|
|
Can You Be HIV+ and a Nurse?
#55963 - 01/24/03 07:18 PM
|
Reply
|
Quote
|
|
|
I am thinking of going to nursing school. I am poz, however, and have done the ethical thing and have contacted chairpersons of nursing depts. at two local colleges. Neither has gotten back to me and I am getting distinctly chilly vibes. Does anyone know anything about this subject? Also, are there any practicing HIV+ nurses who could perhaps tell me if it is worth it attempting to enter the profession? In addition to the rudeness from the local schools, I have been a bit deflated by the awful things I have been reading about nursing on the internet. Thanks so much!
Post Extras:
|
|
|
|
I don't have any personal experience with this, but unless your nursing job has a really high risk of blood to blood contact, I don't see how there's any grounds for rejecting you just on the basis of your HIV status. Hey, have you asked the people in the workplace forum? There's gotta be someone who's asked this question before.
Now I feel dumb for not having any really useful information. I'm sorry! I hope more people respond soon so I don't feel so stupid. :)
Good luck, and keep fighting! You should be aggressive. Keep calling those chairpersons. There's no harm done, after all, if you're just very eager to get their thoughts on your chances of admission. I wouldn't push the HIV+ thing if you don't have to, though. I don't necessarily agree that you're doing the ethical thing by contacting these people before you've even applied to, or been accepted by, the nursing school. What's the point? You wouldn't tell them in advance that you have hepatitis, or that your left leg was amputated. They should be accepting you on your merits, not despite your illness. You'll need to tell them about the HIV once you've been accepted anyway, I think there's a lot of forms to fill out and such. Don't think you're doing either them or you a favor by volunteering information you don't need to give.
Post Extras:
|
|
|
|
I am a nurse with an HIV + relative. Yes it is possible to be a nurse and be pos. You need to start by knowing that your HIV status is private and you do not need to tell anyone. There are laws that protect you in this fact.
Apply to nursing school, finish your program and ultimately choose a place to work that does not put you into direct intensive contact with multiple procedures--do not choose ICU, ER, or OR but instead choose to work in research, out-patient clinics, telephone triage, utilization review, community health, education. These are areas that are not considered to be glamouros but which do provide excellent opportunities and salaries.
As for all the stuff you read about nursing, forget it!!
Nusing is a great profession that provides decent wages (average atarting salary in my area for a full time nurse is about $38 to $42 K) flexible work schedules (you can work days, nights, evenings, 8 hr shifts, 10 hr,12 hr or 16hr shifts--concentrated hours with more time off-- which allows you to have time for family doctors appointments
Post Extras:
|
|
|
|
I am a nurse with an HIV + relative. Yes it is possible to be a nurse and be pos. You need to start by knowing that your HIV status is private and you do not need to tell anyone. There are laws that protect you in this fact.
Apply to nursing school, finish your program and ultimately choose a place to work that does not put you into direct intensive contact with multiple procedures--do not choose ICU, ER, or OR but instead choose to work in research, out-patient clinics, telephone triage, utilization review, community health, education. These are areas that are not considered to be glamorous but which do provide excellent opportunities and salaries.
As for all the stuff you read about nursing, forget it!!
Nusing is a great profession that provides decent wages (average starting salary in my area that has a low cost of living for a full time nurse is about $38 to $42 K) flexible work schedules (you can work days, nights, evenings, 8 hr shifts, 10 hr,12 hr or 16hr shifts--concentrated hours with more time off-- which allows you to have time for family, doctors appointments or vacations) and a constantly changing job availability. In what other profession can you change specialties on a moments notice if you get tired of doing that job? Getting bored with geriatric care? Change to pediatric or home health, Hate working OB? You can move to almost any other area and not have to go back to school for further training. I am a nurse for 27 years and I still find the profession rewarding and fulfilling
Post Extras:
|
|
|
|
Pardon my language, but it is none of their business, even from a legal perspective. You are not required to disclose any medical condition, that is confidential information. In fact, a new Federal law (HIPAA) re confidentiality and sharing of your records gives added weight. Yes, you may want to ethically disclose this, but let them meet YOU first
and see what you have to offer. I have told my employer, my coworkers but not at first. And you can't be fired if you are hired and you disclose this, it's against the law. The
Americans with Disabilities Act can provide information. I am not a nurse, wanted to be for years but went the "family route" of working for State Government. Hope this has helped, there are some good books written by nurses (paperback) that shed light on the profession.
Post Extras:
|
|
|
|
Yes you can be + and work as a nurse. You do not have to disclose your status, even though the employment physical will ask if you are. You should not work in or/ob/gyn areas. I work in the er/icu and love being a nurse. I'm neg/husband is +.
Post Extras:
|
|
1 registered and 8 anonymous users are browsing this forum.
Moderator: TheBody, bogart, crabman, riverprincess, kicker
|
Permissions
You cannot start new topics
You cannot reply to topics
HTML is enabled
UBBCode is enabled
|
Thread views: 3273
|
|
|
|
|
|
UBB.threads™ 6.2.3
| |
Previous
Index
Next
Flat
Threaded
