Student Nursing Guidelines

Whenever an adverse event occurs involving a student, patient, or resident at a clinical instruction site, the student must follow these steps:

1. Immediately notify the faculty of the incident, whether or not there was actual injury to the student or patient/resident.

2. The nursing faculty will work with the student to achieve the following:

   • • Seek appropriate medical attention, if required.

     • Complete an Incident Report Form.

     • Inform the Academic Program Head as soon as possible of the accident/ incident.

3. If the student required medical attention, the student will be required to present a signed medical release before returning to any immersive learning activity.

   • • Please have a health care provider complete the Medical Clearance to Return to Clinical/Lab/Simulation Form.

1. A needle stick or cut caused by a needle or any sharp object that was actually or potentially contaminated with blood or body fluids (e.g., urine, saliva, sputum, vomit, feces).

2. A contaminant splash to mucous membranes (e.g., eyes, nose, mouth) with blood or body fluids.

3. Prolonged skin contact or exposure to blood or body fluids—especially when the skin is chapped, abraded, or afflicted with dermatitis or somehow otherwise not intact.

Note: If the exposure takes place at a clinical site, the site’s policy for exposure incidents supersedes this action plan. It is your responsibility to learn the clinical site’s policy and emergency plan as part of your clinical orientation.

Should an adverse event involving blood or body fluids occur, the student must follow these steps:

1. 1. Immediately notify faculty of the incident. Prompt reporting of exposures is crucial to ensure proper medical evaluation and treatment, if necessary.

   2. Unless extraordinary circumstances are present, faculty will assist the student in removing contaminated clothing, wiping/washing off visible blood and/or body fluids, and disinfecting the area exposed using warm water and a skin-approved bactericidal. Care should be taken not to use abrasive cleaners that will damage the skin. If blood or fluids get into the eye or come in contact with the mucous membranes, flush the area vigorously with running water.

   3. Faculty will assist the student in completing an Incident Report Form.

   4. Faculty will inform the Academic Program Head and Clinical Coordinator within 60 minutes of the exposure.

   5. Lead faculty and clinical faculty will assist the student in making arrangements for evaluation, testing, and prophylactic treatment at the clinical site. If the site is unable or unwilling to assist, the student will be treated and tested at a designated health care facility or the nearest emergency medical facility.

   6. In addition to University requirements, faculty and students must comply with clinical site policies regarding bloodborne pathogens exposure.

   7. If warranted, after initial prophylactic treatment, the student will be provided information regarding arrangements for continued prophylactic treatment, follow-up testing, and counseling.

   8. In addition to the resources provided by the nursing program, students or faculty members also may call the 24-hour National Clinicians’ Post-Exposure Prophylaxis Hotline (PEPline) at 888-448-4911 (Toll Free) if there are any questions or concerns.

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) regulations require strict confidentiality of client and facility information obtained for the purpose of providing nursing care and clinical learning.

All clinical discussions must occur in a protected environment and with other individuals on a “need-to- know” basis.

Information about patients/residents obtained from client records, staff, families, and the patient/resident is protected by HIPAA, and the law stipulates that making a photocopy of patient records and/or paperwork that contains client names or identifying information is prohibited.

It is the student’s responsibility to be informed of and comply with facility-specific requirements for maintaining patient confidentiality.

Violation of HIPAA or patient confidentiality could result in disciplinary action, up to and including removal from the program.

• Current American Heart Association CPR certification (also called BLS) at the health care provider level; online and American Red Cross will not be accepted. Certification must be valid during the student's full tenure in the program.

• Proof of a physical exam no more than 1 year old. The exam must be signed by a licensed medical doctor, physician assistant, doctor of osteopathy, or nurse practitioner.

• Proof of vaccination (or immunity by titer), valid during the student’s full tenure in the program, for the following:

  • • Measles, mumps, rubella (for students born after 12/31/56)

    • Varicella (history of disease not acceptable)

    • Tetanus (within the last 10 years)

    • Diphtheria

    • Pertussis

    • COVID-19 or exemption approved by clinical site; note that clinical sites may not permit students to enter without COVID-19 vaccination

    • Hepatitis B series or waiver; note that clinical sites may not permit students to enter without completing all three doses of the hepatitis vaccine or positive titer

    • Influenza (or proof of allergy to eggs)

    • H1N1 (or proof of allergy to eggs)

    • Meningococcal (if required by clinical sites)

    • Negative tuberculosis status evidenced by either TB skin test or blood test (as defined by CDC standards) required every 12 months; if prior positive test for TB, must submit a negative chest X-ray or medical provider’s clearance

• Other immunizations may be required by specific clinical facilities or by CDC requirements.

• Students may be required to complete a second satisfactory national criminal background check before beginning certain courses that require clinical experiences.