Warning to Students!

RN BSN 2009 · Dec 21, 2006

We recieved our packet a few months before nursing school was scheduled to start, and there were still students who waited until the last minute to get all of them together. Luckily I made mine in on time!

allnurses Guide · Dec 21, 2006

I knew I'd had a measles shot as a teen, as well as a booster as an adult, but couldn't prove it. My titer came back negative, so they either hadn't taken or were no longer active. Sometimes the titer is to show whether or not you need another one. Since I work in an ER, I get exposed a lot; it was nice to know I needed a booster.

Altra, BSN, RN · Dec 21, 2006

I agree that it's totally not fair, but it doesn't change their status.

Can you elaborate on why it is unfair to require students wishing to be admitted to a program in which they will have close contact with already ill and immuno-compromised patients to demonstrate sufficient immunity to some infectious diseases?

Altra, BSN, RN · Dec 21, 2006

And isn't the point of a titer to PROVE you have the immunizations?

No, the point of having titers drawn is to demonstrate sufficient immunity ... not simply that you've received the vaccine.

Some people receive vaccines but do not "seroconvert" meaning they do not develop sufficient antibodies for immunity.

cardiacRN2006, ADN, RN · Dec 21, 2006

I guess I just don't get why you would need a titer if you had proof of the immunization?

LOL, that's what I was wondering! What's the point? I didn't have a single proof of my vaccines from when I was a child. Took a minute to go to employee health at my work and get them all drawn (for free).

If I went to a place, and they told me that I needed to have proof prior to getting the titer, then I would just leave and find someplace else-like the county health department.

Megsd, BSN, RN · Dec 22, 2006

The only titer AND proof of immunization I needed was for Hep B. I think that's because currently the vaccine is being touted as being good "for life", but I have heard they are considering implementing a policy for boosters, so apparently there is some doubt about the longevity of the vaccine.

Every other requirement was either/or.

smk1, LPN · Dec 22, 2006

Hello, this post is really for future nursing students.
I currently work in a Student Health Center of a University. We have had dozens of nursing students who are supposed to start their first quarter of classes in 3 weeks. They are all in major panic mode because they just found out they have to have 5 titers including hep B, varicella, measles, mumps and rubella. You cannot get these titers if you are not up to date on your immunizations. Some of them are way behind on immunizations, and will not get to start this quarter.
I agree that it's totally not fair, but it doesn't change their status.
Soooo...for all of you planning to start a program in the near or distant future!
Please, start bugging the nursing department of the requirements for clinicals.You will not regret being prepared.
Good luck all!:)

Why can't you get the titers? many people get titers because they don't have their immunization records and are unsure of their immunization status. I got a titer for Hep B because I did't have documentation for it. I would encourge all students to check with their school to see what is acceptable immunization clearance for the nursing programs and go from there.

smattles1of2 · Dec 22, 2006

I had to pay for my titers too. My dr couldn't get me in in time to get my packet turned in. $250 later...blah.

marilynmom, LPN, NP · Dec 22, 2006

The only titer AND proof of immunization I needed was for Hep B. I think that's because currently the vaccine is being touted as being good "for life", but I have heard they are considering implementing a policy for boosters, so apparently there is some doubt about the longevity of the vaccine.
Every other requirement was either/or.

Your correct. Most of the studied I have seen on the longevity of the HepB vaccine was about 8-15 years on average, and of course there are a lot out there who never seroconvert to begin with. I don't think there are any vaccines that are life long.

ladyinred667 · Dec 22, 2006

I knew I'd had a measles shot as a teen, as well as a booster as an adult, but couldn't prove it. My titer came back negative, so they either hadn't taken or were no longer active. Sometimes the titer is to show whether or not you need another one. Since I work in an ER, I get exposed a lot; it was nice to know I needed a booster.

Same thing happened to me! I had my titers drawn and it turned out I wasn't immune to measles. I had to have the MMR again since apparently it's hard to just find a measles vax. I showed immunity to chicken pox and everything else I needed to.

I had to have a TB test and the Hep B series. Tetorifice was suggested but not required so I opted not to since I had it 3 years prior.

It makes absolutely NO sense to require proof of immunizations if you are getting titers done anyway.

cardiacRN2006, ADN, RN · Dec 22, 2006

I don't think there are any vaccines that are life long.

I don't know, I've had the Hep B vax for 13 years now, and my titers are 3x the normal range, as are all my titers, including MMR (which is way older than that!).

luvmy3kids · Dec 23, 2006

I needed proof of my immunizations for my volunteer work at the hospital.... after moving (I don't know... like 400 times) and my parents divorce... my mom had no idea where to find them...

I contacted my previous college, I contacted my old clinics I went to....but they didn't have all of my records, or they couldn't find them at all....

Anyway... a good resource is the high school you attended.... I graduated from HS in 1992 and they still had my records on file... I just had to have them archived and they printed me up a copy to keep and one for my employer...

HTH's for anyone who needs to locate them!