anyone who have answers to these thread:
Location:
Posts: 1
failed medical Post #1
I am CGFNS certified nurse from the Philippines . who has recently successfully hurdled my TSE and all set for the US. I just got word from the agency where I applied that my hepatitis screening turned out to be positive, that is despite being totally asymptomatic. My world is collapsing right now because it seems I wont be able to pursue anymore my plans of working abroad. Are there anymore alternatives for me? Any way I could be found negative on retesting or are there jobs not requiring hepatitis screening abroad(any country )? Are you aware of any medication that could help seroconvert my test to negative( I was just told by the doctor there’s no need to do anything because my hepa B is inactive and there’s no drug right now that is proven to be effective for hepa B carriers.)
Thanks for any comment . God bless!
IP: Logged
09-17-2003 07:54 AM
bargainhound
Senior Member
Registered: Feb 2003
Location: OKlahoma
Posts: 85
Post #2
I did not know that positive Hep b would keep anyone from getting a job. Universal precautions and standard procedures protect patients and nurses.
I don't think that trying to get your lab to test negative would accomplish anything. Your body will still have the Hep B.
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09-17-2003 12:41 PM
3rdShiftGuy
aka "Tweety"
Registered: Oct 2002
Location: Somewhere Out There
Posts: 4662
Post #3
Many employers in the US don't screen for Hep B. The Veterans Administration hospital did in NC when I applied there. The same thing happened to me, I tested positive for Hep B and never was once symptomatic. I'm not aware that it can be seroconverted.
That said, at least around here, one's personal health history is personal. Being a carrier of Hepatitis B or even HIV does not affect one's ability to perform his/her duties as a nurse and isn't used as a criteria to deny one employment.
It is also not required that you disclose that information. One can be Hepatitis B positive, or even HIV positive and never meantion it to the employer. This employer I work for now does not screen for Hepatitis B or anything.
Nurses do not expose their blood and body fluids to patients, so the patients are at zero risk.
__________________
"I would rather live in a world where my life is surrounded by mystery than live in a world so small that my mind could comprehend it."
Harry E. Fosdick
"I wish to say what I think and feel, with the provision that tomorrow perhaps I will contradict it all." - Ralph Waldo Emerson
I apologize now for the typos and misspellings in my post.
Tweety
IP: Logged
09-17-2003 02:40 PM
purplemania
Senior Member
Registered: Sep 2000
Location: Longview, TX
Posts: 793
Post #4
have you checked with any USA hospitals or Boards of Nursing for specific states? While "personal health is personal" may apply to citizens, the same rules may not apply to immigrants. Sorry for all this pain you are going through and wish I had the answer for you.
IP: Logged
09-17-2003 04:08 PM
Talino
Senior Member
Registered: Aug 2001
Location: NY NY
Posts: 191
Post #5
These lab tests are INS prerequisites of foreign recruits coming to the US, moreso among professionals seeking employment in the health care field. When tested positive, chances of admission to the US mainland for employment reasons become bleak.
The right to privacy does not extend to foreigners who desire to enter the US.
I have not heard of a proven seroconversion either. I have heard of Interferon and alleged Chinese herbal remedies (but no clinical proof to substantiate claims).
There is no known treatment. Prevention of spread is crucial. Stay healthy and protect others from getting infected. Vaccination of those close in contact should be considered.
Devastating news! I can only share the grief. May you find solace on an alternative.
IP: Logged
09-17-2003 04:19 PM
sjoe
Curmudgeon
Registered: Aug 2002
Location: San Diego
Posts: 2131
Post #6
Location:
Posts: 1
failed medical Post #1
I am CGFNS certified nurse from the Philippines . who has recently successfully hurdled my TSE and all set for the US. I just got word from the agency where I applied that my hepatitis screening turned out to be positive, that is despite being totally asymptomatic. My world is collapsing right now because it seems I wont be able to pursue anymore my plans of working abroad. Are there anymore alternatives for me? Any way I could be found negative on retesting or are there jobs not requiring hepatitis screening abroad(any country )? Are you aware of any medication that could help seroconvert my test to negative( I was just told by the doctor there’s no need to do anything because my hepa B is inactive and there’s no drug right now that is proven to be effective for hepa B carriers.)
Thanks for any comment . God bless!
IP: Logged
09-17-2003 07:54 AM
bargainhound
Senior Member
Registered: Feb 2003
Location: OKlahoma
Posts: 85
Post #2
I did not know that positive Hep b would keep anyone from getting a job. Universal precautions and standard procedures protect patients and nurses.
I don't think that trying to get your lab to test negative would accomplish anything. Your body will still have the Hep B.
IP: Logged
09-17-2003 12:41 PM
3rdShiftGuy
aka "Tweety"
Registered: Oct 2002
Location: Somewhere Out There
Posts: 4662
Post #3
Many employers in the US don't screen for Hep B. The Veterans Administration hospital did in NC when I applied there. The same thing happened to me, I tested positive for Hep B and never was once symptomatic. I'm not aware that it can be seroconverted.
That said, at least around here, one's personal health history is personal. Being a carrier of Hepatitis B or even HIV does not affect one's ability to perform his/her duties as a nurse and isn't used as a criteria to deny one employment.
It is also not required that you disclose that information. One can be Hepatitis B positive, or even HIV positive and never meantion it to the employer. This employer I work for now does not screen for Hepatitis B or anything.
Nurses do not expose their blood and body fluids to patients, so the patients are at zero risk.
__________________
"I would rather live in a world where my life is surrounded by mystery than live in a world so small that my mind could comprehend it."
Harry E. Fosdick
"I wish to say what I think and feel, with the provision that tomorrow perhaps I will contradict it all." - Ralph Waldo Emerson
I apologize now for the typos and misspellings in my post.
Tweety
IP: Logged
09-17-2003 02:40 PM
purplemania
Senior Member
Registered: Sep 2000
Location: Longview, TX
Posts: 793
Post #4
have you checked with any USA hospitals or Boards of Nursing for specific states? While "personal health is personal" may apply to citizens, the same rules may not apply to immigrants. Sorry for all this pain you are going through and wish I had the answer for you.
IP: Logged
09-17-2003 04:08 PM
Talino
Senior Member
Registered: Aug 2001
Location: NY NY
Posts: 191
Post #5
These lab tests are INS prerequisites of foreign recruits coming to the US, moreso among professionals seeking employment in the health care field. When tested positive, chances of admission to the US mainland for employment reasons become bleak.
The right to privacy does not extend to foreigners who desire to enter the US.
I have not heard of a proven seroconversion either. I have heard of Interferon and alleged Chinese herbal remedies (but no clinical proof to substantiate claims).
There is no known treatment. Prevention of spread is crucial. Stay healthy and protect others from getting infected. Vaccination of those close in contact should be considered.
Devastating news! I can only share the grief. May you find solace on an alternative.
IP: Logged
09-17-2003 04:19 PM
sjoe
Curmudgeon
Registered: Aug 2002
Location: San Diego
Posts: 2131
Post #6