Hepatitis B and Employment

[nursestudent101]

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.

[Pneumothorax, BSN, RN]

regardless of your condition, we should be treating all patients as if they have something (bloodborne/fluidborne) that we dont want to catch and protect ourselves with proper PPE. I think if you keep that in mind you will protect yourself from catching anything or possibly contracting HBV to your patient (needle stick and ur blood gets on them)

And they cant discriminate against you. Thats a big no no.

[lovely12309]

I am glad that I found this forum! I am from Italy. Recently I got a job in US which is not for health care but normal r&d scientist. I am a Hep B carrier with HBeAg-Positive. They will let me take a medical test before I can work. I wonder if they will check Hep B and if they find that I am a carrier with HBeAg-Positive whether they let others know or withdraw my offer. I feel so bad with this. It is like the world becomes dark for me. Please help me!

[raizel]

I am a hep b+ and when I applied as a nurse in the hospital here in the Philippines I got rejected because I am positive although my gastro told me that I can work in the hospital and is not contiguous, still the chief nurse of that hospital rejected me, because I am positive. Sad to say even nurses who have higher experiences and in the position still cannot understand the course of the disease, and will discriminate right away.

Anyways, according to my gastro I can work abroad as a nurse even if I am Hep b +.. I have now hope in going abroad and work there as a nurse especially after reading some of the forums here regarding Hep B + nurses, that gave me Hope.. :)

[mishu]

As long as you will not apply in a Middle East country I think you can still apply...

[hopeforbetterlife]

I am a Hep B carrier, I found out when I was a teen. I am almost 50 now. I have been healthy all my life. My liver was outra sounded a couple months ago and it was fine. My office will be close in September. I don't want to relocate to different states. a friend recommended me go to school to be a respiratory therapist. I like that job very much. But I read some of this kind of job ad required to provide Hep B vaccinations. I felt sad. I don't know if I will waste my time go to school to pursuit this Job or any job in the medical field. I would like to hear from you Please. Thank you so much. [email protected]