I may have contracted Hep C,and am a nurse.Do I have to disclose to my job?

I recently found out that I hep C and don't know how I contracted it and want to know does anyone know where


I can look up my rights. I may have contracted it from my job but have never reported a needle stick,or anything like that. Will I get fired from my job? Should I report this? I'm so scared about this. Any website where I can look.

I may have contracted Hep C,and am a nurse.Do I have to disclose to my job?
The CDC has stated that infected health care workers who perform activities which may be prone to tranfer of body fluids may pose a small risk to patients.





As such, and in order to protect the patients, you should submit to testing by your employer or submit copies of your confirmed test to your employers human resources department. They may place you in positions which do not place any risks to patients. If these positions are not available then you may be fired.





Current studies indicate that most transmission is by direct transmission of body fluids, and that sexual contact has a minimal risk but may be responsible for as much as 20% of new cases. Therefore you should always report any fluid contamination during work exposures. Failure to dio this would normally make one assume, that you were not using universal precautions at the time, and did not want to be involved in the incident reporting process. However, if you had reported the possible exposure, seroconversion and a positive Hep - C would have provided you with worker's compensation funds for the $700-$1400 per month for interferon therapy.





Best wishes. But don't compond your last mistake by not informing someone now and possbly infecting a patient by exposing them.
Reply:i would report it and make sure that the employer knows my only source of exposure is patients,





heres the bigger picture, you hubby or wife is now at risk,





hep c is bad news, get a test and find out if you have it,





I hope you only hear that you don't have anything wrong
Reply:You must report this. If you don't and you infect someone, jail is worse than losing a job, don't you think?
Reply:You people are brutal,this is not a criminal,she is asking a question operative word IS "MAY HAVE,recently found out " just because


there was no actual needle stick doesn't mean it was not contracted by other means,vomit,body fluids,etc at the workplace. She sounds just like she is scared.she is asking


for information not criticism. You people are a mess and very


judgemental.
Reply:If you didn't report a needle stick (which you were required to do), then unfortunately, you can't hold your employer responsible.





People don't realize (nor is it publicized that much, which is a mystery to me) that Hep C is also sexually transmitted.





You don't have to report Hep C (you are protected by HIPAA) to your employer, but MORALLY you should disclose it if you accidently cut yourself and bleed on a patient..b/c Hep C is transmitted via body fluids, and the hospital may require you to be tested in the event this happens, as part of your employment.





The reason you don't have to disclose it is because it cannot be transmitted through casual contact...if you ever contract something that can be, then as a heathcare worker, you are NOT in a protected class and must disclose.
Reply:You have to look at the greater good.....and the greater good is to come clean to protect innocent people you may come in contact with.
Reply:a nurse not disclosing that they've contracted hep c -- sounds like another good reason to rush down to the hospital for healthcare





yes, it's all about your rights and not that of the patients.
Reply:Are you really a nurse? I don't know any nurses that would even think to not disclose any illness.
Reply:Yes, you have to report it to your employer, good news, they cannot fire you. hep c is not transmissable by casual contact, you won't be able to draw blood obviously, but there is no other thing you must avoid as a nurse. If you had a needle stick at some time and didn't report it, you have no one but yourself to blame for your situation. Had you reported it, the hospital would be responsible for treatment you may need, now it's on your dime, foolish girl, should have paid closer attention in school when they taught you about the legalities involved in nursing.
Reply:I don't know if you have to tell your job, but you should. If you can't give it to your patients then the hospital isn't going to fire you. But if you can infect your patients and tell nobody then you are asking for some serious karma. Could you really live with yourself if you infected someone?? Didn't you take some kind of oath to only HELP people?? You're the nurse, you should know the risks of not telling anybody. How would you like it if the tables were turned?? If you don't report this, you better believe it WILL come back and bite you in the a**. Please do the right thing. If you lose your job, it's not the end of the world.
Reply:You are obligated to inform your employer of your medical status. Due to the safety/health-sensitive nature of your profession, you are obligated.





Your employer will take the necessary steps to protect you and your patients. Your employer can not fire you, unless it directly effects your ability to perform your job functions. If it does, they will work with you to try to find a suitable position that will utilize your skills and minimalize your exposure. If they can't find an acceptable alternative, then yes, they can terminate your employment with them.





If you do NOT inform your employer, and it is discovered later that you have Hepatitis C, or any other transmittable disease that you have not divulged, not only will you be terminated, if there are any legal repurcussions, you will have to deal with these as well.
Reply:Being in the medical field you have to let your employer know

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