensive in regards to your hypothetical theory about woman in the workplace.

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This is a prime example of why LPN's are looked down upon.... educational resourses are available, online, bookstores, libraries, etc.. This post is offensive in regards to your hypothetical theory about woman in the workplace.

LPN is irrelevant, I think.

He's a guy. Guys notice women. This guy happens to be a nurse and seems to like to write. :)

For OP: no. Why should she or he?

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He's a guy. Guys notice women. This guy happens to be a nurse and seems to like to write. :)

Sorry if I seem "confused" but I don't know why that matters. A LPN, who has graduated, and is Licensed should clearly be more educated on this topic! Further more, the entire post seems ignorant to me.

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Specializes in Professional Development Specialist.

A nursing license is earned through education and tested competency. It is not a moral standard.

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Specializes in ICU.

no one gets tested for pre employment. And using standard precautions which everyone should be using anyways is protection enough from HIV. That's discrimination.

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He's a guy. Guys notice women.

ah...kind of like, 'it's a guy thing'?

if so, do you guys even know what a disservice you do to your gender, when you say such things?

"it's a guy thing"...as i pound my chest and scratch my.....nevermind.

leslie:smokin:

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