FNP - PMHNP required vaccinations

[3**835Y]

Hello. I was wondering if most clinics or other work sites that FNP's work at require vaccinations. Do the doctors even ask for them upon hire? Same question with PMHNP's.......Any vaccinations required?

[MollyJ]

Probably the biggies are Hepatitis B, MMR, chicken pox and maybe influenza. There may be opt out procedures. You could also have titers checked to show that you have otherwise achieved protection naturally. This might clarify MMR and chicken pox. Some institutions are not going to want to hire you if you cannot demonstrate that you are immune ot MMR and chicken pox since you put patients at risk.

[roser13, ASN, RN]

I have heard from other RN's that many doctors recommend them for others, but do not get the flu shot or boosters themselves. So it makes me wonder how difficult it will be to find a doctor at a private practice (not hospital affiliated) who might not even ask. I was hoping to find input from current FNP's and current PMHNP's. Honestly, most families I speak to outside of the healthcare field do not care whether or not healthcare workers receiving flu shots and boosters. Although their adverse affects go unreported, many families have told me stories about why they will no longer get the flu shot. Will PMHNP be a better fit for my situation?

Call me cynical, but I do not believe that your statement is true.

[3**835Y]

Yes....it's true. I have had this conversation with many RN's. Hospitalists might be a different story though.

[Whispera, MSN, RN]

Psych patients are considered to be an at-risk population for several diseases, so vaccinations of those who care for psych patients are more likely to be required than other fields. I'm a psych CNS. I've worked several places and vaccinations were always required, unless tigers proved I was immune.

Religious objection might be a loophole for some vaccinations. As far as the flu vaccination goes, you'd be required to wear a mask when with patients, in many places. If you work with children, I don't think you'd be able to avoid vaccinations for the major childhood diseases.

[MunoRN, RN]

The problem isn't typically the school's requirement for students in general to be vaccinated, but rather what the facilities will require and your ability to meet the school's clinical requirements if facilities won't allow you to practice there. While facilities often have medical exemptions, I don't know of any that allow "religious" exemptions since there are no established religious views against vaccinations. What is your basis for seeking a religious exemption?

[Whispera, MSN, RN]

Grumbling at spellchecker... Titers, not tiGers

[BostonFNP, APRN]

Can any FNP's comment on their CURRENT employment and whether or not their current position required proof of vaccinations/flu shots?

Yes.

Sent from my iPhone.

[BostonFNP, APRN]

I have heard from other RN's that many doctors recommend them for others, but do not get the flu shot or boosters themselves. So it makes me wonder how difficult it will be to find a doctor at a private practice (not hospital affiliated) who might not even ask. I was hoping to find input from current FNP's and current PMHNP's. Honestly, most families I speak to outside of the healthcare field do not care whether or not healthcare workers receive flu shots and boosters. Although their adverse effects go unreported, many families have told me stories about why they will no longer get the flu shot.

That isn't true. But it's a moot point.

You may get admitted to school without them. The school probably doesn't care they just want the money and can blame the clinical sites.

You will have a very difficult time getting any clinical placements without them. The religious exemption is difficult because most major religions have ok'd vaccinations. On top of that most healthcare establishments consider it a unnecessary risk to have an unvaccinated employee. Without clinical hours you can't graduate or get licensed.

Perhaps chiropractic or natural medicine would be a better career choice?

Sent from my iPhone.

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

Moved to Nurse Practitioners (NP) since NP vaccinations focus of thread.

[BostonFNP, APRN]

Yes....it's true. I have had this conversation with many RN's. Hospitalists might be a different story though.

It's not. There are outliers in everything, and there are some nurses that don't vaccinate, but the majority do. And have to.

The evidence surrounding vaccine safety and efficacy is rock solid and any healthcare provider practicing evidence based practice knows this.

Sent from my iPhone.

[BCgradnurse, MSN, RN, NP]

Every place I have ever worked has required proof of immunizations. Everyone at my place of employment gets their flu shots, with the exception of one staff member with a severe egg allergy. I wouldn't put any of my patients at risk by not being immunized. I personally believe that the only exemptions to vaccinations should be medical reasons.

[elkpark]

Grumbling at spellchecker... Titers, not tiGers

(I knew it was a spellcheck thing, but I liked the image of tigers proving you were immune ... :))