Has anyone left their employment due to mandatory vaccinations

T-Bird78 · Oct 16, 2012

I've never left and have always gotten the flu shot. If we encourage our pts to get the flu shot we need to lead by example. I've never worked somewhere where it was forced, it's always been strongly encouraged and free to employees. Did you have to get the HepB series for school or work? It's along the same lines as that, except we're more likely to be exposed to the flu than to HepB (depending on where you work) and I don't think employers want nurses out sick for a week with the flu when there's a strong chance it could have been prevented.

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Oct 18, 2012

I have never left a job because of mandatory vaccinations, I simply get them. OTOH, I have also never had any ethical, moral, medical or 'whatever' concerns about getting them. I have never been required to receive a flu vaccination, but have gladly taken them whenever offered to me free of charge.

Home Health Columnist / Guide · Oct 20, 2012

Check out the posts in our Pandemic Flu forum.

Nurse: 'I was fired for refusing flu shot'

imjustme123 · Oct 20, 2012

This is such a controversial subject. I have written in other threads in this forum about how the flu shot was made mandatory in the middle of the semester at school (it wasn't mandatory at the beginning) and how I was given no option. I had to get the flu shot or be out of the program. I left the program over it. Now, I am in the process of trying to decide how to proceed as far as being financially reimbursed.

Born_2BRN · Oct 21, 2012

This is such a controversial subject. I have written in other threads in this forum about how the flu shot was made mandatory in the middle of the semester at school (it wasn't mandatory at the beginning) and how I was given no option. I had to get the flu shot or be out of the program. I left the program over it. Now, I am in the process of trying to decide how to proceed as far as being financially reimbursed.

Why wouldn't you agree to get flu shot? Is there a reason?

imjustme123 · Oct 21, 2012

Why wouldn't you agree to get flu shot? Is there a reason?

Yes, there is a reason, but I don't really want to discuss my personal and specific reasons. I think the focus should be on that some people don't want to get it and are being forced to make a choice between their career and getting the flu shot. I don't think anyone should be forced to make that choice.

Laidback Al · Oct 22, 2012

Researching a new career is always a good idea. It is a really poor excuse to claim you didn't know when you entered nursing school that you would have to comply with employer rules, including mandatory vaccinations if requested.

So, for all the whiners and complainers --- No employer owes you a job. If you don't like the job requirements, pick a different field.

imjustme123 · Oct 22, 2012

Researching a new career is always a good idea. It is a really poor excuse to claim you didn't know when you entered nursing school that you would have to comply with employer rules, including mandatory vaccinations if requested.
So, for all the whiners and complainers --- No employer owes you a job. If you don't like the job requirements, pick a different field.

I did my research. I knew that SOME employers would be fine with no flu shot. I planned to work for them after getting out of nursing school. Remember that the flu shot was NOT REQUIRED when I signed up and they changed the rules mid-stream. This has been admitted by the school.

I think it is very obnoxious to accuse me of not doing my research, whining, complaining, expecting someone to owe me a job. It says a lot about you.

llg, PhD, RN · Oct 22, 2012

I did my research. I knew that SOME employers would be fine with no flu shot. I planned to work for them after getting out of nursing school. Remember that the flu shot was NOT REQUIRED when I signed up and they changed the rules mid-stream. This has been admitted by the school.QUOTE]
While I can understand being upset by the mid-program changing of the rules, your school may not have had any choice. In my community, several of the hospitals have gone "mandatory flu vaccine" and that applies to students as well. The schools had no say in that decision. If students who won't get the vaccine can't do clinical rotations, the school can't graduate them.

imjustme123 · Oct 22, 2012

While I can understand being upset by the mid-program changing of the rules, your school may not have had any choice. In my community, several of the hospitals have gone "mandatory flu vaccine" and that applies to students as well. The schools had no say in that decision. If students who won't get the vaccine can't do clinical rotations, the school can't graduate them.

So people are literally kept from being nurses in this way. This is wrong. There needs to be some sort of accommodations made....some sort of options.

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Oct 22, 2012

There probably should be.......but like other "Mandatory Vaccines" an argument can be made about safety of the workplace, patients and it's workers.....Blah, Blah,Blah. I have heard the....."You don't want to be Typhoid Mary"......really?

But in this economy, when jobs are not easy to come by, they can pretty much do what they want. Maybe they really do care. Personally I think they will do anything to decrease sick calls.

You can get legal representation and fight for the right to refuse.......for short of a legal battle, you are pretty stuck on accepting the regulations the set forth. It may not seem right but it is the nature of the beast.

I have always been able to sign a waiver......the last one pretty much told me I was Typhoid Mary. may facilities are now saying you have an option.....no vaccine required but you now must mark yourself (like a Scarlett letter) and wear a mask for the entire season if you are six feet of a patient.

Whether it is right or not.......They have the power....it's their house, their rules. Sigh.....