Job health form

[cbw36]

Hi everyone. I need your help/suggestions with this one;
I applied for a nursing job 2 months ago, was diagnosed with hcv 1 month ago, and last week was offered the job. I need to submit health form which asks: do you have a chronic illness, if yes explain.
How should I answer this. I want to be honest but...
(ps, no symptoms, just had liver bx, tx to start asap)

[Junebug812]

I too work full-time and I'm on tx, but that hasn't been the case throughout tx. I thought I could handle 40 hours per week but for two months of tx I had to knock myself down to 30 hours a week and that was a big stretch. I was in good shape before tx, very active, but it still took me down. I couldn't possibly fathom working two jobs right now. I'm almost back to 40 hours a week but it's pretty tough, and if I didn't have a couple of high needs clients, I'd be back down to 30 hours. So I have to say i agree with Pam.

[his3707]

I thought you didnt have to legally disclose that.  If you practice universal precautions than what is the issue.  I thought in the health care industry you treated everyone as though they had something.  Gloves are to protect you and them right?

[paen53]

If this is a second job in addition to a full time job and with tx looming in the near future - honestly, I would turn it down without disclosing anything about HCV. If you can at all financially afford to manage on the one job, stick with that until you're done, especially since you don't know how you're going to react to the meds. I worked full time throughout tx, even a few long days, but it took all I had. Ten more hours per week unless absolutely necessary just doesn't justify the additional stress in my mind.

Good luck in starting tx, BTW, Pam

[SusieS2010]

Ok, I thought you had said you were offered the job and I assumed, probably incorrectly, that the papers were just a formality. They still can't refuse to hire you on grounds of chronic illness. It is against the law. So if they offered you the job and then found out you have hep C, they can't fire you. But as someone pointed out, it does happen. Whatever you decide to do, I hope it works out the way you want it to.

[cbw36]

Tashka, you are absolutely right. This is such a moral dilemma. On one hand I can't bare to lie, but I also need to provide for my family.

[tashka]

Job offer is probably conditional and can be revoked if they don't like something (for example in criminal check). If I were you, I would not tell them that you have HCV. I know, it is dishonest, bad, immoral etc... But it is also dishonest to deny qualifying individual a job because of this. And it may very well happen. They will just not give the real reason. It is not hypertension or diabetes we are talking about here. This is infectious disease, and there is not only stigma associated with it, but many misconceptions about how it is transmitted to others.

[cbw36]

Actually, it's a second job. I plan on working there maybe 10 hrs/week. No benefits. Like I said, I didn't know I had hcv till recently. If tx kicks my ***, I'll just quit. But once the nursing community knows your hcv, well... It's just the stigma.

[nygirl7]

Honestly I dont see how you are going to be able to hide treating from them....it's pretty demanding on most of us.

Just to let you know when I started treatment my boss treated me like a pariah - he wanted to get rid of me but couldn't cause i would have sued. But soon after that HIS boss took me to work upstairs at a much better job......so it's really very much a crapshoot on what a person thinks about someone with Hcv but most dont look at it so kindly I have found (the less educated ones as it be).

But yes it would be illegal to discriminate against you although it happens all the time.

[cbw36]

No, I don't have job yet. I have to submit all these forms for credentialing.

[SusieS2010]

You have already been offered the position. It is against the law to discriminate against you. You would have a good case if they tried to fire you at this point.

[FlGuy]

Any reasonable person would make hiring decisions based on knowledge, skill, expereince and the ability to do the job and not on a check-box on a form.  If not a reasonable person - who would want to be a part of that anyway?

[cbw36]

Do you think anyone would hire me if I disclose I have HCV?

[FlGuy]

Truthfully