Ridiculous TB test.....again!!

I had my nursing school physical done in May, complete with all blood work and necessary immunizations (Hep B series, and rubella (not immune!)) and titers done. Got my forms signed after my second Hep B shot, and sent all of my paperwork to my nursing school dept.

I get a call from them yesterday, that all of my paperwork looks good and is in order. However, because of the clinical site I'm assigned to (a hospital for first rotation, not LTC), I have to have a negative TB test within 90 days of the start of my clinical. Since mine was done the end of May, it will be just over 90 days (like 97).

So I have to call my doc and make an appt for next week (actually two appts. - one for the test, second to get it read) for another stinkin' TB test! I find it sort of ridiculous. Yes, I agree with having it done, but they don't require everyone to get one every 90 days, so what difference does it make? Employees are only required yearly, and though I'm not an employee, I'm sure employees are exposed to far more things and have a greater chance of contracting TB than I do as a pre-nursing student. Even the nursing department secretary said it was pretty dumb.

Am I ever going to be done with paperwork before school starts?!?! Geez, I thought I was "good" getting everything done so early. It does pay to wait sometimes, I guess! LOL

[totallytheresa]

Huh, that's weird. We just have to have them yearly, no matter where we do clinicals. My school just does them there, are you going through a hospital, or a CC? I'm through a hospital, so we just were sent to the Employee Health office and they did the TB test and read it 2 days later. I hope you don't have a co-pay at your doctors office!! What a big bummer.

I had my nursing school physical done in May, complete with all blood work and necessary immunizations (Hep B series, and rubella (not immune!)) and titers done. Got my forms signed after my second Hep B shot, and sent all of my paperwork to my nursing school dept.

I get a call from them yesterday, that all of my paperwork looks good and is in order. However, because of the clinical site I'm assigned to (a hospital for first rotation, not LTC), I have to have a negative TB test within 90 days of the start of my clinical. Since mine was done the end of May, it will be just over 90 days (like 97).

So I have to call my doc and make an appt for next week (actually two appts. - one for the test, second to get it read) for another stinkin' TB test! I find it sort of ridiculous. Yes, I agree with having it done, but they don't require everyone to get one every 90 days, so what difference does it make? Employees are only required yearly, and though I'm not an employee, I'm sure employees are exposed to far more things and have a greater chance of contracting TB than I do as a pre-nursing student. Even the nursing department secretary said it was pretty dumb.

Am I ever going to be done with paperwork before school starts?!?! Geez, I thought I was "good" getting everything done so early. It does pay to wait sometimes, I guess! LOL

[Blackcat99]

It sounds totally ridiculous to me. Good luck. Hope they don't come up with anymore ridiculous things for you to do.

[AmyLiz]

I got 3...count 'em...THREE TB tests in the span of 9 months. I had to have one last August for school...then I got hired on at a dialysis clinic & had to have a TB test as part of my pre-employment physical...then I had to have another one in May since that was when those employed through the hospital (with last names falling in a certain range of the alphabet) had to get it done for their annual testing...which I had to do in order to keep on track. Yippie.

I totally sympathize!

[studentnurse74, LPN, LVN]

That is crazy- and so frustrating! I'm sure it's all paperwork, I call it CYA (cover your ***). If something happened to you, they'd go down. It still makes no sense, though.

[shortsteph12]

I am going to get my TB test at the health dept. It costs max $25.00 much cheaper than going to a Dr's office. Is there a county health dept close to you?

[RedSox33RN]

I am going to get my TB test at the health dept. It costs max $25.00 much cheaper than going to a Dr's office. Is there a county health dept close to you?

Thanks for the info. It's actually free for me to get it at my doctor's, as it's considered a "testing procedure" under my insurance, therefore paid in full. But a PITA - absolutely!!

I figure by the time I start school, I'll either be the healthiest diabetic student around, or the most pi$$ed off (LOL). I had to have an MRI on my shoulder that has been hurting - A LOT - for over 3 months now. I had that yesterday, and should have the results by Tues or Wed. I'm praying that at this time, it's NOT surgical. I don't know what I would do if it is. Clinicals start Sept. 12th. I don't think I'd be able to manage much in a sling.