I'm begining Junior year of my BSN program and clinicals will begin right away.
I have had some confusion before about my health form, specifically the Hep B vaccine series. My school wants proof of vaccine AND "seriologic evidence of immunity/titer". I have no records that I could find of any Hep B vaccine so my current doctor's office and I decided to just start the series. The rep from my school was annoyed because she thought I should have just gotten the titer to see if I had immunity. She really gave me a hard time and finally we agreed that it was more likely I never had it. On 9/15/15 I had shot #1 exactly one month later I had shot #2 like Instructed, then I was supposed to get shot #3 "5 months" later BUT it's now 10 months later and I'm getting it on Friday. (Long story about my pcp leaving his practice, communication mishaps with his office staff about scheduling and me losing my Medicaid). Yes lots of excuses I know but this is where I'm at.
With all that being said, my question is this, does anyone know if the general requirement regarding the vaccine schedule is that it must be exactly 5 month later for the last shot or can it be any time after 5 months...or approximately 5 months? Is the important part that I show enough immunity by the time a get the "serological evidence of immunity" test a month after the final shot?
Im so stressed and will not be able to speak to the woman at my school until the semester begins. Thank you in advance.
I am not sure about other schools, but mine lets us go to clinical as long as we have started the series. We just have to sign a form stating that the school isn't liable if we get sick and get the vaccines/titers taken care of asap.
I guess I'm just confused why you didn't just get your titers checked instead first? If you go to an in house lab, you would get your titers back pretty much same day.
Plus many people seem to believe the titer produces false negatives and I think that is why my doctor's office said Im better off having the vaccine started and on record.
Pretty sure you will be okay getting the 3rd one now. I used to administer these on frequent basis and I was told the 3rd is a booster, and most have adequate immunity after 2...Not all. You need to.check with your doctor.
Plus many people seem to believe the titer produces false negatives and I think that is why my doctor's office said Im better off having the vaccine started and on record.
Both...vaccine and then titer is most safe for insuring immunity. I don't understand it completely, but have been told with a slightly low titer, one is likely still immune IF they received the whole series.
Saw the NP at my primary's office. He sent me to get the titer + other lab tests and they want me to start the series over again. I just got back from LabCorp and now have to make another appointment to see the nurse to get the Hep B shot. I also have to wait to get the flu shot because they don't have it in until the second week of September. So more waiting and paperwork won't be done until then. I hope my titer comes back with enough immunity.
One thing to learn from this..No hospital administrator will give a hoot about your reasons "why". You absolutely cannot work if you do not meet the standards. PERIOD. Nursing license, BLS, vaccines, training, CEUs, etc. If anything is out of line for one single day you will not be working the floor. It doesn't matter how many times your grandma died or whatever else happens. This is what I tell all new nurses..they must "think" different than the normal world. Everything in a hospital is regulated and controlled... When a lawsuit happens the lawyers are cutthroat and they will scour EVERYTHING to find something out of place. 2 days expired nursing license...no different than 2 years. Good luck and LEARN.
Thank you! I know the guidelines state you don't have to repeat the series but I found out it does have to be repeated if I have a titer that shows low immunity. My concern is does the extra 5 months contribute to low immunity or is it usually enough to not be an issue?
It definitely varies from person to person. Personally, I had missed the third shot twice, beginning the series about one year apart, with reasoning similar to your own. I recently had titers done for my new job (about a year after my last shot) and was immune. I was was told by our employee health nurse to keep that paperwork forever and not to ever let anyone retest me because immunity can wax and wane but that I am totally immune for life.
One thing to learn from this..No hospital administrator will give a hoot about your reasons "why". You absolutely cannot work if you do not meet the standards. PERIOD. Nursing license, BLS, vaccines, training, CEUs, etc. If anything is out of line for one single day you will not be working the floor. It doesn't matter how many times your grandma died or whatever else happens. This is what I tell all new nurses..they must "think" different than the normal world. Everything in a hospital is regulated and controlled... When a lawsuit happens the lawyers are cutthroat and they will scour EVERYTHING to find something out of place. 2 days expired nursing license...no different than 2 years. Good luck and LEARN.
Yes, you are very right but does your employer pay to have you vaccinated properly? Is it usually a situation where it's done in-house or do employees still have to go to their pcp?
... does your employer pay to have you vaccinated properly? Is it usually a situation where it's done in-house or do employees still have to go to their pcp?
I'm waiting for my third vaccine, even though I had them done years ago. I was a non-responder, and my program had me sign a form saying I "refused" (just to cover their bases) it, just to have it on record until the third vaccine/titer. Maybe your program has something like that.
Unfortunately the same exact thing happened to me. I hoped for the best with getting my titer after the 3rd vaccine and I was not immune and had to get the full series again. School was not happy, and were not very pleasant when I told them. Which is understandable. However, I was able to finish I just had to send them my status after each step and let them know when my appointments were.
I'm waiting for my third vaccine, even though I had them done years ago. I was a non-responder, and my program had me sign a form saying I "refused" (just to cover their bases) it, just to have it on record until the third vaccine/titer. Maybe your program has something like that.
PhillyRNtoBe
137 Posts
That is really helpful, thank you!