I am new to this forum but I am highly interested in the field of nursing. I have a very gentle personality and really love helping people, I feel that I could be a really good nurse. My question is this, how mandatory is it to have all immunizations up to date? I do not have all of vaccines up to date and prefer not to take them due to personal reasons/concerns. How possible would it be for me to enter into and possibly advance in the field of nursing without having up-to-date immunizations?
Any thoughts are appreciated!
As additional info, I am located in the province of Alberta.
Specializes in MPH Student Fall/14, Emergency, Research.
OP, I'd suggest contacting CARNA (our professional licensing body) for the official answer. You should also contact the school you'd like to attend for their policy.
Pretty much in summary, you have to get them. :-( Some of the hospitals in my area allow you to sign a waiver for the H1N1 and Polio, but that's it.
What I had to do was decide whether my desire to save lives and provide practical comfort to those who are hurting or my desire to not be vaccinated was greater. Nursing won.
Wow, so will you try to get the waiver for the H1N1 and polio vaccines? I feel that I am at a real personal crossroads right now because I really do not want to get vaccinated but I am so interested in becoming a nurse, I would love to be able to work in labour and delivery. I am just worried about the long term effects of being vaccinated.
I do not know of any nursing schools or workplaces that would allow unvaccinated nurses who chose not to vaccinate themselves for "personal reasons". My school required all basic immunizations (MMR, varicella, Hep B, polio) as well as the meningococcal for attendance. My workplace requires all of the above in addition to annual influenza vaccination. That was a new requirement this year and it was a requirement for continued employment. Those who did not get the flu shot were terminated. The only waivers were for people with egg allergies or a history of Guillain Barre syndrome. I have had reactions to the flu shot every time I've had it but because I'm not allergic to eggs nor have I ever had GBS, my workplace didn't care it was agree to the vaccination or lose my job.
Having seen the snowball effect of measles exposure, I have to say that I agree that healthcare workers should be vaccinated against such things. I have had patients who had minimal immune systems because of chemotherapy or stem cell transplant who've been exposed to measles in the ED and had to then be quarantined and receive IVIG.
What "long-term side effects" of vaccinations are you concerned with? Not dying of polio?
Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
A thought just crossed my mind, do most vaccines have an oral version as opposed to one that has to be injected?
Are you afraid of needles? Man up and get the shots. There are far worse things you could have happen to you. As others have said, a lot of facilities are cracking down on people who don't have up to date vaccines. I don't know if you'll be able to get by with saying it's against your personal beliefs; you'll probably have to have some sort of statement from your spiritual advisor as proof.
I am just worried about the long term effects of being vaccinated.
Look at the side effects of the diseases you're being vaccinated against. Look up the possible side effects of the vaccine. Learn about how the US determines what is reported as a side/adverse effect of vaccines. Use legit sites, like the CDC or Medscape, not VaccinesSuck.com or ImADoctorInZimbabweSoIPromiseYouCanTrustMe.com. Think of it as preparation for nursing school homework.
You may think that being in L&D makes it less important for you to be vaccinated, because who is going to come in with crazy diseases? I'd argue that L&D is the department where up to date vaccines are MOST important, because newborns have very immature immune systems. In addition, some diseases (especially Rubella) cause horrible effects on fetuses. And yes, people do come in with nasty stuff, even to L&D.
Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
Wow, so will you try to get the waiver for the H1N1 and polio vaccines? I feel that I am at a real personal crossroads right now because I really do not want to get vaccinated but I am so interested in becoming a nurse, I would love to be able to work in labour and delivery. I am just worried about the long term effects of being vaccinated.
As a labor and delivery nurse, and someone who has chosen to not vaccinate/delay vaccines in my children (but who is fully vaccinated per the rules and regs of my employer), can I ask what are your concerns? Perhaps I can help address them.
MrsF26
12 Posts
No, you are not required to be immunized here in Canada in order to attend public school.