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 Denver,
It’s up to you to decide if you want to tell the agency about your status, you’re not obliged to do so.
Hi thank you for answering my question
Just a follow question should I disclosed my status as a HIV positive to my agency before applying? What should I do?
Hi Denver,
Yes you can work in Germany as a nurse, your status won’t be an issue. Info about the healthcare system in Germany can be found here: https://www.commonwealthfund.org/international-health-policy-center/countries/germany As you’re planning on moving to Germany is may be worth reaching out to a German HIV org: https://www.berlin-aidshilfe.de/
Hi
Iam PLHIV and would like to work as a Nurse in germany, is it possible to work as a nurse even if iam HIV positive in germany?
Would my treatment like laboratories and medicine be also free?
Hi Paul,
Which country are you in?
Hi, I’m a Nursing Student and suddenly I was diagnosed as positive. I don’t know if I am still allow to become a Nurse. Are there any medical requirements in School of Nurses that will reveal my status?
Hi Charlie,
There are no travel or residency restrictions to Ireland for people who are HIV positive.
Good luck in your applications.
Hi! Im considering Ireland to immigrate to. But are there many job opportunities there in case I pursue my dream?
Hi Mark,
There are no entry restrictions for people livng with HIV to Ireland. Please see this page in HIV travel.
I am a Nurse in the Philippines and would like to work as a nurse as well in Ireland. Does Ireland have any restriction to Nurses with HIV Positive Applicants?