Where to work when with TB scar?

World International

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I was suppose to go out of the country to work, BUT the world crashed on me when they saw my Xray. I was aiming for Middle East Countries but they see us as contagious even though we have no symptoms and its just a scar. I am seeking your help guys, career-wise. What country will I be able to work in? What is the policy in your country regarding people with history of TB? Thank you.

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

Can you work in your home country?

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Currently am but the pay is below average...

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

Many countries have very strict restrictions on immigration of persons infected or previously infected with certain viral illnesses (such as hepatitis) and other diseases known to be multi drug resistant and affecting certain countries in epidemic proportions (such as TB).

You may have no option other than to stay in your current locale. I know this is likely no fault of your own but unfortunately with the expansion of world travel and with it the spread of previously endemic, controlled or nearly eradicated disease many counties are shutting doors to protect their citizens. Ebola spread is another example of diseases jumping continents.

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

Depends on the country you are looking at, some may be OK as long as you can provide medical proof that you have had treatment and not a high risk

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I have applied for jobs abroad but I recently learned that I have had a scar. I have never undergone treatment and I had never had signs and symptoms. But my pulmonologist opted to treatment as a precaution. There is no change in my xray and I was wondering if I would be able to go abroad and to which country? I really need a chance to work abroad. thank you for your help

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
NewlyGradBSN said:
I have applied for jobs abroad but I recently learned that I have had a scar. I have never undergone treatment and I had never had signs and symptoms. But my pulmonologist opted to treatment as a precaution. There is no change in my xray and I was wondering if I would be able to go abroad and to which country? I really need a chance to work abroad. thank you for your help

There is no way of us knowing who willl and who won't let you work...you can only call and ask.

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Good day,

Who among you here knows someone working as a filipino nurse in uk with history of ptb? I need some concrete answers because i am planning to work there and i have history of ptb. Is it possible or not.

thank you.

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Hi there 10sentimo, let me start off by saying that I completely feel for you. I also found out 5 years ago that I have a scar in my right upper lobe of my lungs and I found this out in the most inconvenient time in my career as a nurse. I was applying for Riyadh Saudi Arabia during that time. And as you may already know, Middle Eastern countries have a stringent rule regarding TB scars regardless if it is active or inactive PTB with no symptoms at all. My world almost crumbled that time and thoughts of not being able to practice the profession outside the country broke my heart. But I never for once stopped looking for ways to conquer this seemingly insurmountable hurdle. I went through the AFB sputum testing and unsurprisingly got a favorable result since as I said I didn't have symptoms at all. With prayers and struck of luck I was able to leave the country year 2010. During that time I'm assuming the rules are relatively not as strict as today's. As a precaution, my pulmonologist prescribed me medications and I took 6 month's worth of medications to Saudi Arabia. Of course I needed to undergo another pre-employment medical when I arrived in the Hospital in Riyadh where I was employed. Did another chest xray and I was really afraid because they may send me back to the Philippines if they see my scar, but chest xrays are read by people, there is a huge margin of error with this one and readings are very subjective. But I was ready to show them a negative sputum AFB result. They deemed me fit for work, I stayed there for 5 years as an ICU Nurse. Although I was frightened to leave Saudi, because of having to go through the same ordeal brought by my lung scar, I decided to do so for my career growth. I'm so sorry for the long introduction.

To answer your question;

1. Have the Middle East as your last option career wise, their rules are closed. Hopefully this will change but I don't see that happening anytime soon. Although they should because no one wants to be infected with PTB, much less have this measure one's professional capabilities.

2. Regarding a country you can apply as a nurse despite your lung scar, the United Kingdom is very much understanding regarding this issue.

I started processing last April, already got a job offer, now awaiting my Visa and departure date.

I have a lot of advice to give you.

Hopefully this helped you in some way, and other nurses experiencing the same.

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On 9/18/2015 at 9:21 PM, Kalibre said:

Hi there 10sentimo, let me start off by saying that I completely feel for you. I also found out 5 years ago that I have a scar in my right upper lobe of my lungs and I found this out in the most inconvenient time in my career as a nurse. I was applying for Riyadh Saudi Arabia during that time. And as you may already know, Middle Eastern countries have a stringent rule regarding TB scars regardless if it is active or inactive PTB with no symptoms at all. My world almost crumbled that time and thoughts of not being able to practice the profession outside the country broke my heart. But I never for once stopped looking for ways to conquer this seemingly insurmountable hurdle. I went through the AFB sputum testing and unsurprisingly got a favorable result since as I said I didn't have symptoms at all. With prayers and struck of luck I was able to leave the country year 2010. During that time I'm assuming the rules are relatively not as strict as today's. As a precaution, my pulmonologist prescribed me medications and I took 6 month's worth of medications to Saudi Arabia. Of course I needed to undergo another pre-employment medical when I arrived in the Hospital in Riyadh where I was employed. Did another chest xray and I was really afraid because they may send me back to the Philippines if they see my scar, but chest xrays are read by people, there is a huge margin of error with this one and readings are very subjective. But I was ready to show them a negative sputum AFB result. They deemed me fit for work, I stayed there for 5 years as an ICU Nurse. Although I was frightened to leave Saudi, because of having to go through the same ordeal brought by my lung scar, I decided to do so for my career growth. I'm so sorry for the long introduction.

To answer your question;

1. Have the Middle East as your last option career wise, their rules are closed. Hopefully this will change but I don't see that happening anytime soon. Although they should because no one wants to be infected with PTB, much less have this measure one's professional capabilities.

2. Regarding a country you can apply as a nurse despite your lung scar, the United Kingdom is very much understanding regarding this issue.

I started processing last April, already got a job offer, now awaiting my Visa and departure date.

I have a lot of advice to give you.

Hopefully this helped you in some way, and other nurses experiencing the same.

Hi! Hope you will read it. I have also scar in my lungs since 2011. But I am afraid if I can still work abroad just like in UK and US. How are you now? Is UK really not strict just like in Middle East? BTW, are you now working in UK as a nurse? Pls let me know more about your story coz I want also to work abroad. ??

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On 8/10/2014 at 10:18 PM, Silverdragon102 said:

Depends on the country you are looking at, some may be OK as long as you can provide medical proof that you have had treatment and not a high risk

Good day!

Would like to ask, do you have an idea if the applicant had lung Scar due to healed PTB (non-infectious) is OK or allowed to work in the Bahamas?

Thank you and God bless

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Specializes in Nursing assistant.

Is US accept applicant to work who had a history of PTB?

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