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.
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.
Not to nit pick, but even though a neonate's immune system is immature, the full term neonate has the same immunity/protection as it's mother. This protection is enhanced and extended if the mother breastfeeds. Full term, healthy neonates are hardy creatures. :)
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.
You might get teh autism from gettin' vaccinated. True story!
I don't believe all the media circus propaganda around vaccines, but even if you do believe it, it's children who are at risk for adverse effects, haven't heard anything about adults developing autism (or whatever).You want to help others? Start by getting vaccinated.
If you want to be a nurse you will have to be vaccinated. Period. If you dont wish to be vaccinated, find something else to do. it is just that simple.....
I'm a nurse working in Alberta with AHS and part of the requirement for hire is that you have to have all your vaccines up to date...the facility you're hired into will provide access to the shots you need. You will also need up to date vaccination to be cleared for participating in clinicals for school...and you can't graduate if you do not do the clinical hours. Unless you have a legit reason for not having vaccines, you will need to be vaccinated at one point or another if you want to become a nurse.
Important question...say you become a nurse and patients ask you if they should be vaccinated. How will you respond?I get asked this all the time by patients, friends and family. Also, I hear all the usual stuff like " I got the flu vax but still got sick". Of course they didn't get the flu.Makes me want to lie down or scream.
Thanks for your answers everybody, I will have to carefully weigh-out my options.
I will probably just have them all updated but I will wait until I am finished having kids as I prefer not to be pregnant or breast feeding while having my vaccines updated. I have two kids already and plan on having two more right away, god-willing of course.
I do not think that vaccines cause Autism, but that being said I think that mixed with many different external environmental as well as genetic factors they may do more harm than good. I think it the case of Autism it is more predominately the genetic factor that could determine whether or not a child could be diagnosed as being somewhere on the spectrum. I can see this in my own family as I have both a sibling and a cousin who have ASD diagnosis, I can definitely see other "Autistic" characteristics in many family members. So, in short I think that genes have a big role in determining a persons risk factor.
I could be wrong but I think the science may be pointing to this conclusion as well. I briefly remember hearing that they had discovered an "autistic gene" a couple of years ago, I can't be 100% sure though.
Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
I do not think that vaccines cause Autism, but that being said I think that mixed with many different external environmental as well as genetic factors they may do more harm than good.
Can you be more specific by what you mean about "more harm than good"? Do you believe that for all vaccines, or just certain vaccines? Vaccines just to newborns and infants or vaccines to all people, including adults? I'm just trying to get a feel for where your concerns lie so that I can perhaps address them.
Well, my greatest concern for myself would be that I would have a bad adverse reaction to a vaccine as there been several individuals in my family who have had bad reactions when receiving vaccines, fever, headache, diarrhea, vomiting. I would worry that I could have a bad reaction and not be able to recover afterwards. I just think that the use of preservatives such as Formaldehyde and Thimerosal could be questionable.
.thumb.jpg.95579fecd0c06f764e0cfdf4eb6f58b0.jpg){kind=small}
jt43
149 Posts
Not to nit pick, but even though a neonate's immune system is immature, the full term neonate has the same immunity/protection as it's mother. This protection is enhanced and extended if the mother breastfeeds. Full term, healthy neonates are hardy creatures. :)