working as a nurse with hep c

is anyone else a nurse or health professional that has a view on the ethics of working?  i was always taught universal precautions to prevent myself from others germs etc.  now,  the table is turned.  i feel like i have the plague sometimes & am not sure i can continue with patient care.  thx,  kudos132

[ladybug52]

It's not unethical to continue working.
As a nurse you know that it's blood to blood infection and the risk of that happening is.......well, I can't imagine that happening.
If you're using universal precautions how could you infect anyone?
I felt like I had the plague also because of the stigma attached.
I felt horrible knowing that I had hepc and treating patients, but I really was more worried about what the patient would think of me, not that I would spread it or infect anyone.
Good luck with your decision

[meakea]

When I was in the hospital getting my liver biopsy last May, the nurse who was getting me ready, asked me the typical questions and one of them was:  "Why are you here today?"  I started to cry because it was the first time I had to tell someone (other than family) that I have Hep C and it was very, very difficult for me to say it.

The nurse was very sympathetic with my emotional state and she told me that another nurse that she worked with has Hep C and she offered to me that she could ask the other nurse to come talk with me if I was interested (and if the nurse agreed).  I told her I would be interested.

Shortly thereafter, the nurse with Hep C stopped by my area to talk to me.  She looked a bit nervous at first but was really quite nice.  Among the things she told me was this:  She said that when she found out she had Hep C 15 years ago, she was afraid that she would lose her nursing job.  She did go ahead and tell her supervisor, expecting that she would be fired, but her supervisor said:  "So...do you think YOU are the only one with Hep C out there?  NO, you aren't...there are lots of people walking around with Hep C.  Now, go get back to work!"  And that was that.

So...that's how it should be.  Just go get back to work.  I do, however, think there are certain areas Hep C positive medical personnel should not work, such as, surgical areas if they would be prone to infecting patients from cuts, etc.  

[Haji4]

I am a medical assistant and now in school for my LPN. I love what I do and I use all necessary precautions. I know how this disease is transmitted so I work with care. I love giving patient care and I will continue, knowing that I can help change the care a patient gets while on my shift.

[agatha56]

I am also a nurse although I work in the office and do MDS's but  I do work the floor when on call. I understand what you mean about feeling like you have the plague. You know that even though we are professionals we are also human beings and are not above having some unwarranted fears. Before this happened to me I would not be telling the truth if I said that I was not afraid contracting HIV OR HEP from a patient. I always wore 2 pair of gloves when caring for these patients. I know that it was probably overkill but I felt like I was being extra careful. I believe that I contracted this about16 yrs ago when I was flushing a surgical abdominal drain that splashed into my eyes. I was told when I tried to donate blood about 2 yrs after the incident that I may have non A non B hepatitis. Told to just watch for flu sx for next few weeks. Of course I figured it was a false positive and went on with my life, until last Oct. when I found out I had it. It makes me let's just say a little more careful. Sometimes I get angry but what can you do. Anyway this turned out to be longer than I intended. Nice to talk to a peer. Good Luck with your tx and hope to hear back.

[agatha56]

It's a shame that even among us health care professionals there is this stigma. I have only shared this with 2 good friends and of course my boyfriend. You even hear nurses whisper to each other "You know that patient has Hep C", like it is the plague. I just want to set them straight but of course keep my mouth shut.

[meakea]

I have tried to circumvent the whispering by medical staff and I tell them up front in a very matter of fact way that I have Hep C.  That way I take away their need to whisper, if they are so inclined to do so.

[ladybug52]

I just had surgery, last week, and told  everyone upfront that I had hepc, had treated and was clear of the virus. I fel like that was the ethical thing to do. Me and my big mouth.
I looked at my chart when some transporter set it down on my bed, and there was a yellow page on the front of the chart with my pertinent medical info.....sure enough hep C in big letters on the sheet, and the nurse wrote "states she's cleared".
I was medicated and not really sure what else was included on the sheet, it was like a way to quick look at my profile w/o going through the whole chart. I practice physical therapy, not a nurse, so I don't know if most patients have a sheet rubber-banded to their chart or was just the practice of the hospital I was in. Any clues?

[agatha56]

The comment "states she's cleared" would of piised me off, I think.

[Doggie]

Hi,

I caught Hep C as a Phlebotomist when I was 21.  I continued to work.   It is totally ethical to continue working so long as you follow universal precautions, as you are.

Doggie

[CMcH]

I am a health care worker and have had HCV for a quite a while. There are a lot of us out there and we are a group that is at risk. I use universal precautions and my Sups & some co-workers know because I am on Treatment. There is a stigma with it but people are more understanding than expected. I think it is a good time for some of us to come out of the closet but it is a very individual thing. In the medical field hopefully they understand and legally they should not retaliate. You do need to worry about the Ins. Co, though.

[ladybug52]

That's how I felt! Wondered if I was just being too sensitive....

[medicmommy]

Hi! I'm a paramedic who got "blessed" with this lovely bug from a needle stick..I too felt like I had the plague and felt quite contaminated...When I told my supervisor, the first thing he did was take me of the ambulance because he felt I may be a liability to the company. Well, I educated him, and everyone else in earshot that the only way I could give it to anyone was to poke them with a needle that I'd been poked with! I was allowed to continue to work, but I too, was more cautious...I'm happy to say, since then I've finished tx and am now SVR since January'09...Yes, the stigma survives in the ignorance of health care workers -But I'm now a Hep C advocate and educating the world, one health care worker at a time! HA! :)  ~MM

[meakea]

I think it is common practice for nurses to write what the patient states instead of listing it as a fact.  I believe it's the nurses job to get intake information and state it per patient's words, not as if it's been a documented fact in their chart.  I'm sure she wasn't saying it as if you might be lying...it's the typical way they chart.

I read medical records for a living and I've seen it to be very common practice to state things in patient's words or as if it's what the patient said -- until it's been documented by facts from other records, etc.

Just letting you know what I've seen as common practice so you aren't left with the feeling that you were doubted.

[jmjm530]

Certainly respect anyone's decision to disclose, but given how misunderstood Hep C is even within the medical profession, I really question why an SVR would mention the fact they had HCV in terms of a safety issue to others.

Even needle stick accidents when someone has HCV (virus usually in millions) is low risk -- around 2% -- so the odds of accidental transmission for someone SVR would appear to be 0% per what I've been told by my doctors and even if you buy into the persistent/occult studies (my doc doesn't) , the odds would probably still be close to zero if not zero.

[ladybug52]

You are so right....I knew that, I document stuff like "Pt states she has more pain today" because I'm wrtiting about their subjective comments or feelings.
It's just that it feels different when you're reading it about yourself. Especially since it was a form that was filled in with someone's handwriting. I think I would have felt funny no matter what, but maybe if it said "States she has hep c and has cleared" instead of Hep c as a diagnosis, then "states she has cleared" added next to it.
I AM just oversensitive, but thanks so much for taking the time to remind me that this is just the way things are done. I appreciate that!
Hugs,
Bug

[nygirl7]

sure enough hep C in big letters on the sheet, and the nurse wrote "states she's cleared".

Cleared what acne? Vision?

Even though I am SVR I always mention it too as it is a part of my medical history and my liver is not in perfect condition.  As for safety Yeah I guess I still mention it too even though I know I am SVR and not contagious I think it's just such a part of my life now that I do feel obligated for some reason to mention it. Even though it's not necessary.

But, THAT would have pissed me off as I am always very careful to say I treated and am SVR.  I'd expect that a professional could at least write THAT down correctly it would irk me a lot too.

[ladybug52]

I really don't feel I have a need to disclose, except I wanted to let my surgeon know.  I am still concerned about medications I'm prescribed....liver friendly or should I take something else?
Once the surgeon knows, I think it goes in my 'past medical history' and so I try to act nonchalant when I'm asked outright about it.
I had a CT myelogram last week, and the Dr doing the lumbar puncture was the same dr who did my liver biospy. I probably was in the same recovery area with the same nurses. When I went to recovery afterwards the nurse introduced herself and asked "Any other medical issues?" I said "Like what?" but what I wanted to say was "You mean like hep c?"  She said "Oh I don't know, diabetes?"
I might be paranoid, or it probably is just like where I work, everyone comments on the patients and hep c is a red flag.
I understand your point but I guess I'm trying to be brave with full disclosure. I couldn't have talked about it 2 years ago.
Deputy Bug

[ladybug52]

Our posts must have crossed in cyberspace at the same time. I just now saw your post.
I think you hear what I'm trying to say. I choose to be honest so that maybe one by one we can lessen the stigma of the disease. I hope that people see it as honesty, and maybe, that there's nothing to be ashamed about.
BTW,  the man next to me in recovery had just passed a kidney stone, and was anxious to get home. The nurses were trying to talk him out of driving and then I heard one of them throw in the conversation "So you have hep C?"
What did that have to do with anything? Sounds like a violation of HIPPA to me, in a open area with just curtainsbetween us. I even double checked with my husband that I wasn't hallucinating that conversation, I was on serious pain meds.
It's definitely a hot topic in that hospital.
Bug

[nygirl7]

I can't type the words my head is thinking right now because they'll all just come out like ***** anyhow!

I think the same thing too and generally it IS a part of my life now so I just say it and wait and see how they look at me. However, if I heard what you heard they'd better thank their lucky stars I was zonked otherwise I'd hate to be arrested for assault but whether it be physical or verbal I might just very well lose it.

Idiots. Especially idiots in hospitals who should know better but can't mind their business!

[kudos132]

thanx for the inputs!!  i guess i'll continue to work.  i did tell the school nurse that i relieve that i was getting hep c treatment & she still calls me for her relief.  but my other job canceled me,  of course they don't say why--just financial.  kudos 132

[merryBe]

I think the real concern is in surgeries and in ERs and abulances.

The issue is, when a EM, ER, nurse or surgeon are in an envioronment where they are most likely to get nicked, or cut, or stuck with a needle, then they are in a high risk job.

Conversely if they are treating patients who are flailing about...or in an intense surgerical unit where working elbow to elbow..and they have contracted HCV, then they are putting others at a higher risk.

I'm reminded that even with modern atherscopic surgeries nicks are not uncommon...on both patients and crew.
When they first started segregating HCV nurses to desk jobs or the like it was mainly so that they would not get the hospital sued if a patient made them bleed.

I'm not sure if this is still the practice, but if I were a nurse having to treat for this disease, I'd gladly take the desk job and get the rest while on tx that I could.

You are so right it is no fun being treated like a leper...but I think some of the precautions do make sense from both health and legal stances....and sometimes, the less stress while on tx the better...just my opinion, but I'd rather be just stocking the ambulances than going out on stressful calls while on this treatment...this treatment really knocks the B-Jesus out of most of us.

mb

[kudos132]

i wasn't aware they used to segregate hcv nurses.  what year was that?  i was lucky,  i'm retired & only work as needed.  i don't know how anyone can handle a job on this treatment--kudos to all who do--with the mood changes & fatigue.
i am applying for disability to try to get something financial back(takes about 2 years).   my husband took the brundt of my moods.  i can't wait to get back to "normal."  the meds stay in your system for 6 months after done.  my dr says i can be off work 3 months after done.
i mainly do sub elem. school nursing when able.  i'm lucky to have bcbs with script plan to cover treatment/med cost/labs etc.  it definitely is expensive.  i've heard the drug companies & support agencies are willing to help.  thanx for the input,  kudos132

[Tallahassee]

Yes, all of my Drs (Dentists and such) wrote that  I "state" that I cheared.

BTW, when I was informing everyone about my Hep. C, nobody wrote that I "state" that I have Hep. C !! :-)

All the best!!

[ladybug52]

Isn't that the truth!:)

Thanks I neeeded that observation--
Bug

[germina45]

did anyone here got splash in the eye with blood from a heb c pt
i am really scared and will have blood re[eated in 6 weeks etc.. i heard its a 2 or less chance of getting hep c
anyone has a feedback