Who's right: the RN or the LPN?

[FutureMaleOhioNurse]

Here's the deal: Among the plethora of immunizations that I need, the Hep B one is giving me a headache (not literally). See, I worked at a nursing home as a CNA back in the summer of 2002 and was given the first dose of Hep B - May 27, 2002 to be exact. Since then, I haven't finished the series. Well, today, I spoke with an RN at the nursing home and was told that I would have to start the series all over again. According to her, the three doses would be given within 3 months. However, the LPN at the health department told me that I wouldn't have to start the series all over again. She said that the first dose in 2002 would count, and that today's Hep B dose would count as the second in the series and need to return August for the final dose. Who's right? I'm HOPING the LPN's right...

[PedsAtHeart, LPN]

Well, if you need the immunization or proof of immunity for something specific (like a new job, or starting nursing school), then what you need is what they tell you that you need. If the occ. health person processing your file holds one view, then it doesn't matter what the credentials or actual knowledge of your other sources are - LPN, RN, MD, or the CDC itself.

Ask your school/employer what you need to do. Bureaucracy trumps science.

In a way I disagree with this. Maybe the RN is a little outdated on the info he/she has regarding this particular subject. Maybe they need to just be updated on the current guidelines.

[kcochrane]

Didn't read all the posts, but this happened to me. I got pregnant before the last dose. Doctor gave me the last dose over a year later. I had a titre done and I'm covered. So the LPN is right.

I am big on vaccines, but lets not take more than you need. If worst case is that your titre is negative, you could get one more shot.

[roser13, ASN, RN]

Off-topic....you should consider changing your screen name. Hopefully, you're a future nurse, not a future male:lol2:

[Davey Do]

This is a very interesting discussion on opposing perspectives and information.

It's also interesting in the way the original question was worded: Who's right; the RN or the LPN? Isn't that taking the focus off of the true queston? In this scenerio, was it truly necessary to identify the nurses' titles?

When I read the title, I had believed this may have been a question regarding ultimate responsibility or the like.

I wonder if both had been RNs or LPNs, but were of different genders, would have the question been worded "Who's riight; the man or the woman?" Or, if the two nurses were of different natioanlities: Who's right; the American or the Foreigner?

Perhaps a title focusing on the true subject, the Hep B Series, would have been more appropriate.

Thanks.

[PetiteOpRN]

As another poster said, some people have immunity after one shot. A titer will show exactly what you need.

[kids]

Here is the word from on high--the Centers For Disease Control:

And here is the link:

Vaccines: VPD-VAC/HepB/Questions to NIPINFO

This is the agency that everyone else looks to as the authority on what to do and when to do it. Until there is published research saying something to the contrary, I would follow CDC guidelines.

What TheCommuter said earlier has merit. A titer may show that you have immunity, even though you only had the first injection. You have to look at the cost and inconvenience of obtaining a titer vs. that of getting the other two injections. Then you can make an informed choice.

When in doubt I always go with the CDC guidelines.

I do recall that years ago the 'rule' if you missed the timing on a dose of Hep B vaccine that the instructions were to start the series over, the facility nurse in the original post appears to have outdated information.

[maemae0410]

I think....that if you were just a few months interrupted in the series it would be fine to just continue but you are talking 8 years here...all the information says as soon as possible...to me eight years is a long break. The whole thing is about building up immunity...

anyway...its just one shot...I don't think personally I would want to risk it and just start over with the first dose?

[nursel56]

A nurse that works at the nursing home would have extensive immunization knowledge as well, because after all, almost the entire staff at a nursing home would need essential immunization. Also, the RN has more training/education than the LPN. It is logical to assume that both would have acurate information, which is why I couldn't figure out who was right.

.

I worked in a large clinic giving immunizations for several years, guidelines for the plethora of immunizations given change fairly frequently. If someone's "extensive immunization knowledge" happened some years prior, and she did not receive publications and updates regularly, it' likely her knowledge is out of date.

The RN has more training/education than an LPN- that's true- but something like this would not be an example of what those extra school hours would encompass.

[FutureMaleOhioNurse, BSN, RN]

It's also interesting in the way the original question was worded: Who's right; the RN or the LPN? Isn't that taking the focus off of the true queston? In this scenerio, was it truly necessary to identify the nurses' titles?

I wonder if both had been RNs or LPNs, but were of different genders, would have the question been worded "Who's riight; the man or the woman?" Or, if the two nurses were of different natioanlities: Who's right; the American or the Foreigner?

Perhaps a title focusing on the true subject, the Hep B Series, would have been more appropriate.

Thanks.

Thank you for this comment because I had not looked at it in that light. But the title lured you in to read my post, didn't it? If I would've put a title focusing more on the Hep B Series, would you have read it? I'm trying to get the correct answer, to make the correct decision. The more that read this thread, the likelier it is to find the correct answer.

[Davey Do]

Thank you for this comment because I had not looked at it in that light. But the title lured you in to read my post, didn't it? If I would've put a title focusing more on the Hep B Series, would you have read it? I'm trying to get the correct answer, to make the correct decision. The more that read this thread, the likelier it is to find the correct answer.

"Houston, we have a problem, here. It's a red herring."

[Finallydidit]

The NURSE is right!

[FutureMaleOhioNurse, BSN, RN]

The NURSE is right!

Uh, which one?