i've heard of nursing students having Hep B. they are allowed to ..

Sharon · Aug 5, 2004

During the early 1990's I taught in a nursing program that did not accept students who were Hep B positive. Many of the hospitals at that time would not hire Hep B nurses nor allow Hep B positive students practice on their patients. Since I no longer live or practice in this geographical region, I do not know if the practice continues.

During that time I taught a clinical at a hospital that announced that future urine eye splash exposures would be considered contributory negligence on the part of the staff because there was no excuse for not using appropriate personal protective equipment. Failure to follow appropriate safety procedures that caused significant exposure would result in termination.

With the life time cost of worker's compensation cost infectious disease claims in the millions of dollars when cases result in an organ transplant, some hospitals have become aggressive in managing the cost. The issue has begun to migrate into the non-health care industries.

The most recent example of this is SARS. Another is a retail grocery case I worked a few years ago. A corporate employee contracted coxsacki due to a co-worker bring 3 year old who had coxsacki to work when they could not leave them at daycare. The 22-year-old employee developed myocarditis, arrhythmias, including afib, requiring ablation, and cardiac management for the next 50 years.

Tweety, BSN, RN · Aug 5, 2004

Our hospital has a policy that if we don't follow infectious disease policies, especially when using ppe then we are fired after the second offense.

I would be more worried that this student is spreading disease from patient to patient if she doesn't use proper handwashing and universal precautions. This is how MRSA or C. Diff is spread from patient to patient. So yes, this student is scarey. You and your fellow students have an obligation to report her when she breeches good technique, for the sake of the patients.

I'd be less concerned about the Hep B as it's spread through the blood or sexual contact.

I have had Hep B in the past. I was asymptomatic and didn't know I had it until I was applying for a job where they tested for it. I did not disclose my history to my current employer and opted out of taking the vaccine. I'm more exposed to by Hep B patients as I'm exposed to their blood starting IVs, wound care, etc. than they are to my history of Hep B.

KibbsRNstudent · Aug 9, 2004

Our hospital has a policy that if we don't follow infectious disease policies, especially when using ppe then we are fired after the second offense.
I would be more worried that this student is spreading disease from patient to patient if she doesn't use proper handwashing and universal precautions. This is how MRSA or C. Diff is spread from patient to patient. So yes, this student is scarey. You and your fellow students have an obligation to report her when she breeches good technique, for the sake of the patients.
I'd be less concerned about the Hep B as it's spread through the blood or sexual contact.
I have had Hep B in the past. I was asymptomatic and didn't know I had it until I was applying for a job where they tested for it. I did not disclose my history to my current employer and opted out of taking the vaccine. I'm more exposed to by Hep B patients as I'm exposed to their blood starting IVs, wound care, etc. than they are to my history of Hep B.

Hep B is chronic and can not be cured so if you had it in the past then you have it now.

jeepgirl, LPN, NP · Aug 19, 2004

I think you missed my point about nurses transmitting disease to patients. You should go on the CDC website and become more educated about Hep B and other infectious diseases. BTW, the Hep B vaccine does not 100% guarantee that you will become immune.

well, thats why they run a titer on you, and if you aren't immune then they repeat the vaccination series. if after a second (or maybe its a third) repeat of the series you still aren't immune, you're then labeled as a non-responder. i had to get my series twice, but in the end i've become immune. i was told by our employee health nurse that it isn't common for someone to not become immune after repeated vaccination.

BucklandRN · Aug 23, 2004

First of all, nurses are not required to disclose their status. Why would having a nurse with a disease be scary? A nurse (like any other person) would have to exchange bodily fluids with a person to be contagious.

I totally disagree with the fact that nurses aren't required to disclose their status. I'm the type of person who wouldn't put anything past anyone, nurse or not. I would not want an infected nurse examining me, anything could happen. It would be a different story if that nurse was examining you. People just don't follow rules all the time. I see nurses taking alot of risks. Especially not using gloves during some exams, or when drawing blood samples.

BucklandRN · Aug 23, 2004

If this nurse is not allowed to do clinicals then how will she graduate? It doesn't make any sense. Most nursing schools require a certain number of hours of clinical and require that any missed hours be made up. If this person was not allowed to do clinicals due to having Hep B I believe it is discrimination.
Is this post for real?![/quote
I don't totally agree that nurses or nursing students should not practice if they are infected. I feel that they should practice in less risky areas of nursing. I think any nurse who has common sense that knows shes infected with a deadly disease should seek a less risky position, or practice universal law to the tee. I wouldn't go so far as to say it's discrimination though, be real with it.