Question for practicing PTs and recent/current students

[Pants05]

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I have two completely unrelated questions that I was hoping a few of you could shed some light on:

1) For those who went out of state for PT school, is the program cost based entirely on out-of-state tuition rates? Or can you qualify for in-state tuition after you've established residency about a year or so in to the program?

2) Has anyone gone through PT school without being forced to get a flu shot for every year of the program? For practicing PTs (especially outpatient ortho/sports, because thats my main field of interest) are you being required to get annual flu shots to keep your jobs? It's pretty apparent in the U.S. the healthcare system is moving towards requiring annual flu shots without exemptions. I don't know if that bothers anyone else, but being someone who has had a bad experience with the vaccine, and has concerns about what is in the vaccine, I would hate to have to fight for my job every year over getting a mandated flu shot. Just wondering if anyone else has similar concerns, and if they found a way to avoid it.

 

[okramango]

Hi,
I'll be starting PT school this August, but perhaps can shed a little light on your questions:

1) It depends on the state. Some states will allow you to qualify for residency by the second year (after changing your license plates, voter registration, etc), even if you moved to the state right before starting school. I've heard from NAU students that Arizona allows this, at least for now. Other states will not give residency if you just move there for school. I know Texas and Florida fall in that category. Keep in mind, though, that some state schools offer out-of-state tuition waivers as a scholarship. I have found that these are usually not listed on the school websites, and you have to just contact programs to find out if they offer this.

2) I recently attended an info session at Texas Woman's University, and they said that some clinical sites require a flu shot. They said that if any of us had a problem with getting a flu shot, they could work something out, like possibly wearing a mask the entire time while working at those sites. When I shadowed at a hospital, I know all the PTs were required to get a flu shot every year. I think that's common in hospitals, but I don't know if outpatient clinics generally have the same requirement.

 

[Pants05]

Cool, thanks for the info! I'll definitely look into the out-of-state waivers. It's good to hear that there are programs that will work with you on the flu shot. I am hoping most will be lenient about allowing a mask instead.

 

[elmcd77]

Cool, thanks for the info! I'll definitely look into the out-of-state waivers. It's good to hear that there are programs that will work with you on the flu shot. I am hoping most will be lenient about allowing a mask instead.

Just a heads up, the reason programs and clinicals require flu shots is not to protect you, but it is to protect patients, especially those who are immuno-compromised, elderly, children, etc. For example, if someone gets the flu who has MS and they have loss of many of their trunk muscles, it can be and is life threatening. I understand that everyone has their own reasons why they may not want a flu shot, but our program (and university) is doing it for the patient. My program does require it and doesn't take any accomodations.

 

[Pants05]

Just a heads up, the reason programs and clinicals require flu shots is not to protect you, but it is to protect patients, especially those who are immuno-compromised, elderly, children, etc. For example, if someone gets the flu who has MS and they have loss of many of their trunk muscles, it can be and is life threatening. I understand that everyone has their own reasons why they may not want a flu shot, but our program (and university) is doing it for the patient. My program does require it and doesn't take any accomodations.

Thanks for the info on your program. I'm aware that it's for the protection of the patients, and I'm all for anything that is proven to protect them. My issue really just resides with the lack of the unbiased clinical evidence for both the safety and efficacy of the flu shot. Even in hospitals where the shot isn't required, the volunteer rate of doctors and nurses to get the flu shot is well under 50%.

 

[quasimycota]

Regarding the flu vaccines - at my school, it wasn't a requirement for the academic portion at all, however a fair amount of clinical sites required it. My first clinical in a hospital required it, however my second one, which was in a private practice outpatient site, did not.

 

[Lucky Duck]

The hospital I work at requires everyone to have a flu shot, or if you opt out to wear a mask at all times. There is no way I'm wearing a mask around all day.

 

[Pants05]

Thanks for the replies. Yeah, wearing a mask all day is definitely not ideal, but I would rather put up with that then be out sick for 2 weeks and miss some of my clinicals. The only flu shot I've ever had resulted in me getting really sick shortly after. I'm just trying to avoid that all over again.