New nurse with Hep C. Should I disclose it?

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Hello!

I'm a newly graduated nurse who found out I have Hepatitis C a few months ago during a routine physical. Both of my parents had it so it is suspected I may have contracted it from them sometime in my lifetime. I've been incredibly distraught since I found out, but I was advised to finish school because there are many working nurses out there with Hep C. I was recently hired for my dream job and have my Pre employment health screening coming up soon. I'm nervous because I am not sure if this is something I should mention during my physical. I'm afraid of not disclosing it and then having elevated liver enzymes show up on my blood work. I'm freaking out because like tons of other nurses out there, I've worked so hard to get to this point and I would hate to lose this opportunity. Any insight or advice would be greatly appreciated.

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Specializes in Neuro, Telemetry.

I am pretty sure you do not have to disclose it, and it would be discrimination of the physician performing the physical assessment disclosed and you were not hired for it. Think about it this way, Hep C is spread in a similar fashion as HIV. People with HIV do not have to disclose and work in health care. Same with Hep C. I am sure there are a good amount of people with Hep C who work as nurses. Just adhere to infection control procedures and the likely hood of you passing the disease on is very slim. Basically, I would not disclose it. You probably dont have to, and if you did it could possibly lead to discrimination and you not getting the job. Becoming a nurse does not waive your HIPAA rights. The physical should only be to ensure you have the physical and mental ability to perform your duties as a nurse. I doubt labs will even be drawn. And if they are, it will be so the practitioner can discuss the values with you, not to disclose to your employer.

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Specializes in Neuro, Telemetry.

Also, the only time disclosure would be necessary would be for instances such you some how getting your blood in a wound or some weird oddball possible transmission from you to a patient so that the patient can be screened. Outside of that, there really is no reason for you employer to know.

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Yes, you should disclose it. We were tested twice in nursing school and someone I know tested positive. The school had to notify the hospital so this person could continue clinicals. Additionally, the place of employment may draw or require titers that were negative. If there is a question on the application about infectious diseases and you lie, you've just cost yourself the job. Just be honest, since it wasn't drug use, you have nothing to worry about.

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Thank you for the advice! The physical is at the hospitals HR processing department, not my personal doctor. My gut tells me to be honest and if my past medical history comes up, which I'm sure it will, I'd rather not lie about it. I guess my only concern is if I tell them I have it, they will fire me. I think I'm so close to getting what I've always wanted, I'm afraid of losing it.

I think I can rest well knowing that I'm not the only nurse that has ever had to deal with this. It's hard to tell people because of the stigma attached to it. I've never used drugs a day in my life, my mom had hep c and passed away from cirrhosis, so it's suspected I contracted it from her at some point.

Thanks again!

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Your honesty is commendable, but I absolutely agree with other posters that your HCV status is none of your employer's business. It absolutely doesn't affect your ability to perform your job and volunteering info may just be opening up a can of worms unnecessarily. In general, healthcare employers don't often do what's "right" or "legal" by putting their employees' feelings ahead of their own bottom line. Personally if it were me, my name's Muffin and I don't know nuffin'! As far as what another poster said about pre-employment titers being drawn, to the best of my knowledge the only titers drawn are Hep B, varicella, measles, mumps, and rubella. It was a while ago, but I don't think a CBC or CMP was drawn either.

Good luck!

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Specializes in Infection Control, Med/Surg, LTC.

Check state health laws. That said, here in my state we are allowed to ask but the employee does not have to answer and it may not affect the hire. Now, that said, many facilities may be doing HCV testing as part of routine screening to rule it out prior to starting work. In that case, I recommend telling them first. That still is not allowed to affect hire. The only thing that can be done, and should be done is for the nurse to stress the use of Standard Precautions in all situations. Should you have a BBF exposure at work they will test for it at baseline and six months, so it would be seen on the baseline testing. In that case they would again stress Standard Precaution use and ask if you are receiving regular medical care. They can't fire you or divulge this info to your manager. We don't screen independent practitioners unless they are facility employees. So, how many MDs with privileges might have HCV that no one ever will know about?

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