Caring for the unvaccinated child

[Morgansamantha]

I just graduated from a practical nursing program and I am headed home to find a job and a place to live. In the mean time I was planning on living with my aunt & uncle and their 18 month old child until I can get a place of my own. They have asked in return that I babysit on my days off of work. I am totally fine with this but then it hit me today that they are refusing to vaccinate her. I am lined up with a job working as a home health and hospice nurse. I started to worry about the risk I might be putting on that little girl if I am around preventable diseases and then come home to take care of her. Is this more dangerous? I know if you are careful, wash your hands, wear PPE that it helps but does it put her at any risk?

Thanks in advance.

[Cat365]

She is at risk. That was the parents choice. As long as you maintain standard precautions at work, and patient appropriate precautions, I would imagine that she would be at less risk with you than a daycare. I'm sure you are vaccinated.

[elkpark]

I agree that it is the parents' (misguided, IMO) choice to leave her unprotected and also the parents' choice to ask you to provide care for her, knowing what kind of work you do. As long as you practice the standard precautions and infection control procedures, the responsibility is on them. That is a risk they are choosing to take.

[Cat365]

I kind of wonder if you being in home health might be less of a risk than some other types of nursing. It depends on the disease process of the clients.

Either way, I imagine you take better precautions than other toddlers. Which is what she would have at daycare.

I kind of get the view point of anti-vaccination in the fact that I'm not a real true believer in the flu shot but measles, mumps, rubella? I think they are likely stupid, ignorant, paranoid or all of the above.

Unfortunately they have the right to be stupid, ignorant, and paranoid.