Can I still be a nurse?

[dragonhawk]

Practically all nursing schools I've looked into require vaccinations of some sort. Unfortunately I don't react well to vaccines. I had a PPD test last year that made my chest hot as an oven and a case of chronic fatigue that i'm still recovering from. I would need an MMR shot (low immunity to measles, even though I had the shots as a kid) and a flu shot, and I won't get a flu shot. Is there an lax nursing schools out there that won't require shots, or is there a way around it? Some may say don't be a nurse but that's all I've ever really wanted to do and it's the only career that peeks my interest =/

[LeChien, BSN, RN]

There's a reason they require vaccinations...

[Erythropoiesis]

If you're that sensitive to what's in vaccines, literally nothing good will come from you being a nurse and bathing in bacteria all day every day.

Its true that vaccines are mandated in nursing professionals to help them protect the sick and compromised patients, but they're also to protect you FROM the patient.

[RNinabox]

Coming into nursing from the corporate world, an unvaccinated employee is in a weird new grey area of potential physical and legal risk. If, for example, I work in a bank and I give 50 clients measles the bank could be sued. Would that person win? I don't know, but Just the risk could make me think twice.

In a hospital setting, I really can't imagine any legal department or safety officer waiving vaccination policies. It's a huge legal and financial risk. As a care provider, you are at higher risk of exposure and could risk contracting a horrible illness. Are you okay with that?

But, and on the other hand: If you want to take it really far, you could contact an attorney and see whether you, as a non-vaccine taker, are being discriminated against. I mean, it an interesting question, right? And it is public policy issue that will have to be addressed sometime given that -- for example --parents continue to opt out of standard school age vaccines.

[cresap]

I think the folks that are refusing vaccinations are perfectly within their rights to do so. The problem comes when they think that some things that are not rights are. You have the absolute right to not follow a rule. The people who set the rules also have the right to exclude you based on your decision not to follow the rules.

It is not practical for a totally blind person to have the dream of being an air traffic controller and then looking for someplace that would be lax enough to hire them. If you have a legitimate reason why you can't be vaccinated then the medical field is not for you. Sorry to be so harsh.

[Serhilda, ADN, RN]

My school makes an exception for people like you so there is hope. They just require documentation of vaccinations and titers to show the person tried.

[direw0lf, BSN]

My school only allows someone out of the flu vaccine but then they are required to wear a mask. For my hepatitis B and MMR, titers were acceptable.

There is a blood test for the PPD you could get (it's not a vaccine), but it's more expensive and you'd need to check with your school if it's acceptable.

There do exist some ideas on prophylaxis treatment for vaccine reactions...a lot of it comes from homeopathic ideas so research at your own risk...only go with reputable info.

I just wanted to add that at first I was "sensitive" about the topic of vaccines. I know that in the dog world there is legit and extensive proof that dogs are over-vaccinated. The regulations for dogs are set by politicians who don't listen to veterinarians' desire for a change in protocol. There are legit cases of dogs suffering from reactions. You can dig further into the topic though, and then get into reading about the vaccine hysteria...that they cause cancer and such things. You have to be able to discern between truth and fear mongering.

I mentioned dogs...but vaccine regulations for nurses are made by nurses and other health care officials who know what they are talking about and base their requirements on evidence.

So I don't know how you came to determine you are very sensitive to vaccines (how do you know your chronic fatigue was caused by vaccines and not a coincidence or not something that was there already but aggravated at this time?), but I think you may have dipped a little bit into the "fear mongering" vaccine info out there.

I've done a lot of research about it.. I get my flu vaccine and titer the rest unless my titers were too low.

[epicalnurse]

I found a college 3 hours away from where I lived that stated that is was "Not a problem at all! We will accommodate for you." They were so kind about it and made me feel completely welcomed, reassuring me it wouldn't be an issue.

After this nursing program accepted me, the community colleges in the city I lived in at the time contacted me saying that they had created a variance for students like me; a path toward becoming a nurse for people who were unvaccinated, no matter the reason (personal, medical, religious). They had been contemplating that decision in the two years leading up (the two years that I had taken my pre-requisites).

It's hard, but you can do it! Don't give up on your dream of becoming a nurse, and don't listen to those trying to discourage you or persuade you from nursing. You'd be surprised how many RNs aren't vaccinated and/or decline the flu shot.

[epicalnurse]

This simply isn't true. Several hospitals have waivers for those with religious/medical/personal reasons for declining vaccinations. :)

[epicalnurse]

Again, it is not a school issue. Clinical sites will NOT expose their patients to unvaccinated nursing students. Nor will those same clinics, hospitals et al, hire unvaccinated folks. The end.

This simply isn't true. Several hospitals have waivers for those with religious/medical/personal reasons for declining vaccinations.

[epicalnurse]

No, there's no way around it. Not just schools & clinic sites, but employers as well. Every employer requires the basic vaccinations & many have moved to the required flu vaccine. At my job, no flu shot = no job.

So either decide to get the vaccines or dream a new dream.

This simply isn't true. Several hospitals provide waivers for those with religious/medical/personal reasons for declining vaccinations. :)