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Documentation of Hepatitis B Immunity in Nursing Students
1About the Author Julie Kientz Elting, EdD, RN, CNE, is an associate professor at Long Island University Harriet Rothkopf Heilbrunn School of Nursing, Brooklyn, New York. For more information, contact her at julie.elting@liu.edu.
Nursing Education Perspectives
|September 25, 2020
Summary
Nursing students need hepatitis B antibody titers to ensure immunity, as many immunized as infants lose protection over time. Reimmunization may be necessary to prevent occupational exposure risks during clinical placements.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Public Health
- Nursing Education
Background:
- Occupational exposure risks necessitate robust immunization protocols for nursing students.
- Hepatitis B immunization series documentation is standard for clinical placements.
- Hepatitis B vaccine immunity wanes over time, especially in infant immunization recipients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the prevalence of adequate hepatitis B immunity in nursing students.
- To evaluate the effectiveness of current immunization policies in nursing programs.
- To recommend policy changes for enhanced student protection.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective record review of one nursing program's immunization and antibody titer data.
- Analysis of antibody levels in students previously immunized as infants.
- Comparison with 2013 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reimmunization guidelines.
Main Results:
- 86% of nursing students immunized as infants exhibited low hepatitis B antibody levels.
- A significant portion of students required reimmunization based on CDC guidelines.
- Current policies may not adequately ensure long-term immunity.
Conclusions:
- Hepatitis B antibody titers are crucial for verifying immunity in nursing students.
- Nursing programs should mandate antibody titers, not just immunization records.
- Policy reevaluation is essential to protect students from occupational hepatitis B exposure.
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