What would you do?

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Specializes in CMSRN.

Recently I have had a needle stick. (my first). Upon disclosure of my blood test (all currently negative) I was told that upon hire two years ago (2007)that my initial labs for hisr showed a + hep B result.

As I was sitting there I was completely floored. I had a vaccine in 2005 and before that was prego and had tests done then also. There as been no activity that would be an potential cause of the positive test.

What bothers me most is when I asked the employee health person why this was not disclosed to me she never gave me an actually answer. I still do not remeber what she said. It just did not make sense.

What I would like to know is who would you take this to in the chain of command? And I would think it prudent to disclose the + result to me. Am I wrong in being extremely upset or do they even have a right to withhold this info?

What do you think?

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All employee health blood results should have been mailed to you after hire date. They should also have the original results. If there is a problem, I would speak to the house suporvisor about it.

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Specializes in amb.care,mental health,geriatrics.

I am not sure who the best person to take it to is, but one place to start would be the DON. I have a feeling that's a liability issue for the hospital and they should take your concern seriously. Unless someone gives you a better answer, make an appointment with your DON to discuss, and ask her where you should take it from there. Keep going til you get a satisfactory answer. Of course no answer you get will change what happened in your case, but it needs to open some eyes there to make sure that they improve their process and not let it happen again.

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Specializes in Maternal - Child Health.

Someone dropped the ball in failing to notify you of your results in a timely manner.

I hate to introduce the possibility of wrong-doing, but I wonder if this (+) result may have been "manufactured" in an attempt to shield the hospital from liability with this current needlestick.

Please consult with your private physician as to how s/he recommends you proceed in terms of additional testing and treatment. I would insist on receiving an immediate copy of your entire employee health file to take with you to your personal doctor.

Take care.

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This is what I would do... I'd go to my regular MD (PCP), explain what has happened with OH and request another blood test for hep. B - this all sounds like it could be a mistake.

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Specializes in med/surg, ER, camp nursing.

Are you sure that +hep couldn't just be your Hep B titer, since you had the vaccine back in 2005? Maybe they were reading it wrong.

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I agree with Annie. Make sure that it was read correctly before you proceed further.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Operating Room.

My thoughts exactly... maybe it was read incorrectly... I would get all the records and take them to my personal MD before proceeding...

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Are you sure that +hep couldn't just be your Hep B titer, since you had the vaccine back in 2005? Maybe they were reading it wrong.

That's what I was wondering -- is it possible they said your hep B titer was positive, and, because of your anxiety about the situation, you just heard the "hep B" part??

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Specializes in CMSRN.

I have taken this info to my PCP and have done what I need to do to take care of myself. I just feel the need to make sure the hospital is aware of this. What I did not realize is that once you are + you are labeled + for the rest of your life even if you get a - result later. This was confirmed by my PCP too. It is hard to accept the label.

Thanks for the replies. I am just festering anger right now till I can get my voice heard by management.

MY PCP thinks it is also just from the vaccine but still I should have been told two years ago when it came up.

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Specializes in CMSRN.

In regards to hearing just the hep B part and possibly misunderstanding. This is not the case. On my file it is written in read and checked off as a hep b positive.. Nice thought but I am certain otherwise.

I am still waiting for all results from my doc too

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Specializes in Cardiac Telemetry, ED.

What is "hisr"?

I would expect a positive Hepatitis B Antibody test for anyone who has been vaccinated against HBV. This would indicate successful immunization and thus immunity.

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