Titers for Admission

Editorial Team / Admin · Mar 22, 2016

This is a school policy that you will need to clarify with each school you intend to apply to. Some may require certain titer levels.

Kuriin, BSN, RN · Mar 22, 2016

It's not only a school policy, but also a hospital policy. You may have issues with clinical placement in the future in the event that you decline an immunization without a good reason. Definitely a good idea to speak to an advisor at the school of nursing.

WanderingWilder, ASN · Mar 22, 2016

Like others have said it will be up to the school and the hospital. My school requires mmr, flu, hep b, chicken pox, tetorifice and polio. Good news if you do only need one of the "m"s you should be able to just get that one vaccine vs getting the whole mmr again. Though I am curious how an employer checked your titers without you knowing. Didn't you wonder why you needed to have blood drawn?

ThatOneDude822 · Mar 22, 2016

Although you will have to check with your school for their policy and clinical site policies, it wouldn't surprise me if you have to get it. My Hep B was non-reactive and I had to schedule an appointment for the first immunization before health services on campus would give me my health clearance. After the first booster, I had the option to finish the series or have another titer drawn. I had another titer drawn and it came back normal, so I didn't have to get the whole series (3 injections total).

sailornurse · Mar 22, 2016

Good news if you do only need one of the "m"s you should be able to just get that one vaccine vs getting the whole mmr again.

I don't think that they manufacture them separately, I could be wrong though. The clinic I work at & the school I was faculty at students just got another MMR if needed.

WanderingWilder, ASN · Mar 22, 2016

I don't think that they manufacture them separately, I could be wrong though. The clinic I work at & the school I was faculty at students just got another MMR if needed.

I've read of parents that refuse to get the mmr as a combination shot. They get it one at a time over a few months. That doesnt mean its offered everywhere though and i don't know if they do this in adult doses. I should have wrote you may be able to just get just the "m" you need, not should.

Mr. Pedi · Mar 22, 2016

Your nursing school will almost certainly require you have titers high enough to confer immunity, as will any hospital where you want to work. You should be ready to be re-vaccinated; it's really no hassle at all. If you're determined not to get vaccinated again, you should find a different line of work.

Mr. Pedi · Mar 22, 2016

I've read of parents that refuse to get the mmr as a combination shot. They get it one at a time over a few months. That doesnt mean its offered everywhere though and i don't know if they do this in adult doses. I should have wrote you may be able to just get just the "m" you need, not should.

The only way to get the measles or mumps vaccine in the US is to get the MMR--there aren't separate vaccines.

Kuriin, BSN, RN · Mar 23, 2016

OP previously said their measles was non-immune which means that you would most likely not be allowed to participate in a pediatric rotation. You also have the misunderstanding that just because someone obtains a vaccination, means they are immune. This is completely untrue. Your body's immune system can stop producing antibodies at any time which means some people will require specific vaccinations MORE than once. For instance, I've had to get the MMR 3-4 times as well as varicella because I kept coming back non-reactive.

Your previous post was back in 2015...so, I am sure you already have all of the answers you seek.

la_chica_suerte85, BSN, RN · Mar 23, 2016

You can either get your titers rechecked or get the booster if needed (some schools have different requirements). Don't be that person. I can't tell you how many new students at orientation were figuring ways of even getting out of just their two-step PPD let alone if their titers came back at insufficient levels (or those who thought they didn't need a PPD because they had a DTaP recently :hmph: ). :no: I honestly can't comprehend the resistance.

drejoy77 · Mar 28, 2016

I worked in the infectious disease department of a clinic for many years and almost all schools/ higher education facilities are requiring to have their attendees show proof of immunity from Measles Mumps and Rubella and Varicella. I suggest you get them if you are lacking immunity. Also many are requesting Hep A/B, Tdap and Influenza also. When you attend clinicals, these will be very important because of the close contact with medically frail individuals.