CNA Course Externship - Vaccination Question

[nickasarbata]

Hey guys, I have a question for you. I'm guessing nobody will know for sure, but I'd like your opinions. Here's my situation:

I just recently started a CNA course, which is my first step into the world of nursing. I'm hoping to enroll in a nursing program next fall, but this is how I'm getting my foot in the door (of the field!) so to speak. Now, after our classroom and practical hours, we are sent to do a 30-hour externship in a nursing home. In order to do that, we have to have a physical, get a TB test and get titers for MMR.

I went to get all my medical stuff done today, and the TB test went fine (I hope, 12 hrs in and so far no reaction at all at the injection site!). Rather than having MMR titers done, I had an MMR vaccine. The reason is that I've never been vaccinated before, ever. I've always had religious/philosophical exemption. I did have measles as a child, but I'm quite sure I've never had mumps or rubella. So my instructor recommended that I just get the MMR vaccine rather than wasting time and money on titers that will surely come back negative.

Here's my dilemma. I found out today that the MMR is typically a two-step vaccine, and I've been told to wait 28 days before getting my second dose. After that I was told I'd have to wait another 28 days before I could get the titers done to prove immunity. That puts us two months from now. But my externship starts in about three weeks! My doctor also told me that the second dose is actually just a booster for measles (not mumps/rubella). I told him I've already had measles and asked if it's really necessary to get a booster. He basically just shrugged and said, "it's a good idea." That was the answer I expected, but not the result I'm needing.

My question is, do you guys think it will be enough to provide a record of my recent MMR vaccination to my school, and do you think that will be sufficient to be able to do my externship? Or do you think they'll demand the blood titers? If they do, do you really think I should wait a month just to get a booster for measles, when I've already had measles, or should I just request blood titers after 28 days?

The reason both of these options are a "problem" is that I'm moving across the country in March. I need to complete my course before then. Waiting a month or two months to complete this blood work really isn't possible because I'll be gone before that. My course finishes February 10th and I'll complete the externship the week after that. In mid-March I'm moving, so I'm getting worried. And I'm not getting real answers from my instructor about what is satisfactory. The college I'm hoping to enroll in states that they require EITHER a MMR blood titer or proof of vaccination. So I'm assuming proof of vaccination would be enough to spend four days in a nursing home as part of a CNA course... but I'm not getting answers!

Thoughts appreciated, and I'm hoping for good news!!!

[adorblepuppy]

if you knew you was moving why didn't you wait and find a program in the state you are moving to. Cause not only do you have to worry about all these test. You will have to find out if the state you are moving to will accept what class you took.

[nickasarbata]

I confirmed that the course I'm taking is accepted where I'm moving before I started, so that's not a problem. And I wasn't told that any of this would be a problem when I registered. I was told the course would finish in mid-February. I'm moving in the end of March, so I didn't think there would be any problem at all.