Vaccinations

[sbarber74]

I'm preparing to apply for a nursing program. I have tried ever route I could think of to get my shot records. We moved around frequently when I was a child and none of the schools keep records past 7yrs. I'm in my 40's so that idea went out the window. I called 7 of the 100's of health depts in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area and none found my name. I even contact the state agency which maintains records and they dont keep them that far back.

My concern is that I will be required to take alot of shots all at once which really REALLY has me worried. I have no idea what vaccines I had as a child, my mother has passed on and none of my family can help with this information as my mother wasnt close to any of them.

Could someone please share what you think I may have to do to move past this?

Also, I had a positive TB skin test several yrs back. No other symptoms and chest xray was good. Also, I have chest Xrays done every yr even though its not required. Ive never had any symptoms but I want to be sure I stay ontop of that because of course I don't want anyone else to get it and I have children. What sort of hurdle should I expect to come from this?

Very Thankful I found this forum :)

Steph

[pmabraham, BSN, RN]

You can get your titers checked for immunizations that you might have received as a child. The specific vaccines will vary by nursing program; so I would not get any until you are in the program and know the specifics.

[NICU Guy, BSN, RN]

I was 47 when I started nursing school and had no way of locating my records. I had the NP that I worked with write a script to get my blood drawn and get titers for the vaccines. I just brought the results to the school as proof of the immunizations.

[ItsThatJenGirl, CNA]

I don't have my shot records, either. I'm getting my titers checked and I'll go from there.

[mindofmidwifery, ADN]

Make sure you get all your necessary titers done ASAP because I'm going to be late registering for classes because I got a varicella titer done last Friday knowing that I got my vaccines finished. Well, I am not immune to the chickenpox even though those vaccinations were completed and I have to get them both done again. The second one has to be taken a month after the first one :/

[ItsThatJenGirl, CNA]

Make sure you get all your necessary titers done ASAP because I'm going to be late registering for classes because I got a varicella titer done last Friday knowing that I got my vaccines finished. Well, I am not immune to the chickenpox even though those vaccinations were completed and I have to get them both done again. The second one has to be taken a month after the first one :/

Good reminder, thanks! I'm calling now!

[la_chica_suerte85, BSN, RN]

If, where you are, the chest xray is good for 2 years then you really should rethink getting chest xrays done annually. Based on what vaccines are required, the school you apply to may have you get your titers drawn (which, as in the case of my school, could be done on the day of orientation -- though we still had to cough up some paperwork and titers were drawn with or without paperwork). See if you can contact the school's compliance officer to see what you need to do in that situation.

[jess.mont, ADN, RN]

What a timely post! I went to my doctor today for my physical and vaccines to volunteer with Hospice and told him I'd really rather just have all my shots again in case the titers came back negative and I had to get the shots anyway. He said, "What's really going on here? There must be some reason you want all the shots." I confessed that I didn't want the blood draw. "Oh! Well, that explains it. But you're going to light up like a Christmas tree if I give you all those shots. Most people's tiers come back fine. I mean, I had to have 9 Hep B shots, but that's unusual." Aaaahhhhh!!! I did the blood draw because I was being a ridiculous wimp about it, and I should get my titers back in a week or so. Then I'll know what I actually need, but definitely get on it sooner rather than later!

[Kuriin, BSN, RN]

I had a negative PPD test, a positive Quantiferon test, a suspected positive XR test (Ghon complex, 4mm granuloma) and no s/sx. Took INH for that year. My PPD still comes out negative.

Yeah......