OK.....I am 31 years old and working on my prereqs. I plan to apply to the nursing school in August, hopefully to start January '06.
How many of you actually have your immunization records?
Oh, and how many of you have to have your "mommy" to write a note saying yes in fact you did have the varicella virus when you were a child? My mom got a real kick out of that one when I called to tell her. LOL
I'm not scared of needles, but I really don't want to have to go through the whole immunization process again.
I don't have my records, but my school needed hard evidence of immunity. Which means either shot records, proof of illness, or titer. I had to get a titer as I had no proof (and they won't accept a note from mom). But the titer was one blood draw and they checked MMR, varicella and hep. I ended up needing the hep shot.
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did you need a Dr.'s RX for the MMR titer?
I can get one, but I hate to bother him with that. How fast did you get the titer results?
I don't have my records, but my school needed hard evidence of immunity. Which means either shot records, proof of illness, or titer. I had to get a titer as I had no proof (and they won't accept a note from mom). But the titer was one blood draw and they checked MMR, varicella and hep. I ended up needing the hep shot.
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did you need a Dr.'s RX for the MMR titer?
I can get one, but I hate to bother him with that. How fast did you get the titer results?
I told my Dr.'s office that I needed all three shots again, or a titer. The NP said she would give me what would be my 3rd "out of sequence" then I could decide if I wanted the titer or another two shots. She said the titer would be cheaper b/c the HepB was $75. I think any medical place will do a titer without having to have an actual prescription.
I'm not scared of needles, but I really don't want to have to go through the whole immunization process again.
Hello Fun2care,
Not many people really like to go through their annual or biannual blood draws but once in health care, you have to do this.
My last employer, (little rant about ADVOCATE in Chicago) was soooo bad at loosing employee health records that they would call many, (many) of us in to have these re-drawn!! Yeah, incompetance, (I mean the first time it happened its forgivable but, repeatedly?!)
There are also the yearly mantoux skin tests for tb also but, those aren't so bad really.
Once you do have all of your immunizations usually a blood test will check for your titers and hopefully they will still ALL be good. :)
No one 'enjoys' these tests but we endure it, (I highly, highly suggest keeping a copy for yourself also, especially so you don't need re-tests in case they get lost!)
Gennaver
p.s. I worked for that employer for three+ years and had the blood draws for titer checks three times also, (three times?) and also had the two step tb sking test four times!! Ugh, (keeping copies myself from now on)
I have no records either. My mom did what she was supposed to and gave all the records to my doc. He's been retired for years and moved away. I checked my H.S. records, and there's nothing official in there, just the dates my mother filled in. So, I guess it's off to the doctor I go! I know I need Hep. B anyway. Kind of "funny" (in a not-so-funny-way) to my kids that mom needs to get the same shots they do.
I would check with your school to see if thier health clinic offers discounted titers to students. In Alaska, the state pays for most of the tests fro healthcare workers. I had my Hep A & B, Rubella, Varicella, and annual HIV done at no cost. I think our school offers a discount program for students who need to be revaxinated.
I would check with your school to see if thier health clinic offers discounted titers to students. In Alaska, the state pays for most of the tests fro healthcare workers. I had my Hep A & B, Rubella, Varicella, and annual HIV done at no cost. I think our school offers a discount program for students who need to be revaxinated.
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Wow. It isnt that way here.
I have to pay $150 for my Hept B, $20 for my TB, $40 for my titer, and $50 for my CPR...before I even apply to clinicals.
Then another $50 for the nursing application and another $30 for the regular school application.
I just had my vaccinations done yesterday. I was given, the Hep B, M.M.R, the mantoux (sp) for T.B, but the doctor didn't want to give me the varicella shot.
It wasn't bad at all, hopefully I don't get any reactions of any kind. :uhoh21:
If you don't have a copy of your shots you can contact the board of education in the state you went to high school in last and they should have a copy. You have to have a shot record to start school in most states and your schools keep that copy. I wound up having to contact the high school I went to, who had my shot record on microfiche. They just pulled it up, copied it, and there you go.
About varicella. You should have a titer count, cause just cause you had them as a child doesn't mean you still have antibodies. Plus if you had them as a child and then get the vaccination anyway there is some evidence to suggest that it MIGHT predispose you to shingles as an adult. That little tidbit came out in our lecture class.
Good luck and you'll get over the whole needle thing.
I can't believe they will take a note from "mom" stating you have had Varicella. Everywhere I work I need either a Physician confirmation of varicella or a titre.
Hepatitis A is mostly spread via contaminated food- and it is recommended for people traveling overseas. I've never had it required for a nursing job. However, you can now get vaccinated with the twinrix- for both Hep A and B at the same time, so why not...who knows when you might decide to go to Mexico.
I agree with the call the school district where you went to school idea. Thats how I got my shot records - they were on microfiche, but they had them. They were certified by the school nurse so that worked.
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Kyriaka
329 Posts