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 Lilian, yes you will be able to work as a nurse in Ireland. There are no restriction in Ireland for people living with HIV. Please see this previous question for more information: https://i-base.info/qa/15284
Lillian
Am HIV positive nursing student, will be able to work as a nurse in ireland after I finished
Hi Ted, as you will be applying for a work visa you will be required to undergo a medical test. This will involve HIV testing. However being positive will not prohibit your entry. Canada allows immigrants with an expected health cost. If your HIV treatment is expected to cost below a certain threshold in addition to any other health conditions you may have, your application will be approved.
I am looking forward to work as a nurse in Canada however I would like to know how it work and the process that is needed for a foreign national with HIV on medication and who is currently undetectable.
Hi Sandra, as i-base is based in the UK I do not have this information. I do know Germany has no restrictions for people living with HIV, however I do not know if this applies to foreign nationals and certain jobs which can include nursing. This is a link to a similar chairty in Germany which will have more suitable advice: https://www.aidshilfe.de/
Will start my nursing apprenticeship next month here in German but they gave me a form my doctor to test me all kinds of diseases before I begin.thing is am hiv positive but I’m on medication?what should I expect please,if the they find me positive,do they also test hiv?
Hi De Cire, as i-base is specific for HIV, I am unable to comment on how Syphillis will impact their stay (if at all). Have you tried contacting your local Germany embassy? Will he be travelling before it is treated?
a friend of mine is applying for a nursing career in Germany.
Will he be accepted even if he is Diagnosed with Late Latent Syphillis that is completely treated with antibiotics?
He is completely normal without any complications and currently working as a nurse in the Philippines.
i hope someone can give us an advice. thanks in advance.
Hi Paul, there are human rights laws that prevent against discrimination based on HIV status. Testing and monitoring may be required depending on the functions of the role you will be working in. Are you looking to move to Canada?
Hi. can a nurse with hiv can work as a nurse in canada? any province?