It didn't dawn on me until just right now, don't ask me why, that my choice of NOT getting a flu shot will NOT get me into a nursing program. The director at my school of choice basically stated "it is a requirement that you receive one, however you can sign a declaration that you do not wish to receive one." Then I asked, "would that inhibit my chances of getting into the program?" She replied, "well, the facilities in which we work with it is required due to you working with elderly clients; If you do not wish to get the flu shot perhaps you should look into another career."
*****?? (excuse the language) I have worked in nursing homes, health centers, private duty, home health agencies, visiting nurses association, hospice AND THEY NEVER REQUIRED me to ever receive or even ASKED if I have obtained a flu shot!!! (mid 90's)
So, anyone please tell me my dream of becoming a nurse is already dead because I REFUSE to get a flu shot???!!! seriously??? I am so upset right now!!!
I have been a nurse for close to 3 years. Get a note from your doctor saying your are allergic. That is all that is required.
One thing you need to learn in nursing, right away, when speaking to management is never let your left hand know what your right hand is going to do. Lols... Eventually it'll make sense.
In nursing school I did get the flu shot, for the first time and after that 3 more times. Last year I refused to get the flu shot. This year I will do the same, wearing a mask isn't that bad. However, my thing is... to needlessly inject a solution into my body that I do not require, and possibly will not get the flu this year is silly and goes against nursing practice. Like in medicine perfectly nursing we don't just go and Medicaid patients just because. Example a patient is running a fever, we do not just rush to give them Tylenol. We do other interventions which include removing heavy clothing and cooling measures. If temperature doesn't decrease then maybe we'll give acetaminophen.
Reading the first page of this post has infuriated me:
"I hate to say it, but you are so incredibly unimportant to a clinical site, you wouldn't believe it. They don't care what documentary you watched about vaccinations or how super badly you want to be a nurse. "
Cruel and insensitive to one another, however speechless to management. This is why they, nurses, get stomped on by aministration, doctor's and unionized CNAs. This is why they burnout we are understaffed all the time. As a nurse with close to three years of experience, I haven't an unlimited amount of opportunities in my current location New York City. There is no reason why nurses should ever have to take a back seat and just accept things for the way they are.
"If you do not stand for something, you'll fall for anything."
I have been a nurse for close to 3 years. Get a note from your doctor saying your are allergic. That is all that is required.
If the OP isn't allergic than this is unethical.
However, my thing is... to needlessly inject a solution into my body that I do not require, and possibly will not get the flu this year is silly and goes against nursing practice. Like in medicine perfectly nursing we don't just go and Medicaid patients just because.
I don't understand what you are trying to say here. In both nursing and medicine we follow evidence-based practice, and according to the ANA Standards of Nursing Practice "Standard 5B. Health Teaching and Health Promotion: The registered nurse employs strategies to promote health and a safe environment." The influenza vaccine has demonstrated safety and efficacy in improving health outcomes.
You possibly may not get the flu, you possibly will, and some of those that will will possibly die. We are not "medicating" patients just because we are medicating them because that is what best promotes health for them and for others.
Example a patient is running a fever, we do not just rush to give them Tylenol. We do other interventions which include removing heavy clothing and cooling measures. If temperature doesn't decrease then maybe we'll give acetaminophen.
This analogy doesn't apply to the issue of vaccines at all. You are talking about doing something reactive not proactive. Vaccines (and wearing a mask) are proactive.
I have been a nurse for close to 3 years. Get a note from your doctor saying your are allergic. That is all that is required.
One thing you need to learn in nursing, right away, when speaking to management is never let your left hand know what your right hand is going to do. Lols... Eventually it'll make sense.
In nursing school I did get the flu shot, for the first time and after that 3 more times. Last year I refused to get the flu shot. This year I will do the same, wearing a mask isn't that bad. However, my thing is... to needlessly inject a solution into my body that I do not require, and possibly will not get the flu this year is silly and goes against nursing practice. Like in medicine perfectly nursing we don't just go and Medicaid patients just because. Example a patient is running a fever, we do not just rush to give them Tylenol. We do other interventions which include removing heavy clothing and cooling measures. If temperature doesn't decrease then maybe we'll give acetaminophen.
Reading the first page of this post has infuriated me:
"I hate to say it, but you are so incredibly unimportant to a clinical site, you wouldn't believe it. They don't care what documentary you watched about vaccinations or how super badly you want to be a nurse. "
Cruel and insensitive to one another, however speechless to management. This is why they, nurses, get stomped on by aministration, doctor's and unionized CNAs. This is why they burnout we are understaffed all the time. As a nurse with close to three years of experience, I haven't an unlimited amount of opportunities in my current location New York City. There is no reason why nurses should ever have to take a back seat and just accept things for the way they are.
"If you do not stand for something, you'll fall for anything."
Your whole post made little sense.
My personal philosophy for nurses that don't believe being vaccinated with flu vaccine or basically any other mandated vaccine d/t personal anecdotal nonsense is don't be a nurse. Our profession does not need people that are anti-science.
Go to Walgrens, get a receipt for something, tell em' you bought the shot.
Photoshop someone else's receipt.
Flu shots are a pharmaceutical gold mine.
The flu kills OLD people and the immunocompromised. It doesn't kill people that go to work for a living and are up walking around.
So play the game until a LOT of years go by that will prove that the flu shot ain't what it's supposed to be.
The flu vaccine makes up about 2% of sales (0.4-3% in top 3 producers of the flu vaccine. That isn't profit just sales. The flu vaccine has to be reformulated every year. You cannot stockpile one year to the next, so no the flu vaccine is not and never will be a "goldmine" for pharmaceutical companies.
The flu vaccine has been in widespread use for over 80 years. It isn't going anywhere. Hopefully, in the future there will be a universal multi year flu vaccine that will cover most strains.
Anyone can die from the flu. The most vulnerable are going to be the very young, old, and immune compromised. That doesn't mean people that don't fall into those categories shouldn't be immunized. People that aren't immunized 40-60% more likely to become infected from the flu and become flu carriers.
Lying about your immunization status would be grounds for immediate termination and possibly be reported to your BON. That and most hospitals are going to have you get the flu vaccine from employee health if you are already an established worker.
I will skip the ethical lectures of being a Nurse using beneficence and nonmaleficence as principles for practice or how EBP should be a part of everyone's practice.
Go to Walgrens, get a receipt for something, tell em' you bought the shot.
Photoshop someone else's receipt.
Flu shots are a pharmaceutical gold mine.
The flu kills OLD people and the immunocompromised. It doesn't kill people that go to work for a living and are up walking around.
So play the game until a LOT of years go by that will prove that the flu shot ain't what it's supposed to be.
I've worked ICU for a decade now and I can tell you that the one thing other than trauma that is most likely to put an otherwise completely healthy, young, and "up walking around" person on aggressive life support is the flu. On more than one occasion I have had to tell the husband of a young, otherwise extremely healthy, mom in her 30's that it's time to have their kids come in and say goodbye because they probably aren't going to make it through the night. I inevitably get asked frequently with these patients "but it's just the flu" and "but he/she was so healthy". I would normally say that everyone is entitled to their opinion, including yours, but after seeing first hand the beliefs that form, and the decisions that are made based on the type of comments you are making here I have come to believe that you are simply an absolutely horrible person for spreading these reckless myths.
Specializes in Palliative, Onc, Med-Surg, Home Hospice.
Lie.
Tell em' you got the shot.
Go to Walgrens, get a receipt for something, tell em' you bought the shot.
Photoshop someone else's receipt.
Flu shots are a pharmaceutical gold mine.
The flu kills OLD people and the immunocompromised. It doesn't kill people that go to work for a living and are up walking around.
So play the game until a LOT of years go by that will prove that the flu shot ain't what it's supposed to be.
Yes, it does. I am working for a living, and I am up walking around but if I were to get the flu, I can guarantee that I would have a tube shoved down my throat to keep me alive. I am not immunocompromised.
And if you do anything you suggested, you should be fired.
The flu kills OLD people and the immunocompromised. It doesn't kill people that go to work for a living and are up walking around.
I don't know if you are a blatant liar or just clueless, but your statement above is patently false.
Sure, the flu takes more of the vulnerable old and very young, but young healthy people also become seriously ill, and sometimes die. My D had a very healthy college classmate who got influenza and had to be intubated. That prior elite athlete eventually died from influenza.
The Pandemic Flu epidemic of 1918 killed millions of people all over the world. The most likely to die were young healthy people who "worked for a living" and were "up walking around." What in the world would make you think being employed grants a person some kind of immunity from disease?!?
ItsThatJenGirl, CNA
1,978 Posts
Thanks for that information!