Hep B Injections

[MissCommando]

I used to work in a care home for 18 months (all the residents suffered from dementia) and I didn't have the jabs. I always wore gloves whilst taking them to the toilet etc. A couple of the residents could be aggressive, but I always managed to move out of the way before being bitten or scratched.
Anyway, I am due to start working in another care home soon and think maybe I should have the jabs. How does it work? From what I understand, you have a jab and then you have to go back for a blood test to make sure you're immune? Thanks

[Sqad]

Basically it is 2or 3 injections....3 I think and then a blood test after 3 months to see if you have built up antibodies.

[rowanwitch]

Always worth having if you are working in an area where you have any exposure to body fluids

[Sqad]

rowan....;-)

[China Doll]

It's a requirement of the job to have them isn't it? I work for a hospital and all clinical staff have to have the hep jabs and it's offered to all other staff as well. My dads a carer and I think it's obligatory there too. The Occy Health Dept usually sorts it all out when you start.... Mind you, this is off the top of my head!

[ummmm]

No China. I worked in a hospital and I didn't have them.

[China Doll]

Were you clinical? Just checked our policy and it's definitely obligatory here and HAS to be arranged by Occy Health, apparently they won't even accept a GP surgery doing it for you.

[ummmm]

I was a psychiatric nursing assistant. I was offered them....couldn't make the dates and was never offered them again. So maybe it was just a sloppy.... but very expensive, hospital.

[ummmm]

I did work with people with Hep B and Hep C

[China Doll]

Aye, that wouldn't suprise me in the least <rolls eyes>

It's so dangerous, my secretary was a nurse but now a secretary as she caught one of the heps from a patient. Bad business.

[ummmm]

I'm thinking about going back......I'll make sure I get them done if I do. One of the patients use to cut herself and attack the staff with her blood.

[rowanwitch]

Sqad, you always assume I'm being smutty,,,in your mind not my thoughts

[Sqad]

rowan...ME?....how dare you suggest such a thing madam?

.......bodily fluids...................!!

[rowanwitch]

I was a nurse,remember If I wanted to be smutty I would have been, with knobs on ,,, I think you need the strict discipline ihreatened Vibes with in the sci fi thread not so long back. Dirty boy, clean my stilettoes with your tongue that sort of thing..

[MissCommando]

Thanks Sqad :) 2 or 3 jabs! Blimey, 3 months is quite a while to wait. I think I will have it done though, better to be safe I suppose.
One of the care assistants had Hep B, I think it was B and not C anyway. She was a haemophiliac and contracted it many years ago from a blood transfusion :( The staff knew she had it, but I guess it was such a slim risk that the residents would 'catch' it from her.
ummm. . . that is terrible about attacking with the blood. I know people can't help it but I'd have been petrified.
On a separate note I must admit, I'm a bit apprehensive about starting at the new place as it's a mixture of male and female residents. The home I used to work in was just female residents.

[ummmm]

These were forensic juveniles.....so much more calculated than those with dementia. This is a hospital that takes patients from Broadmoor....

[rowanwitch]

You may find the male residents a nice change, I always liked them at the residential centre my ex husband ran,, they might be crotchety but were often great fun

[bednobs]

you will have to pay for it to be done i'm afraid

[ummmm]

We didn't bednobs.

[Greedyfly]

That seems ridiculous to me that you would have to pay to immunize yourself from a disease you will come into contact with as part of your job. What sort of organization does that?

[ummmm]

Like I said.....we didn't have to pay.