Got my lab results back today.... And I'm non-reactive to Hep B. Now I have to get the three vaccine series and get blood drawn all over again. $200 dollars down the drain
Uhg. I was doing so well completing my clinical requirements, this was my last one!!
Has this happened to anybody else? Any idea what can cause this to happen? I'm scared that if I don't show immunity next time, I'm going to be at high risk for contracting Hep B as a nurse...
I could use some words of encouragement. It's been a bad week
I had three full rounds of Hep B vax - as a child, in my late teens as a CNA, and then again after it was discovered that the Hep B wasn't administered correctly. So when I applied for nursing school, I got my titers for varicella and Hep completed - after 3 rounds, I had not converted. *sigh*
My place of employment felt it was pointless to keep pumping me full of vax that won't take, so I worked as a non immune nurse.
Until I got a needlestick injury. I cried on my way home.
To everyone's surprise, my tests came back negative for active Hep B and positive for seroconversion! At some point I spontaneously converted I guess.
Good luck!
I'm definitely scared to get a needle stick injury if I never end up being immune to Hep B. I guess there's hope though!! :)
I wouldn't be a nurse if I wasn't immune to Hep B. It's much much easier to contract than HIV or Hep C. Even with a repeat series you might not convert.
I wouldn't be a nurse if I wasn't immune to Hep B. It's much much easier to contract than HIV or Hep C. Even with a repeat series you might not convert.
I'm aware that I may not convert. That's what I'm very scared of.
Unless you're having sex with or sharing needles with someone with Hep B, your chances of getting it aren't really that high. Just use standard precautions and you should be fine even without immunity.
I was immune when I started nursing school, but my new job just told me the new titer was non-reactive. I'll have to get revaccinated.
Unless you're having sex with or sharing needles with someone with Hep B, your chances of getting it aren't really that high. Just use standard precautions and you should be fine even without immunity.
I was immune when I started nursing school, but my new job just told me the new titer was non-reactive. I'll have to get revaccinated.
You have a good point! I'm scared that I will continually be non-reactive even after this second round of vaccines. I was told that you aren't supposed to get the whole series more than twice.
Just imagine all the nurses who were once immune but aren't anymore and they don't know. While it is a risk, it's just not a huge one. A back injury is more likely to take you out.
Just imagine all the nurses who were once immune but aren't anymore and they don't know. While it is a risk, it's just not a huge one. A back injury is more likely to take you out.
Very interesting point! Thanks for that perspective :)
I had a positive titer when I started nursing school....non reactive just about 8 years later when I started my current job. So glad they checked titers! I work with liver failure and liver transplant patients...much of the population has hep B or hep C. Employer gave a booster at no charge and I showed up reactive on recheck. I guess it's rather common (per the doc at our employee health, anyhow)
I had a positive titer when I started nursing school....non reactive just about 8 years later when I started my current job. So glad they checked titers! I work with liver failure and liver transplant patients...much of the population has hep B or hep C. Employer gave a booster at no charge and I showed up reactive on recheck. I guess it's rather common (per the doc at our employee health, anyhow)
Interesting. I'm praying I'll be reactive after round 2 :)
Same thing just happened to me. They told me they would call Monday (yesterday) if anything was abnormal. I didn't receive a phone call so I figured everything was good. I called them today to schedule an appointment for my physical, and while i had them on the phone i asked about my results just to double check. She starts going down the list "varicella. Reactive. Rubella. Reactive. Measles. Reactive. Hep B. Oh darn, non-reactive."
I'm surprised your school requires you to repeat the entire series. At my school I just need a booster when I go in for my physical and they'll go ahead and give me my clearance w/o the titer/full series. A month later I can go back in for another titer, and if it doesn't show conversion, then I can go through the series. But I get my clearance for the program after just getting a booster.
happyinmyheart
493 Posts
I'm definitely scared to get a needle stick injury if I never end up being immune to Hep B. I guess there's hope though!! :)