how often are nurses tested for TB

[want2banurse35]

At Kaiser in San Francisco a nurse tested positive for tuberculosis and exposed hundreds of patients which included mothers and newborn babies. My question is how often are nurses tested for these diseases?

[bill4745, RN]

We are tested yearly.

[northshore08]

It was yearly at the last facility I was at; when I moved out of state, the new state required a new two-step with yearly updates. Mine was completed in Jan 08. At my current job, within the last month we had a pt who was positive for TB; the whole ED and floor staff and all other contacts were tested again. If another pt came tomorrow they would test us again. And on and on. If I refuse, I take the chance of not being covered by employee health if I develop TB.

Owcheee!

[Okami_CCRN, BSN, RN]

Our facility requires us to be tested yearly per state law. If however we are exposed to TB, then the whole unit must undergo a second testing.

It happened when a patient was discovered to have TB after he was discharged we all had to go to Employee health and get tested ASAP

[nursemary9, BSN, RN]

the last month we had a pt who was positive for TB; the whole ED and floor staff and all other contacts were tested again. If another pt came tomorrow they would test us again. And on and on.

Owcheee!

This is pretty much like our policy.

We are yearly, but if a positive shows up, we are re-tested. However, we really haven't had any positives show up on our floor in a couple of years.

[DusktilDawn]

Yearly and also if there has been a suspected exposure, which actually happened once.

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

And...you need to also consider the medical staff. I'm on staff at 5 hospitals and had a TB test over 2 years ago but none since, since they don't require this of medical staff only employees!

[CT Pixie, BSN, RN]

For initial pre-employment its a 2 step TB test. Then after that yearly unless suspected that you were exposed to it.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

My place of employment tests employees for TB on a yearly basis.

[mpccrn, BSN, RN]

ppd's should be done yearly. if unable to get a ppd, a chest x-ray is done every 5 years. if a documented exposure occurs, people in contact should be tested immediately

[Dixielee, BSN, RN]

Every 6 months in our ER, but I think it is yearly for the rest of the hospital. Guess we are the canary in the mine, so we should have identified the TB before they go to the floors.

[Dalzac, LPN, LVN, RN]

yearly ppd's and if you have positive you are treated and xrays were every 2 yrs. I had a postive ppd and took medication for a year and a half