Help!! Not IMMUNE HEP B SURFACE RESULT!!!

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I'm in enrolled in a 2yr BSN program and just received my hep b surface titers result yesterday and it came back not immune...ugh :mad:! I have clinicals in TWO days and wondering if I will be allowed to take clinicals. I cannot miss clinicals and remain in my program. I know that I will have to get the hep B immunization and re-tested but I dont think there is enough time to do so. Can anyone advise me?? I'm not sure what this means if it will prevent me from taking my clinicals. My school's medical form mentions if MMR came back negative then I will have to get re-immunized and retake titer prior to clinicals. However, for the hep b it didn't say retake titer before clinicals, it just said retake. Any light on this matter would be appreciated. Thanks!!

I'm very nervous!!

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At my school, as long as you have had your first Hep B shot you can start your clinicals. So I would call around and find some placed to get you in. I would also check with your school and see what their policy is.

There is no way to get the whole series in 2 days because there has to be 1 month between shots 1 & 2 and 6 months between shots 1 & 3.

Good luck!

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Thank you very much! This sounds logical b/c my school didn't put a time frame on getting re-tested for the hep b. I will talk to them on Monday but wanted to get some advice before I do so. I should be able to get the shot on Monday so I truly hope this will solve it!!

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My school offers the option to decline the Hepatitis B shot. I'm not suggesting you do that. But if, for some reason, they aren't okay with you not having the first shot prior to clinicals, maybe you can ask about signing a waiver to decline it. At least that would clear you temporarily, for the sake of starting clinicals. Then once you are able to get your first shot, you can turn it in to the school.

I work as an agency nurse, and my company also gives the option to decline the shot. So I know there are other institutions out there that allow it. Maybe your school would do the same. Just a thought! Hope it all works out for you. :)

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Specializes in ER, Trauma.

First, some people never show an immunity.

Second, be sure they are giving into MUSCLE, usually deltoid. The serum doesn't work if given into fatty tissue, and a large percentage of shots in the buttocks actually end up in fatty tissue. When it first became available, all got it in the buttocks, few converted, and they got it again deltoid.

Third in 30 years I doubt I've seen 6 cases of Hep B. Weighing the possible vs the probable, you may wish to work in a low exposure area. Or not. Good luck.

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Specializes in NICU.

I've had the full series twice. Still not close to showing any level of immunity. My employer is not making me take another round of shots that probably will not take.

With some students when I was in nursing school, they just started the Hep B rounds right before clinicals. As long as the first shot is done before clinicals, I can't imagine the school telling you you have to wait to take the class.

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You guys truly rock! Thank you all so much for all your info :up:

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

I had the full series three times - didn't show immunity until after the third series.

Good luck - it sounds like this can get sorted out for you. :)

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I had the first series and did not have immunity. So my school made me waive the Hep B immunization for legal reasons and encouraged me to start a second series. The good news is that the second series worked and my titer showed immunity. Yeah! There were no issues about me doing clinical while I was not immune, BTW.

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Considering every state offers exemptions for those wishing to opt out of certain vaccines, I'm sure there won't be a problem for you, especially if they know you plan on getting the vaccines anyway.

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Specializes in student; help!.

We got a waiver sheet with our physical paperwork. You should be able to decline a second series if you want.

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Hey don't worry! I'm in school and I can't get hep b immune either. On my second series now just for the sake of trying, but I'm going to have to sign a waiver because my clinicals start in one month. I'm 100% sure that sucker's been in my muscle all 4 times so far, but hey, some people are just too cool to absorb the vaccine :cool:

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