Has anyone left their employment due to mandatory vaccinations

Nurses COVID

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I was wondering if any of my fellow nurses have left their place of employment because of mandated flu vaccination? If you have left, what and where did you go to work? I am very aware of the the statics for and and against the flu vaccine and do not have anything against voluntary vaccination, but I have great heartache about mandatory vaccincations. With that being said I am looking at changing careers even though I like what I do and was wondering what else is out there for a nurse that doesn't want the vaccine. Any personal experiences shared would be appreciated as well as options (other than getting the flu vaccine)

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.....

Really, we do have the power collectively, if we would only recognize that.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

I ahve been a nurse for 34 years and I agree...... I agree we need to......but in a bad economic environment you won't find many who are willing to buck the system nor will you find unanimous support of a Union like the NNU....National Nurses United as the teachers police and fire fighters.

Maybe some day......

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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.

imjustme123 - I am sorry if you thought my post was specifically directed at you - it was not.

There have been hundreds of posts in numerous threads here in this subforum about the pros and cons of flu vaccination, whether it is an invasion of body, a freedom of choice issue, an employment issue, a nurse's responsibility issue, a patient's rights issue, etc. All of these issues were posted and discussed long before you joined allnurses.

Besides legitimate health concerns in specific cases, most of the arguments against receiving a flu vaccination boil down to individuals not liking the employer's rules. Hence, my comment.

The fact is there has been a growing trend for mandatory flu vaccination in recent years. I have started several threads here about the various medical facilities and even states that are implementing such requirements. Mandated flu vaccinations are supported by various respected medical journals and medical organizations, as well. Every new nursing student should be made aware of this fact when they start the program.

Even though you blame your nursing school for changing the rules mid-stream, that is not the real issue. Even if you didn't get this year's vaccination, it is almost certain that at some future time an employer will demand it. I don't know what your situation is regarding a flu vaccination. But, if you are not willing to take it now, what will your response be when a future employer tells you to get the shot or lose your job?

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i

Even though you blame your nursing school for changing the rules mid-stream, that is not the real issue. Even if you didn't get this year's vaccination, it is almost certain that at some future time an employer will demand it. I don't know what your situation is regarding a flu vaccination. But, if you are not willing to take it now, what will your response be when a future employer tells you to get the shot or lose your job?

That won't be an issue for me now because I left nursing school over the issue. I am not young and have since emotionally moved on for myself. I was fortunate to get a job immediately in my former field and have decided to do that probably until retirement. However, for those coming up behind me, I think it is a real issue that should be fought against. I also have relatives in the medical community who are coming up against this issue. The bottom line is, not everyone thinks like you, believes like you and thinks the science is really there. Obviously, many nurses and doctors question the need for a mandatory flu shot. That is a fact.

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Specializes in Emergency, Telemetry, Transplant.
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.

Unfortunately there is lots a choices nurses have to make re: their careers. Careers vs. weekend plans, career vs. holidays, career vs. being available for your children's functions, career vs. not having back pain and varicose veins, etc., etc. Point is, many people would argue that these choices they should not have to make...i.e. someone should not have to choose between a job and their health or their job and spending time with family on Christmas. Why are we not upset about the number of kept away from nursing because they chose their children over a career? Well, those choices do have to be made. If someone has to chose leaving their job rather than getting the flu shot, that is their decision, but it is just another choice they are forced to make.

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Specializes in Emergency, Telemetry, Transplant.
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.

There is a difference between saying it is "not required" and saying that it "never will be required." Unless the said the latter, you have a pretty weak position in this disagreement with the school.

My question becomes, what about all the other vaccines that are required? I don't know of any healthcare institution (and by extension, any nursing school) that does not require a full panel of vaccines (MMR, pertussis, diphtheria, etc.).

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Specializes in ER.

While I can see that there are many people out there that feel the same way I do, no one has yet answered the question "If you have left, what and where did you go to work?". I am looking for advice about other jobs that build on nursing/EMS. I have a lot of time and education invested in the medical field and do not particularly want to start from scratch.

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Of all the plights, causes, reasons for martyrdom, etc., I find refusing the flu shot a bizarre and futile battle to fight. I would not refuse a flu shot, unless it was contaminated with something that causes fungal meningitis or something else of that nature.

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Of all the plights, causes, reasons for martyrdom, etc., I find refusing the flu shot a bizarre and futile battle to fight. I would not refuse a flu shot, unless it was contaminated with something that causes fungal meningitis or something else of that nature.

Isn't it wonderful that you have the freedom to not have to agree with those who refuse?

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Specializes in emergency, psy, case management.

After being at a local hospital as an RN for many many years, my last day will be 11/30/12 due to this issue. I have a medical excuse from receiving the vaccine, but i do not agree to the wearing of a mask "at all times".

I think enough is enough--mandating that you are inoculated and then shielding of the vaccine companies from any responsibility --kinda says it all to me.

Where is the evidenced based results of the effectiveness of this vaccine? If you seriously look--there are no impartial reports.

It's big business pure and simple and governmental agencies that are out of control.

You have to take a stand somewhere and this issue, for me, draws the line in the sand.

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Kudos to you, olddragger. More people should make this choice.....

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Specializes in Med Surg.

I'm a student and several vaccinations (or titers) as well as the flu vaccine are mandatory. I personally have no issue with any of them.

Perhaps if I was sensitive to vaccines or had experienced a bad reaction to them I'd feel differently. As it is, I think the the benefit outweighs the risk for me and for pts.

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