Hiring a nurse that's a carrier of MRSA - Can that happen?

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Hello.

I was wondering if somebody can give me a solid, credible answer to this question that I have wondered for years. I am in my fourth year of undergraduate school, but I am not a nursing major. A few years back (when I was a pre-nursing major), I had an RN tell me that if I was a carrier of MRSA that nobody would ever hire me as a nurse, so I shyed away from going down the nursing career path and changed my major. I'm still interested in pursuing nursing and have been looking at many Direct Entry MSN programs for graduates with degrees in non-nursing fields. A few years ago, I had a few MRSA infections and since then I haven't had any infections. About three years ago I was tested from a culture in my nose and was officially told that I was a carrier of MRSA. Before, I really decide to continue with my education, I need to know whether or not a hospital or any company would hire a registered nurse which is a carrier of MRSA? Is this simply a rumor or is it really an impossible thing to pursue a nursing career as a carrier of MRSA?

Thank you so much in advance for any information anyone can provide me with.

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Specializes in CTICU.

It's rubbish. A majority of nurses are probably carriers of MRSA - definitely after nursing, if they weren't before they started! Being a carrier doesn't really mean anything.

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The majority of nurses are carriers of MRSA. You have been given misinformation.

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Specializes in Family Practice, Mental Health.

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/546221

What precautions should healthcare workers, such as nurses, take if they have been treated for an MRSA infection? Is it safe for them to continue taking care of patients? Nurses and other healthcare workers who do not have active infections or who have wounds that can be covered and controlled with dressings are permitted to work. Colonization alone does not prevent healthcare workers from working unless they are epidemiologically linked to transmission of an infection. The new HICPAC guideline recommends obtaining cultures of healthcare personnel for target MDROs only when there is epidemiologic evidence linking the healthcare staff member to ongoing transmission.[8]

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I probably have MRSA, VRE, GRE, and a host of diseases I don't even want to know about. IF you want to be a nurse, go for it.

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Specializes in ER, Urgent care, industrial, phone triag.

First of all, less than 50% of nurses, more like 30% are colonized for MRSA. But, regardless of that, no hospitals that I am aware of in the US screen new employees for MRSA.

If you wish to become a nurse go for it. Appropriate Isolation, handwashing and precautions protect patients in most cases from MRSA, no matter what the source is.

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Mammy1111

I am following your quest for regulation. It is comprehensive and accurate, but will be rewritten and lessened substantially before and if is becomes law. Please reference Tom Campbell Representative WA. LD 1023.

I tested positive for HA MRSA with ZYVOX inhibition only. Considering the NIH states MRSA can exchange DNA, I am acutely aware of MRSA. If you are +MRSA I can give you my strain. I dont even have to touch you. I dont even have to be in the same building at the same time. All that is require is I leave a colony and you contact it. I would consider it remote that you would give me MSSA. I would be very grateful, as I am allergic to antibiotics, say for penicillin. Please, before you touch me remember, you can kill me and I you.

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Specializes in ER, Urgent care, industrial, phone triag.

Postman,

I'm not entirely clear about your post. I couldn't find an LD 1023 for Washington State first of all, and if there is I'd love to read it.

Are you are nurse? Do you work with your HA MRSA or are you unable to? Please contact me. I would love to hear your story and how you handle your infection. I am also interested to know if your MRSA status has forced you to leave nursing. I have heard of several cases of that, and those victims have had great difficulties getting disability. I don't know of anyone who has managed to get a workmans comp case because of MRSA....anybody else?

Nurses put themselves at risk of MRSA and other infections every day. Their families are also threatened. Prevention and Control of these microbes needs to become a priority in nursing and medical care. I wonder every day....how many infections are an "acceptable level". How many deaths are acceptable? When will getting rid of this scourge become priority? Does anybody have answers to these questions?

Maine Health and Human Services Committee hearings will be held on April 7 sometime after 2pm. You can listen to audio of these hearings at http://www.maine.gov/legis/audio/health_cmte.html

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Mammy1111,

My Bad, House Bill 1123. No I am a victim, umbilical hernia repair. I am including a link to the Bill's History.

http://superbugassassins.com

proceed to the site directory and click on "News, Articles, and Miscellaneous of Interest"

Acceptable Level? Well I would have been happier if I had been 1 less! But as a local County Health Department is investigating the reporting of 250 cases a month.

Along with your efforts North Carolina is mulling over strict reporting "Requirements".

I want to offer my condolenses regarding your father.

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Rep. Campbell has informed me a short while ago, that his MRSA bill has passed and awaits the Govenors signing it into law.

I explained that his bill inadvertenately gave patients the right to a DNA test of other patients congregated with them, and the right to be isolated as the National Institutes of Health has documented that strains of MRSA can exchange DNA. Also a MRSA patient has the right to be notified of any Healthcare professional that has MRSA.

Get ready for the NATIONAL MRSA DNA DATABASE. :typing

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My better half is getting over an outbreak of MRSA. He is a nurse and works in surgery. We think he contracted through a patient who came through the OR two days prior. He's been in the hospital for almost a week, and had I&D for an abscess that developed a week ago. I went to our family dr to get my nose swabbed for MRSA, if I am a carrier or colonize it. I am thoroughly distraught over this whole event and worried about his health, my health and his job. Can they fire him for contracting MRSA? I have been reading everything possible on this nasty bacteria and would appreciate further insights from you all......

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I have recently developed a MRSA infection that was next to my Left eye. It began as a red bump and turned into a abscess. That thing hurt so bad. I was placed on bactrim. I am a WOCN nurse. (Wound, Ostomy and Continence) I am constantly working with patients who have MRSA in their wounds and follow strict handwashing and infection control. I have had several cases where I see patients who are not diganosed when I intially see them but when I have a follow-up they are now in isolation for MRSA. I have not been able to return to work because my work requires 3 negative cultures and I have not been able to get 3 negatives yet. I have been out of work for a month because of this. I began Bactroban and hoping this will help. I have only been at my job for 3 months. I have been terminated due to their policy because I only have 2 weeks of short term disability. Workers comp was denied of course because I cannot prove it. I am told I can reapply for my job once I have 3 negative cultures. I was wondering if anyone knows of any protection for nurses out there who acquire MRSA. I have found that California association of nurses is acting on this. I live in Pennsylvania and have not been able to find anything for my state. It is very scary to find out that there is no protection for me and that I have lost my job over this.I never in a million years thought I could get terminated for something like this. I am worried about this happening again. I am a healthy 31 year old with no medical history and never thought something like this could happen to me. I just recently got back into direct patient care and its scary out there. Any input would be greatly appreciated. If anyone knows of any cases that were won. I am seeking to appeal my workers comp and seeking an attorney. I can only find articles for protection of patients which is great but what about protection for the healthcare workers? I really don't want to have to take this path but it just does not seem right to me.

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