Hepatitis B and Employment

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Hi,

I hope someone in this forum have experience a similar situation like mine. I'm an older non-traditional male student returning to school for a second bachelor in pursuit of a bachelor's in nursing. It took me 2 years of waiting to get into this highly competitive nursing school but I managed to get accepted last year. I had to go through all the vaccination shots including the Hepatitis B series. Everything has been going great in classroom as well as clinical. I enjoy working with people and I'm glad that I switched to a career in nursing. Just recently, I discovered that my sister and I are Hepatitis B carrier (I was devastated). I must have been born with it because my mother is also Hepatitis B carrier. I have been living healthy all life focusing on weight training and eating healthy - this really blows to find out that I'm a Hepatitis B carrier. I'm in the process of applying for an internship at one of the hospital that I have my clinical rotation. Their pre-employment screening includes a drug test and physical examination which require blood to be drawn. The HR person told me the blood drawn was to check for Hepatitis. I was afraid to ask for details. My questions are:

  • What exactly are they looking for when they draw my blood? Are they checking for the Hepatitis B antibody or checking to see if I have Hepatitis B.
  • If they know I have Hepatitis B, do they have the rights to Not hire me as an intern? Will I be able to get employment at other hospitals?
  • Since this hospital is also my clinical rotation hospital, will I be able to finish my clinical rotation and schooling if that hospital rejects me as an intern?

I appreciate any feedback. Thank You.

Hello,

I'm so glad I found this forum! I am a Hep B carrier also but I am a student who is going into my first year in the nursing program. I am very frustrated with my school because even though I got accepted to the program, they are now telling me that I might not be able to go through with it because of my Hep B. They want me to go to my doctor and ask him if I can go into the program. Does anyone know if there is a way I can appeal to their decision if they don't let me in?

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I am in a similar predicament. I am a hbv carrier. As part of pre-employment process for a cna position in a hospital, I have to do a drug and physical exam where blood will be drawn. It is wise/required to disclose my infection prior to the physical exam? Is there a clear cut rule about hbv and employment as a nurse in the united states?

thks

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There are treatments for hepatitis B, interferon...very expensive though and the treatment is 6months to 1 year. No idea of your specific situations but try googling interferon and HBV and see if it might apply to you

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hi guys im new here im a hep b carrier too. i am a registered nurse in philippines and im trying to have my registration here in new zealand.. im scaried that schools for my competence assesment program wont accept me because i have hepatitis b.. im undertreatment with entercavir and it is improving very well.. im just waiting for specialist doctor for my clearance that i can work as a nurse here in new zealand... Hoping and praying we can pass all through the trials we have... im gald that i have this site to share my thoughts and feeling about my hep b condition :)

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Hello everyone,

I'm lucky to find this thread. I've just accepted to a nursing school in Georgia state for Spring 2011, and I'm a Hapetitis B carrier. Some of my friends told me that a person with Hep B will be denied to nursing school. I'm so worry about it. If anyone have any information about it. PLEASE let me know. I daren't to come to school to ask for it because I'm afraid I cannot take it if they say NO. (I've not yet received information about health check. They told me that all docs will be sent on Nov. 2010).

Any reply is appreciated.

Many thanks.

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hi..I`ve just been tested and told that I am an HepB carrier and now I dont know if I should continue with the nursing school because I`ve read so many things on the internet and some of them say I can be employed some say I cant....I am from Romania and I would like to ask if anyone could give me an answer about my chances of employement in usa,canada,u.k.,...I dont want to waiste my time studiing and then not to be [email protected] is my e-mail adress and only someone with the same problem knows how much it would mean to get an answer about this issue...thak you...pls respond

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I am pretty sure that they hospital just has to have it on record if someone is a carrier HepB or HIV. As long as you follow regular precautions when dealing with patients, you are at no risk of transfering it to anyone, and even though the general public may not be aware of that the medical community certainly would be.

In all honestly they probably have to know before you start working in a hospital to cover THIER behinds. Accidental needle sticks and contact with bodily fluids are a potential hazard for health care workers. If you have have a needle stick and end up contracting HIV or HepB, I would imagaine the hospital would have some liability in that, and I'm sure they would want to be sure that you didn't have it before you started. I would think that is a more likely reason for them to make sure to know about those 2 prior to you working then trying to exclude someone out of fear of it being spread to others.

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I'm curious if anyone has actually been denied employment or admission to nursing school for being hep b, hep c, or hiv positive? It would seem to me that would constitute discrimination. In the healthcare setting universal precautions should be taken in all situations to protect the patient as well as the provider. What about those that spontaeously clear hep b and hep c (nonreactive). They will forever test positive for anitbodies but without reinfection pose no risk to anyone -right?

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hi everyone.

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I think the levels that drs. don't recommend to be in the service feild are active with high antigen levels, my dad as a dentist 20 years ago was told to quit practicing by a doctor. I am a carrier with very low levels, and have been told that it is probable to always be non contagious, I have given live birth four times and my hepititus didn't show up on any of their blood work, my doctor didn't even know, I only knew from donating blood, they must be more scrutinous tests. I plan on being a nurse, but while in assisting school came across discrimination and mis education.

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Some people discriminate people w/ hepa b... esp. here in the philippines...

Lack of knowledge of the disease maybe

They fear it because they only know it's contagious

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thanks

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