Can one become a nurse if one has Genital Herpes?

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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My friend and I are wanting to join the nursing program at our local community college and she may have genital herpes. She is still awaiting the test results. We are really wanting to do this together for one anothers support, but is it possible to become a nurse if she does have genital herpes?

Please reply

LPN_mn said:
I know I will probably get flamed for being so blunt. I get phone calls all day long asking some of the most inane and stupid questions. Do people really not have any common sense any more. I hope that if you do get into the nursing program that you begin to use some critical thinking skills. Even before I became a nurse I always tried to think things out before calling the doctor's office to ask questions. Did you really give any thought to this subject before you came here and asked this (IMHO) dumb question.

Wow.........nothing like this kind of statement to make a student/student-to-be afraid to ask questions...........this wasn't blunt, this was downright mean.

The only time I've seen herpes being an issue is if the nurse worked with newborns or with the immunocompromised, and then you just have to take time off or at least stay away from direct pt care until it dries up.

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Specializes in Pedatrics, Child Protection.

The only "stupid" question is the one you don't ask.

I think you've received some good advice here. Nothing more to add other than be aware of your symptoms and practice good universal precautions.

Your STI history is on a "need-to-know" basis....always ask yourself who needs to know before sharing any personal info.

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
bassandtea said:
As with HSVI (cold sores), HSVII (genital herpes) can present on any part of the body and is not always restricted to the genital area. HSVII can appear on the face and other areas of the body.

I have HSVI due to contact with the virus as a baby and it hasn't had an affect on my nursing studies so far. Additionally I have spoken with instructors that are working as nurses that have HSV and they have never had a problem because of it.

The only thing I would recommend is being aware of safety precautions when an outbreak occurs. In my case the typical outbreak site is around the mouth and nose, but I have had outbreaks on the neck and other parts of the body. The only time it has been of any issue during nursing school so far was when we were practising oral hygiene and I made sure the person that was using me to practice on was made aware of it and wore gloves.

I knew a therapist who has herpes whitlow, meaning that it shows on the webs of his fingers. During that time, he wears gloves, even two.

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Specializes in FNP, Peds, Epilepsy, Mgt., Occ. Ed.
caliotter3 said:
We were asked to "tell us something about yourself" at my clinical group. I kept it as brief as possible so as not to offend the instructor. How funny that this instructor is the one who made my ns life a living hell. How was I to know what I said that made her decide to put me on her "get rid of" list? Maybe it was the color of my hair? My eyes? The fact that I had a family? I'll never know. It's always best to keep as much of your business as possible to yourself.

Exactly. That kind of question can be answered by something like "I love to do crossword puzzles" or "I'm a John Grisham fan" and kept pretty generic and impersonal.

Maybe you reminded the instructor of someone she didn't like. As you said, you'll never know.

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Geeze where were you guys when I needed this answer, but after critical thinking:thankya: I just decided that It would not affect the work that I do and there is no reason to share something so private with others, I am thinking about starting Valtrex daily and always do Universal Precautions, hand washing is a must.

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Specializes in Telemetry & Obs.

"Can one become a nurse if one has genital herpes?"

Only if one restrains from having sex with one's patients.

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I am a LPN in RN school living with herpes i remeber literally driving myself crazy deciding whether I should become a nurse, at the end someone told me " are you gonna be having sex with you patients? (lol)...you answer! dont be fooled keep that info private because it is YOUR business nothing to do with ethics if you ask me. Well if its ethical will you tell your patients you have herpes......probably.....definitely ....not! Be a good nurse, practice universal precautions and you will be ok... in a way it makes me more aware and more safe ...I dont know if you can unnderstand but if u have more questions dont be shy!

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Specializes in Lactation.
SonicnurseRN said:
I don't know of any field of nursing that involves rubbing your uncovered perineum against a patient's, so I don't anticipate it'd be a problem.

:) @ Methylene!! :bow: I strangely enough, have also never heard of a field of Nursing where you would be pant less/panty less & rubbing you genitals on the patient .... BUT maybe we're under-informed!

Have you guys not ever heard that song by Marvin Gaye? Sexual Healing? LOL Sorry I had to....

And I really dont think there was a thing wrong with the OP asking this question. Anyone just Dx with something like this is likely to wonder until they have had the opportunity to read and educate themself.

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Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.

Just wanted to mention, HSV I can be on the genitals, and HSV II can be on the mouth, and vice versa.

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I am 22 and in nurseing school...i have genital herpies and want to know if I can work in the hospital as an lvn..i havent been tested for school yet..but im very scared..i dont get any out breAksDanny..

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Specializes in PACU.
Paul1989 said:
I am 22 and in nurseing school...i have genital herpies and want to know if I can work in the hospital as an lvn..i havent been tested for school yet..but im very scared..i dont get any out breAksDanny..

No, you cannot work in the hospital. You were unable to read the ancient thread that you resurrected--the thread which conveniently answered your question.

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Perpetual Student said:
No, you cannot work in the hospital. You were unable to read the ancient thread that you resurrected--the thread which conveniently answered your question.

LMAO! (and that would be a herpes-free one, at that)

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