Published
They can screen you for communicable disease as part of a pre-employment physical, and probably will. Not all places do comprehensive screening, it is expensive. My present job limited the screening to TB gold. I didn't even have to provide a UDS! I just had to agree (in writing) to do so on demand if ever asked. I have had to give vials of blood for more comprehensive screening in the past, including being tested for HIV, titers for hepatitis B, rubella, varicella, and I cannot even recall what else. I cannot predict if they will rescind a job offer due to +HCV. I suspect there are areas that probably would: L&D, NICU, peds, surgery. Do you like behavioral heath? They probably wouldn't care. Lots of other places probably would not. I think they would keep you away from laboring women and infants, and out of the OR. Not because you are an actual threat to those patients, but because there is enough litigation stemming from those areas already, lol.
I would have to agree with some other posters. Isn't it illegal to discriminate for employment against someone because of their health/diseases? I mean, we are all supposed to use standard precautions regardless of any kind of medical history. It's not like nurses make a habit of sharing body fluids in any way...
nurse1015
1 Post
Hi, I graduate in December with my BSN with a high GPA and honors. I have over 10 years clean but I used to be an injection drug user and acquired hepatitis C. I always follow standard precautions and am safe. Will I be discriminated against in pre-employment physicals? Can I refuse being tested for hep c so they don't know? Will I be ok to use my degree and fulfill my dream to be a nurse? I will be practicing in california. What are my options?