Positive PPD and nursing

[mishabc]

Hello all. I worked in healthcare for 8 years before going back to school to achieve my dream of becoming a nurse. One of my patients at some point during my career must've had active tb because I received my first positive pod test in 2005 (negative chest X-ray). I took the INH pills and went about my merry way. Now entering nursing school, I took my third ppd test and again it's showing positive (just barely each time I might add). What I'm wondering is.... Can I get turned away from nursing school or more importantly, will having inactive tb effect my chances at finding work after graduation?

[meanmaryjean, DNP, RN]

Slightly off the subject but does anybody still do the old tine tests? Do they still make it anymore?

I sure wish they did- because I think the intrademal hurts like a mother!

[Farawyn]

OP, always have the documented positive PPD ad the INH documentation with you when you go for a new job or school. You may have to have an occasional chest x ray even with the documentation, but the blood work another poster mentioned is always an option, then put *that* result with your other documentation and tell everyone NO PPDs.

[mishabc]

Thank you everyone! So glad I have found this site for the support and knowledge I need. CXR was negative as usual and Im currently trying to track down the doctor that was caring for me during the INH. That was almost ten years ago and in a different town, so its been a challenge. Have a Merry Christmas!

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

CDC | TB | Testing & Diagnosis

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

My tuberculin skin tests started yielding positive results back in late 2008, but I'm still employable because my chest xray indicates no active TB disease.

By the way, I do not need yearly chest xrays. My employer requires a chest xray for workers in my situation once every five years.

[nurseprnRN, BSN, RN]

I wouldn't worry about what patient exposed you. My favorite ID doc says that if you ever rode public transportation you've been exposed to and infected with TB. :) If you have a normal immune system, and it wasn't the wildly virulent and drug-resistant type, you're always going to have the antibodies (that's what they're for and where they came from).

I went from no response every year to a humongous big concentric circle array that extended almost from wrist to elbow and itched like fury for two weeks. Fabulous immune system, that's me-- actually, a bit too fabulous, as events of subsequent years have testified to. No more PPDs for me :)

[amoLucia]

A LARGE population of corrections officers are PPD+. Some things are just occupational hazards.

OP - might just a letter from your current PMP be easier to obtain? Something that would record your past INH therapy R/T a positive PPD conversion. Then with the recommendation that no further PPDs be administered yadda yadda yadda.

meanmaryjean - we age ourselves when we recall tine tests and GOMCOs (and my favorite,, scultetus binders).

[nurseprnRN, BSN, RN]

meanmaryjean - we age ourselves when we recall tine tests and GOMCOs (and my favorite,, scultetus binders).

Oooh, I was the scultetus queen on our floor. I loved pulling those things together.