Conestoga RPN Students: Have any of you successfully refused the flu shot?

xokw, BSN, RN · Mar 14, 2016

You know stating an opinion its not starting a fight? You gave facts about the school, I gave my opinion on the possible illegality of what the school its doing. I never said yeah ignore the facts and go find a lawyer.

sure! :)

loriangel14, RN · Mar 14, 2016

You will need to think about the future as well. The shot is mandatory for some nursing jobs.

dishes, BSN, RN · Mar 14, 2016

The clinical sites have the right to protect their vulnerable patients by refusing to accept students who haven't been vaccinated. The nursing schools have the right to protect their clinical placement privileges by enforcing the flu vaccine policy. Ally Smith can try to fight for her right to refuse the flu shot, but she has very little hope of success, as according to xokw, a precedent was set last year by a student who fought and lost. Good luck with your fight Ally and make your plan B.

DonnaLeffler25 · Mar 15, 2016

I know I had to refuse for January 2016 for medical reasons (allergy) however I didn't go for January and instead will be going THIS September. I receive the same news from them that we won't be able to opt out no matter what. This frustrated me as I have a true allergy and my doctor at Mac won't even give it to me .

Ally Smith · Mar 15, 2016

Wow. Truly unbelievable. Health care educators discriminating against, and denying a student an education in nursing because of the student's allergy.....yikes....this flu shot business has gone sideways, or backwards, or both. For the record, I in no way whatsoever, am failing to think about the health and safety of clients or patients. The fact is, the flu shot at best, is 60% effective, and only against certain strains. This is not about ignorance about one's own, or others health, and in fact, it's quite the opposite. This is also about basic rights, which are being disregarded in more ways than one......wow....I wish you the very best DonnaLeffler25....

I didn't want this to be a fight.....but we gotta do, what we gotta do for the benefit of ourselves and others. Sick? Stay home. Take care of yourself so that you may better care for the others...be conscious of preventing illness by proper diet and rest always....this is what we should be pushing on people, not questionable "sort of effective" vaccines....

And yes....I would wear a mask, and have all other "core" vaccines up-to-date.....

Ally Smith · Mar 15, 2016

For interest sake....

Nurse Fired for Refusing Flu Shot Sues Hospital, Federal and State Governments for $1

dishes, BSN, RN · Mar 16, 2016

Students who cannot recieve a vaccine are not being denied a right. It's hard for nursing schools to secure clinical sites and easy for them to lose access to sites. Students don't have a have right to attend clinical sites they have a privilege to attend. If a student cannot meet requirments, they will not be granted the privilege of admission to a clinical placement.

dishes, BSN, RN · Mar 16, 2016

@ally, personally I am a proponent of voluntary flu vaccinations, but think if you know the other side of the debate, you will be better able to prepare to discuss the matter with the school.

Ally Smith · Mar 16, 2016

Students who cannot recieve a vaccine are not being denied a right. It's hard for nursing schools to secure clinical sites and easy for them to lose access to sites. Students don't have a have right to attend clinical sites they have a privilege to attend. If a student cannot meet requirments, they will not be granted the privilege of admission to a clinical placement.

Again, I really didn't intend for this to become a debate, and I am so focused on attending Conestoga and becoming a nurse, that there will be nothing that could stop me, not anything that I could control, anyhow. I do wonder though Dishes, how being denied the chance to attend a program (granted one has met the academic and/or extra requirements) based on an uncontrollable factor such as an allergy to a vaccine, could not be considered a violation of rights.

I believe that this flu shot situation, and the legitimacy of its effectiveness/need versus the other side has already begun to pick up steam and maybe this will not even be an issue after this year's data...there are two very legitimate sides, and a whole lot of grey area to this matter....I, like xokw now bow out of this, having been spurred to write to Conestoga, as well as the Ministry of Education to question the policies and decisions surrounding this.

In the end, all I really want to be able to do is to care and advocate for, and comfort those who are ill or in need. Anyone questioning my ability or intentions behind doing so will find that patient care and safety, and that of myself and fellow staff is truly first and foremost. It is NOT the flu shot that is the be all and end all of preventing the flu...something so questionably effective, sometimes even missing the mark being forced? Hmmm.....

dishes, BSN, RN · Mar 16, 2016

Maybe you should write to the public health agency of Canada and tell them their statement on seasonal influenza vaccines is a whole lot of grey area.

Ally Smith · Mar 16, 2016

It's not just my opinion dishes....the grey area is the public health agency's side, the ONA's side, the individual Dr's and nurses, and all other health care professional's personal and professional sides...the statistics, the successes and failures, the educated guesses, the pros and the cons, the risks and the relevancy, the effectiveness, the etc etc etc.....this is not about my own personal opinion, it never was just that.....there is never just one clear cut and dry side.....I'm looking at this from all sides, considering all factors and have already written to the very people who have been suggested.....over and out...

elkpark · Mar 16, 2016

For interest sake....
Nurse Fired for Refusing Flu Shot Sues Hospital, Federal and State Governments for $1,,

Yeah, there are plenty of crackpot websites on the internet ... Let's see how any of those lawsuits turn out.