Nursing school after bone marrow transplant

[Ashtinp]

I was diagnosed with a very aggressive lymphoma 11/18/14, then I received my admission two days later to start nursing school in the Spring. I originally planned to accept and go to school, even through chemotherapy, because I'm an extremely determined person, and my oncologist told me stories of older patients who still go on with their normal lives through chemo treatment. However, I notified my school of these plans, and they called me to offer to postpone my admission to Fall, after treatment would be completed. I ended up getting an autologous (meaning not donor, my own cells) stem cell/bone marrow transplant in March to prevent the cancer from coming back.

Stem cell transplants essentially include wiping out the entire immune system to then rebuild it from the ground up. So I'm essentially like a new baby even now, and I am on a schedule to get all of my childhood vaccinations all over again. I'm not permitted to get the MMR vaccine until 2 years post-transplant since it is a live vaccine. This is where nursing school becomes an issue, since vaccinations and/or titers are required for clinicals. Today I had my nursing school orientation, and I spoke with the Dean of Nursing. I provided her with a letter from my bone marrow transplant doctor, wherein he explained the situation and gave his approval for me to be in nursing school/clinicals.

The Dean said it is out of their hands and they have to contact the various clinical sites to see if anyone will even take me. What does everyone think about this? I understand why the rules are in place, but at the same time, I have wanted to be a nurse practitioner so badly, for such a long time. Thinking toward nursing school was one of the things that got me through all of this. I have already racked up $25K in student loans being wishy washy in the past, so I can't exactly afford a new change of career plans, and I don't want to wait 2 years to start nursing school either because I have little ones to support so I want to get started on my career. Couldn't the hospitals/clinical sites just make accommodations for me since I am considered to be disabled? Couldn't I be put on a floor/department that doesn't have much communicable disease, such as Labor/Delivery, psych, or something similar? Or do you all think I'm pretty much just out of luck?

[Ashtinp]

Another thing I thought of and others can correct me if I am wrong, but she would be at risk with people who received the flu vaccine intranasally because it is a live vaccine vs. the injection which is not. I had always had my son get the nasal version because he of course, hates shots like every other kid. They always asked if we were in direct contact with those currently getting treatment for cancer.

This doesn't apply because I'm not still getting treatment. I have two kids, 2 and 8 months, and my baby gets live vaccines, as approved by my oncologist.

[Ashtinp]

Just wanted to update, my titers all came back positive, except for mumps, even though my transplant doctor said they wouldn't. So my vaccinations (for the most part) still are there. Plans for school are most likely back on.

Thanks everyone.

[DowntheRiver]

My yearly titers for my oncologist just came back and I have no immunity from Rubeola. This is really unexpected. I had titers done 5 months ago for a new nursing job and it came back as I had immunity but now I don't. Ugh. Now I have to track down where to get an MMR ASAP since my primary care doesn't do them.

Edit: Also, good luck to you.

[Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN]

I haven't read through the replies and don't know if your condition is covered by the ADA...but this likely isn't a "reasonable" accommodation. I recently completed my BSN with a program that included a public health practicum. I needed an MMR booster but couldn't because I was pregnant at the time. Even though I had a medical reason not to get it, the school would not allow me to continue without it. My and baby's health could have been in danger, and it was a liability for the school and clinical sites.

Most nursing school clinicals are med-surg focused, but they set up other rotations and you have to do all of them. It's not as simple as asking to be placed in maternity. My ADN program had rotations in LTC, L&D, psych, OR/perioperative, clinic, ICU, chemical health, corrections, school nursing, home care.... and many many days in med-surg.

Besides, the very pregnant (L&D), the mentally ill (psych), and the relatively well (LTC) can contract communicable infections too.

I'm sure it's disappointing, but it is for your well being, and two years is not a long time. You're well now, and you will be able to attend nursing school--just not today. Try to focus on that.

[Ashtinp]

@TheOMPRN - Try your local health dept!

[DowntheRiver]

I am going to have to end up going to the Health Department. It is just god-awful in my area and I was trying to avoid it if possible. Usually the wait is 2-3 hours in very cramped quarters.