Denied clinicals due to imunizations

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My daughter is a 3rd year nursing student who is fighting cancer .

She was all set to start her clinicals this fall. Diagnosed in 2005 with Stage 2 Wilms Tumor, relapsed in 2007. Last course of treatment before we went into clinical studys earlier this year was a double stem cell transplant that wiped out her immune system . Titers ?? test shows she has some immunization to mumps, but limited on others. In March, We were told by her University that if the doctors said it was ok for her to do her clinicals it would be ok with them if she went thru with it. They have since changed there position and 3 weeks before school starts they are now saying she cannot do her clinicals thus ending her nursing dream.

Has anyone else run into a similar situation.

Thanks,

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Specializes in Emergency Dept. Trauma. Pediatrics.

Is she able to get the immunizations again if she is no longer immune to them and show them proof she has started them again?? I don't know if with her illness she can do this, but if she can, would they accept that under the circumstance?

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They would but the problem with the measles vaccine being a live virus, it would kick her out of the clinical study we are enrolled in that ,we hope, will save her life.

Whats aggavating is we had a five week window between studies that we could have gotten the vaccination but they never let on that there was a problem. It's almost like they are trying to "railroad" her out of the program.

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Specializes in CICU.

I am sorry to hear about your daugher's illness. Please realize that no dreams need to end because of this, although the realization may be delayed.

You might consider that the clinical site may refuse to allow a student to participate regardless of what the school itself would allow. At my school - we don't need all the shots, tests, physicals, drug screens to attend class - we need them to attend clinicals in the hospitals (our school has clinicals with at least 5 different healthcare organizations). Still a bummer, but if there is a delay, hopefully your daughter will be healthy and well-rested when she can re-enter the program.

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Specializes in CTICU.

Obviously her health is the most important thing. If I were her and my immune system was still fragile, perhaps clinical sites are not the best place to be anyhow? Possibly a delay, doesn't have to end her dream.

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Specializes in OB, MS, Education, Hospice.
They would but the problem with the measles vaccine being a live virus, it would kick her out of the clinical study we are enrolled in that ,we hope, will save her life.

Whats aggavating is we had a five week window between studies that we could have gotten the vaccination but they never let on that there was a problem. It's almost like they are trying to "railroad" her out of the program.

What a blessing it must be to be involved in research that may be lifesaving for her... I would concentrate on that. If she is immunosuppressed and received a vaccination, she likely wouldn't have been able to mount the immune response necessary to boost her titers to an acceptable level--and, more importantly, she wouldn't have been safe from the many harmful pathogens she would encounter in the clinical setting. In addition--she may have placed other vulnerable patients at risk if she was infected with something (due to her own vulnerability) and inadvertantly exposed them. The dream is following a longer timeline, that's all. I wish her all things good.

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Specializes in critical care, PACU.

At my school they cannot force you to get your vaccinations but you lose point if you dont sign a waiver. Good luck to you and your daughter

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Specializes in Oncology/Haemetology/HIV.

The problem is most likely not the school....but the clinical sites.

Many very good hospitals have mandatory vaccination requirements. And staff are required to pass certain health tests to work there. This is to protect staff and medically vulnerable patients. They have a right and a duty to protect their employees and patients, and thus make those requirements. And as each program generally has several clinical sites - they have to conform to diverse requirements.

The other thing is that many sites require proof of good health. There is possibility that working as a nurse could endanger the student due to immunosuppression. It would probably be optimal to wait until completion of treatment before starting the clinical class component

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I would check out your state laws. There are three exemptions currently being used in the US to avoid all immunizations: medical, religious and philosophical. I think all states have the medical exemption. Very few states have the philosophical one. I don't know where you are, but Illinois, for example, has the medical and religious exemption. It is your right to refuse immunizations to be injected into your body. If the hospital makes you and you have a serious reaction, the hospital is responsible. That's why the US allows these exemptions, they don't want to be held responsible. I have a 20 year old and an 11 year old - neither of them have ever been vaccinated! They have gone to a variety of schools: public, Catholic, Lutheran and community colleges.

I'd see if your daughter's doctor can sign a letter stating it is not reccommended due to her medical condition. I also agree with a previous poster that having your daughter in an environment that is filled with viruses and such may not be a good place for her.

Good luck!

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Do not let them do this to your daughter if they said yes before they will say yes again especially with a letter of intent from a attorney get one

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In my 'area' it's not the school that requires the immunizations, it's the facility at which clinicals are assigned that makes the requirement.

I'm very sorry that your daughter is ill. With her immune system compromised, is it a good idea for her to work in such places? I know that sounds snotty, it is not meant to be. I just didn't have any other way to ask. I would worry about that very much. I wouldn't want anything else to add to her fight. She ofcourse can always finish her dream. Keeping her dream in mind, will also be beneficial in her fight against cancer.

Prayers for you and your family.

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A letter from an attorney did wonders for some nursing students at my school. This is an avenue that should be considered.

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