Mandatory Vaccine Waiver in Nursing School/Clinicals

[firecracker_1]

Hey guys, I have a question for anyone else who is a fellow "non-vaccinator" or against mandatory vaccination. What did you do for nursing school, particularly clinical locations immunization requirements? After a lot of research, I've found that while many nurses can sign immunization waivers that are offered by some hospitals, etc., I haven't heard of a nursing student who has successfully avoided vaccination requirements associated with nursing school and clinical facilities.

I am well aware that vaccination is a very controversial subject in the medical field and many feel strongly on both sides of the issue. My intention is not to debate or discuss the merits of vaccinations, but to hear from other nurses and nursing students who challenged the vaccine requirements and how you went about it.

I look forward to hearing from you!

[emmjayy, BSN, RN]

One of my clinical instructors did not get the flu vaccine because of an allergy. She had to wear a mask ~6 months per year during flu season.

I have never heard of anyone challenging the other nursing school/hospital employment vaccination requirements and being successful. I'm sure you already know the reasons why, so I won't go into it. I highly doubt you will be able to enter this profession absent your proof of completion of the necessary vaccinations.

[meanmaryjean, DNP, RN]

firecracker_1 said:

I understand where you are coming from, but I am willing and okay with it being known and being a part of my professional reputation, as well as affecting the outcome of my career.

I'm guessing your professional career is not going to be in healthcare.

[firecracker_1]

Horseshoe said:

Call the nursing schools you are considering, tell them that you refuse to be vaccinated, and listen to what options they give you. You may not need to worry about repercussions on your future career in nursing if you cannot be accepted to a nursing school.

Good point you made and I agree! I have been accepted into multiple nursing schools and they have been very helpful and given the option of immunization waivers. However, in addition to this, they have informed me that I must also receive waivers from the clinical facilities as well. This what I am currently researching and working through at the moment.

[firecracker_1]

Wuzzie said:

I don't recall debating anything about vaccinations. I also don't recall any discussion about whether I support you or not. My opinion does not matter, which is why I haven't shared it with you, but my experience does. What I'm telling you is that you aren't going to find what you want. Facilities have hard and fast rules. You can fight them but you will lose because you have no legal standing. I know you don't like hearing it but it's the truth. You might be able to force the school to admit you but they have no control over their clinical site's policies.

I apologize if I came off sounding argumentative as that was not my intention. I really do appreciate you sharing your thoughts, as you have more experience than me, so thank you. As for legal standing, I would respectfully disagree, but will take your input into consideration.

[firecracker_1]

emmjayy said:

One of my clinical instructors did not get the flu vaccine because of an allergy. She had to wear a mask ~6 months per year during flu season.

I have never heard of anyone challenging the other nursing school/hospital employment vaccination requirements and being successful. I'm sure you already know the reasons why, so I won't go into it. I highly doubt you will be able to enter this profession absent your proof of completion of the necessary vaccinations.

Thanks for your insight!

[Horseshoe, BSN, RN]

firecracker_1 said:

Good point you made and I agree! I have been accepted into multiple nursing schools and they have been very helpful and given the option of immunization waivers. However, in addition to this, they have informed me that I must also receive waivers from the clinical facilities as well. This what I am currently researching and working through at the moment.

Well, you certainly have your work cut out for you. In order to be allowed to sit for NCLEX, you must graduate from the nursing school. In order to graduate, you must fulfill the clinical portion of every single required nursing course. The chances of you getting a vaccine waiver for every single clinical facility are extremely remote. But I suppose you have nothing to lose by contacting each and every one of them, telling them that you refuse vaccines and that you require them to issue you a waiver due to philosophical objections, and see how it all shakes out. If even one of them refuses and you cannot find an acceptable replacement, you cannot sit for NCLEX.

[firecracker_1]

Horseshoe said:

Well, you certainly have your work cut out for you. In order to be allowed to sit for NCLEX, you must graduate from the nursing school. In order to graduate, you must fulfill the clinical portion of every single required nursing course. The chances of you getting a vaccine waiver for every single clinical facility are extremely remote. But I suppose you have nothing to lose by contacting each and every one of them, telling them that you refuse vaccines and that you require them to issue you a waiver due to philosophical objections, and see how it all shakes out. If even one of them refuses and you cannot find an acceptable replacement, you cannot sit for NCLEX.

Okay, that makes sense, thanks so much for breaking it down!

[llg, PhD, RN]

I echo what Horseshoe wrote. You'll have to contact each required clinical site for the school of your choice and ask them for a waiver. That's the bottom line -- because without the required clinicals, you won't graduate. Start by asking the school for a list of clinical sites you would be required to work in. (There may be a couple of possible clinical sites that you could avoid by going to another facility.) Then do you homework and see if you can get each of them to give you a waiver.

By the way, I am the person who handles student placements for my hospitals. We don't give waivers for anything -- under any circumstances -- not even for flu vaccine. You don't get the vaccine, you don't come.

[meanmaryjean, DNP, RN]

llg said:

I echo what Horseshoe wrote. You'll have to contact each required clinical site for the school of your choice and ask them for a waiver. That's the bottom line -- because without the required clinicals, you won't graduate. Start by asking the school for a list of clinical sites you would be required to work in. (There may be a couple of possible clinical sites that you could avoid by going to another facility.) Then do you homework and see if you can get each of them to give you a waiver.

By the way, I am the person who handles student placements for my hospitals. We don't give waivers for anything -- under any circumstances -- not even for flu vaccine. You don't get the vaccine, you don't come.

This is the policy of every school I know of (and I know a lot of them). No exceptions.

[firecracker_1]

llg said:

I echo what Horseshoe wrote. You'll have to contact each required clinical site for the school of your choice and ask them for a waiver. That's the bottom line -- because without the required clinicals, you won't graduate. Start by asking the school for a list of clinical sites you would be required to work in. (There may be a couple of possible clinical sites that you could avoid by going to another facility.) Then do you homework and see if you can get each of them to give you a waiver.

Okay, thanks!

llg said:

By the way, I am the person who handles student placements for my hospitals. We don't give waivers for anything -- under any circumstances -- not even for flu vaccine. You don't get the vaccine, you don't come.

Out of curiosity, what is the general position of the hospitals regarding religious beliefs that are protected by law and their mandatory exemptions?

[Wuzzie]

firecracker_1 said:

Out of curiosity, what is the general position of the hospitals regarding religious beliefs that are protected by law and their mandatory exemptions?

What major religion bans vaccinations? I can tell you what the major hospital systems I've worked in say about this. "We can't force you to get a vaccination but it is a requirement of employment" they are not bound by law to hire you and if you are in an employment at will state waiting to drop this bomb until after you're hired won't work either.

[Horseshoe, BSN, RN]

firecracker_1 said:

Okay, thanks!

Out of curiosity, what is the general position of the hospitals regarding religious beliefs that are protected by law and their mandatory exemptions?

Your religious beliefs remain protected: no one will hold you down and stab a needle into your body. That doesn't mean that a hospital must hire you or that a clinical facility must allow a student to roam their halls and expose their patients. Anti-vaxxers are not a protected class in terms of employment or education. Similarly, hospitals or schools are not required to hire/admit people with criminal records, even after they have paid their debts to society; neither are they required to admit/hire people who test positive for certain substances that may nevertheless be legal. Many hospitals refuse to hire smokers, even though nicotine is not an illegal substance. Protected classes are actually not that numerous.