Question Please Help!!

U.S.A. California

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I have a question? My friend was wanting to start nursing school (she has always wanted to be a RN), but recently found out that she contracted the Hepatitis B. Does this disqualify her from being a nurse? She wants this so bad, but just can't afford to go through the schooling just to be told she can't be a nurse in the end. I'm already in school, so she thought she'd ask me, but I don't know anything about this. Any Help would be greatly appreciated.

I think it is illegal to discriminate based on an illness. I know of one HIV positive newly licensed RN.

Contact the Board of Registered Nursing:

http://www.rn.ca.gov/lca/licensure.htm

http://www.rn.ca.gov/lca/byexam.htm

:uhoh21: She just told me that she found out after she donated blood. The blood bank sent her a letter in the mail and said that she tested positive for Hepatitis B core antibody. I thought that meant that she had it at one time but that her body fought it and built up an immunity to it. Is this correct? She has a doctors appointment scheduled to discuss it with them but was worried about nursing. Thanks for any help.

PS: YYYEEEAAHHHH, I'm half way through Physiology!!!!!!!!! and I'm so glad our next test isn't for 9 days. I actually got to take a breather tonight and spend some times with my hubby and son. Really looking forward to Micro this summer (yeah right).... I just can't wait for the nursing program, I'm getting anxious now. :uhoh21:

Specializes in Corrections, Psych, Med-Surg.
:uhoh21: She just told me that she found out after she donated blood. The blood bank sent her a letter in the mail and said that she tested positive for Hepatitis B core antibody. I thought that meant that she had it at one time but that her body fought it and built up an immunity to it. Is this correct?

That is correct. It simply means she needs to have a titer drawn, and she will NOT have to take the Hep B shots. It is NOT a problem, quite the contrary.

(This was recently gone over at some length on the general nursing discussion board, if you want to read more about it.)

I have a friend in CRNA school with me who has Hep B. Definately does not disqualify you from being a nurse! Tell her to go for it!

Thankyou everyone, she was so excited when I told her. She will be starting college in the fall.

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