Nurse w/ Hepatitis B surface antigen positive

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I'm a newly passed registered nurse here in the Philippines.

From the very beginning of my nursing education I already knew that I am a Hepa-B carrier but my doctor told me that my body already produce antibodies that fights the virus.

I am about to have my NCLEX review but I can't really decide if I'l will pursue it coz I don't have enough information if I have chances to work abroad specifically canada, as a nurse.

I hope that you can help me about this...

Thanks..

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Home Health, LTC.

You can work if you have hepatitis B antibodies. I have them too, not a big deal.

Just means you are immune. With hep C you can also work unless you are ill. Hep A different, more acute illness and you couldn't work if you wanted until you feel better. Good luck in Canada, I don't know how foreign nurse policy is there but I am in San Diego Ca and there are many foreign nurses here.

especially many Philippine nurses. Now, go take that NCLEX review and then your test...best to you!

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Specializes in jack of all trades.
You can work if you have hepatitis B antibodies. I have them too, not a big deal.

Just means you are immune. With hep C you can also work unless you are ill. Hep A different, more acute illness and you couldn't work if you wanted until you feel better. Good luck in Canada, I don't know how foreign nurse policy is there but I am in San Diego Ca and there are many foreign nurses here.

especially many Philippine nurses. Now, go take that NCLEX review and then your test...best to you!

Ditto! I am also Hep B + for antibodies and it only means I have natural immunization rather than have undergone the series of vaccine for Hep B. It has never affected my employment and I'm in Critical Care for over 24 years now. Sometime or the other probably from a needle stick I was exposed and maybe thought I had a small case of the flu is the way they explained it to me. Ultimately check to verify if you are carrying the antibodies that lead to immunity or if you are qoute a "carrier" which are 2 very different things. Get the copy of the actual report and have someone who can decifer the reading correctly to you to ensure this is correct in your particularl case.

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You can work if you have hepatitis B antibodies. I have them too, not a big deal.

Just means you are immune. With hep C you can also work unless you are ill. Hep A different, more acute illness and you couldn't work if you wanted until you feel better. Good luck in Canada, I don't know how foreign nurse policy is there but I am in San Diego Ca and there are many foreign nurses here.

especially many Philippine nurses. Now, go take that NCLEX review and then your test...best to you!

Hello Kashia!..

I just want to know if your Hepatitis B case means.. If you were examined of HBSAg(antigen) you are always positive but your body already produced natural antibodies to fight the virus and stop the replication of the virus???

Because thats my case making it different from the usual Hepatitis B case who doesn't have yet antibodies to fight the virus.

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Ditto! I am also Hep B + for antibodies and it only means I have natural immunization rather than have undergone the series of vaccine for Hep B. It has never affected my employment and I'm in Critical Care for over 24 years now. Sometime or the other probably from a needle stick I was exposed and maybe thought I had a small case of the flu is the way they explained it to me. Ultimately check to verify if you are carrying the antibodies that lead to immunity or if you are qoute a "carrier" which are 2 very different things. Get the copy of the actual report and have someone who can decifer the reading correctly to you to ensure this is correct in your particularl case.

Hello Lacie!..

I just want to know if your Hepatitis B case means.. If you were examined of HBSAg(antigen) you are always positive but your body already produced natural antibodies to fight the virus and stop the replication of the virus??? or your case was totally resolved?

Because my case is different from the usual Hepatitis B case who doesn't have yet antibodies to fight the virus because my body already produced natural antibodies.

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i have Hep B + with high viral load, but my doctor says I dont need any treatment with that level. I dont have antibody. Can I still attend a nursing program?

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