Hep C Diagnosis --- Now What???!!!

[CNA_MISSY]

Last week, I was offered my dream job. I accepted and went through the whole process of having the physical done, including the TB test. I went back today and had the test read. When the nurse left the room, she left my chart open and obviously, I took a peek. I almost screamed when I saw that the lab results said I was Hep C positive. I have never used drugs so the only way I could have gotten it is back in 1979 when I had a blood transfusion after I started bleeding profusely during an emergency c-section situation with my first child.

When the nurse came back, I obviously had to act all cool and stuff when I was not but I managed to pull myself together. I asked her when I would get my clearance to attend orientation on Monday and she said, we don't have all of your labs back yet but someone will call you with the results.

OMG....I am so freaked because I am scared that I will not be able to work at this hospital in this position which I have dreamed about for the past year. I am also a nursing student and two more classes, will apply for my clinicals.

First, is it common for a hospital to turn away Hep C positive employees?

Second, do I need to seek a profession in something else as I will not be allowed to work in nursing because of this diagnosis.

Neither of the two hospitals I worked in previously tested me and I have never had a reason to be tested so this is all coming to light now. I don't know if this is making sense as I am a nervous wreck.

Thanks.

Missy:banghead:

[ohmeowzer RN, RN]

i am so sorry you are going through this.. are you sure you read the results right? my prayers are with you.. please wait until you hear form the doc... keep me posted

[CNA_MISSY]

I really wish I could say I was wrong and did not read correctly, but I know that I read the results correctly. They caught my attention because they were bolded.

[pinksugar]

I hope it turns out to be a false positive! In any case, try not to worry until you know for sure (I know - easier said than done).

I don't see why they wouldn't let you be a nurse - we take universal precautions to protect our patients and ourselves. I am no expert, though.

Keep us posted, ok? (((Hugs)))

[jadu1106]

Hi, I would just wait till the hospital calls you back after they get your lab results...but instead of putting all of your worry in whether they turn you away or contemplating another profession...I would be worried about your own health and going to your own doctor to get more accurate definate results and what to do with the outcome....

"First, is it common for a hospital to turn away Hep C positive employees?

Second, do I need to seek a profession in something else as I will not be allowed to work in nursing because of this diagnosis."

[sundowners2]

If I were you, I'd wait for someone to explain the results to me. I did the EXACT same thing once. I had an exposure at work and had to have a Hepatitis profile done. Same situation with me: I was able to peek at my labs and saw that the Heb B surface antibody was positive. At the time, I didn't realize that this indicates immunity and that you WANT this result to be positive. Maybe that's what you saw.

I had a panic attack over it and didn't sleep well for 2 weeks until a MD explained it to me.

[CNA_MISSY]

I probably should have mentioned that I am very concerned about my health and I did call my doctor's office here in my new state to get an appt but she is on vac and won't return until the end of month. I called my old doctor's office and he was kind enough to call me back and said there was nothing in any of my yearly physicals for the past years which would indicate that I was ill from Hep C ... like elevated liver enzymes Thus, I fell to the selfish part of me that posted on this board....not the rational side. I will definitely check with my dr when she gets back from vacation. In the meantime, I wanted to know what standard hosp policies are, if such a thing exists, or do hosps sort of do their own thing facility by facility.

[Creamsoda, ASN, RN]

Are you absolutely sure that it wasnt the Hep B antibody Titre? I know anyplace ive worked, ive had to prove that I had IMMUNITY to Hep A and B, which comes from the vaccine. They test that by drawing a titre which should be positive to have immunity. You should have just said something at the time. Why pretend you didnt see it, then freak out. Call and find out.

They cant not hire you even if you did have Hep C. I work with nurses who have Hep C from needle stick injuries.

[VegRN]

First of all, why would they draw a lab for Hep C? I can't see a point to that. Seems more likely that they would draw a Hep B titer to ensure immunity. I think you should call the employee health department that drew it and ask them.

[annmariern]

I had a needlestick and on follow up at the hospital, was told I was hep C+; sick with worry I had a PCR done at my docs....negative. False positives do occur.

[EmBeMap]

I really can't give you details how I know, but other than surgery and LandD no hospital can legally not hire solely based on your hep c status. If they don't hire you fight it. But also take care of your health, find out where you stand ... do you have active hep c that will require interferon and all kinds of exhaustin drugs. or are you just making antibodies without active symptoms? Also worse case scenario if you remain healthly what about being an infectious disease nurse? The cool thing about nursing is all the possibilties for postions. If your health is actually compromised hospital nursing might not be right for right now. Maybe home health or clinics are a better fit. don't freak out about your career choice there are a wide range of possibilities. keep healthy...

[Dolce, RN]

First of all, why would they draw a lab for Hep C? I can't see a point to that. Seems more likely that they would draw a Hep B titer to ensure immunity. I think you should call the employee health department that drew it and ask them.

I'm wondering the same thing. I have worked for multiple hospitals/facilities and have never been tested for Hep C. I have been tested for Hep B antibodies and was tested for Hep C after a needlestick injury. I really don't see the point of testing for Hep C pre-employment. Are you 100% sure you read the test right?