Should student nurses be required to get the H1N1 vaccine

rnjls · Oct 31, 2009

We are not required by our school to receive it; however, some of our clinical sites are requiring anyone who does not receive the vaccine to wear a mask when caring for patients. I am going to get the vaccine because my daughter has a brand new baby and I am over there quite bit. I do not want to give him anything that would put him at risk.

ballerinagurl · Oct 31, 2009

I was under the impression that the vaccines necessary to attend clinicals were mandatory...so why would this one not be?

justiceforjoy · Oct 31, 2009

^ Because people are under the false impression that this vaccine is brand spankin' new.

terrjade04 · Nov 23, 2009

One of the clinical sites my school uses is requiring it, and my school says if I don't get it, I will be forced to withdraw. I am really mad, because there are two clinical sites available, and one doesn't require it, and we are allowed to miss one clinical each semester. The only clinicals I might have at the hospital that requires the vaccine is peds, which we only have a handful of clinical days for. I really don't think it would be that hard to arrange for the two or three of us that don't want the vaccine to go to the other hospital, or use up our allowed absences if we must be assigned to the place that requires the vaccine.

I understand the hospital wants to protect patients, but I will/would never work for an employer that requires a new, relatively untested treatment for a disease that I have little chance of getting, after I have already entered a contract to work there (they are doing that to their employees and my school). I am at the hospital only about 8 hours a week, and am extremely careful when there. I don't have children or work around the public. I have never had the flu in 33 years of life. Sure, there may be no immediately obvious detrimental effects, but mercury in any amount is not good for you! I have looked into getting the nasal vax, because it doesn't have mercury, but have not been able to find a provider who has it and will administer it to me. And I am trying to get pregnant (I only have one more semester of school!) and none of the H1N1 vaccines have been demonstrated to be safe for pregnant women.

I don't know what to do! I only have until Jan 11 to show documentation that I had the vaccine. If anyone has suggestions, I would be grateful!

NeoNurseTX, RN · Nov 24, 2009

I am refusing all flu shots from here on out.. I had a horrible issue with my nervous system the day after I got the H1N1 vaccine.

melmarie23, MSN, RN · Nov 24, 2009

I've already received the seasonal and refused H1N1 when all that was available was the nasal spray. Now that IM is available, I will probably get it.

but if it were mandated? I'd probably not get it out of principle.

tokyoROSE, BSN, RN · Nov 24, 2009

I don't really think it is up to the school to set such requirements -- its the clinical sites. For example, I know all the hospital clinicals around here want you to get the regular flu shot, if not, you must wear a mask the entire time. In LTC, they don't really care. So depending where you go, the school has to have the students abide by the facility's rules.

I got the H1N1 anyway, nasal spray, no big deal. I don't get all the hoopla surrounding it.

terrjade04 · Nov 24, 2009

regardless of whether the H1N1 vaccine is brand new, my school requires MMR, and Hep B vaccines. Going into the program, if they had told me I would be required to get the flu vaccine, I'd have considered other schools before this one. I know it is not entirely up to the school, but I think they can and should make accommodations for the handful of us that don't want this vaccine.

The "hoopla" for me is 1) I don't put just anything in my body, and I can't find a full ingredient list anywhere for the vaccine, and we don't know what the long-term effect is and 2) as nurses we are supposed to honor patients' rights to self-determination and rights to refuse treatments and meds.