Can I be a nurse with herpetic whitlow?

Published

If anyone has any answers for me, please help. I have herpetic whitlow, I have only had one out break on my thumb. I take the daily meds and haven’t had a second out break (it’s been two years). I want to become a nurse but I am hesitant because of this issue. Can I work as a nurse with this problem? What if I have another outbreak? Can An employer not hire me because of this? I don’t want to pose a risk to patients.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I don't think you should go about announcing to ANYONE that you have ta particular diagnosis or problem. Learn now to keep your personal business personal. Get in the habit of not discussing your personal life with ANYONE EVER. Yes, I am being excessively cautionary. But please take my point and learn to keep your personal business to yourself.

You can wear gloves. You can double glove.

I see no reason that you can't become a nurse.

4
Up Vote Up Vote ×
22 hours ago, Kooky Korky said:

I don't think you should go about announcing to ANYONE that you have ta particular diagnosis or problem. Learn now to keep your personal business personal. Get in the habit of not discussing your personal life with ANYONE EVER. Yes, I am being excessively cautionary. But please take my point and learn to keep your personal business to yourself.

You can wear gloves. You can double glove.

I see no reason that you can't become a nurse.

I see you advise often not to volunteer any personal info an to "MYOB". I think that is a wise approach since there are wolves who work at the hospital and will use these things against you. Did anything like that happen to you to learn this? I will understand if you choose not to answer.?️

Up Vote Up Vote ×
17 hours ago, juniper222 said:

I see you advise often not to volunteer any personal info an to "MYOB". I think that is a wise approach since there are wolves who work at the hospital and will use these things against you. Did anything like that happen to you to learn this? I will understand if you choose not to answer.?️

Just a lot of gossip. I figured out it is best to just talk about non-controversial, neutral stuff.

No one really needs to know about my family relationships or troubles they can gloat about and good stuff they can be jealous about. Some people are happy when others are suffering.

On 1/10/2020 at 11:08 PM, Kooky Korky said:

I don't think you should go about announcing to ANYONE that you have ta particular diagnosis or problem. Learn now to keep your personal business personal. Get in the habit of not discussing your personal life with ANYONE EVER. Yes, I am being excessively cautionary. But please take my point and learn to keep your personal business to yourself.

You can wear gloves. You can double glove.

I see no reason that you can't become a nurse.

It's good that you want to be protective of your patients, but protect yourself, too.

4
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in mental health / psychiatic nursing.

This is something to discuss with your healthcare provider - do they have any reasons why you can't/shouldn't work in health care with this diagnosis? As long as you and your healthcare provider can keep you & you patients safe it should be not be an issue. You do not (and shouldn't) need to disclose private medical information during interviews with prospective employers.

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion