Question
Can nurses who are HIV positive continue working?
4 April 2007. Related: All topics.
Should nurses who are HIV positive stop practicing? What about other health care providers?
Answer
There is no reason why the HIV status of the vast majority of healthcare providers should have any impact on their job. There are HIV positive nurses, doctors, pharmacists, GPs and other healthcare workers, just as there are HIV positive cleaners, teachers, bus drivers, police officers and nearly every other trade and profession.
Exceptions for employment issues only occur when there is a direct risk of transmitting HIV and usually a risk of blood-to-blood contact. This is not the case for most nurses.
Examples where HIV status can be an issue in healthcare include surgeons and dentists, who could put a patient at risk for HIV (or hepatitis B or C, or TB) transmission.
An assessment of risks by healthcare job, including recommending whether different HIV-positive healthcare workers should treat patients in England is included in Annex B of the Department of Health booklet:
‘Health clearance for tuberculosis, hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV: New healthcare workers’
A similar list for Scotland is at this link:
Scottish recommendations for HIV-positive healthcare workers
There are plenty of examples of HIV positive nurses and doctors, and no reported cases of this leading to HIV transmission to HIV-negative patients.
Hi Thandi,
There are no retrictions on entry and residence in Ireland for people who are HIV positive. Please see HIV travel.
Can i study as a healthcare assistant- care for older person in Ireland when HIV positive
Hi Jhay,
Please see this Q&A about working in the US. It’s a good idea to contact your US Embassy to find out about any restrictions if you work in nursing.
Please see this page from HIV travel.
Im a hiv postive nurse? Can i work in us as a dialysis nurse?
Hi Bhavani,
Please can you tell us more? I’m not sure what your question is.
Am hiv positive patient I hv 1 son could you help me
Hi Elijah,
Unfortunately, we are not doctors or nurses at i-Base. We are an HIV treatment information charity. We give up-to-date information about HIV treatment, side effects, and other infections for people who are HIV positive and for our friends and families.
with my little qualification can you give me a job?thank you.
Hi Mukanda,
Yes you can apply for a visa to work in Australia, Canada and the UK. Your status won’t be an issue.
I am HIV positive can I work in Australia ,UK and Canada ?