Assignments should be submitted as delineated in the course materials. All written assignments will be evaluated according to the criteria provided. Questions regarding the evaluation of the assignment should be forwarded to the appropriate instructor.
Make arrangements with your instructor for submitting written assignments by the due date. Do not take assignments to instructors’ homes. If the student rotates to another site, the student may send his/her assignments by another student who has that instructor on the due date. The student assumes responsibility if the student he/she selected does
not deliver the assignment on time and the student will receive an unsatisfactory for the objective that pertains to submitting assignments on time on his/her Clinical Evaluation Tool.
COOSA VALLEY SCHOOL OF NURSING CENTRAL ALABAMA COMMUNITY COLLEGE
INFECTIOUS DISEASE POLICY
Health Services for the Division of Nursing is congruent with the Central Alabama Community College Health Services. The Nursing Department maintains health files on every student, every semester.
Infectious/communicable diseases are common and may be a threat to students and faculty. Students and faculty may come in contact with patients with AIDS/HIV, tuberculosis, hepatitis B and C, and other infectious diseases.
To help protect the health and safety of faculty and students, as well as patients, the Division of Nursing requires:
1. Pre-exposure prophylactic immunization against infectious/communicable diseases prior to admission to the program.
2. Initial tuberculosis screening (two-step method) and annual follow-up
3. Post exposure prophylactic follow-up treatment of students following exposure to specified infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS and hepatitis through contact of blood or body fluids or needle sticks.
4. Initial and annual training for contact with blood or blood borne pathogens.
Clinical Agency Infectious/Communicable Disease Policies/Protocols
Students must comply with the communicable/infectious disease policies and protocols of the agency or facility with which they are assigned for clinical practice or research
activity, as well as with the policies of the Central Alabama Community College (CACC), and the state and Federal statutes, regulations and mandates.
Enrollment and Health Screening
A. All students enrolled in the School of Nursing (SON) are required, on or before the first day of enrollment, to present to CACC a certificate indicating the student has received the required immunizations. A deferral of the required
immunizations for medical reasons may be granted when student provides written documentation to the SON.
B. Students must maintain current health file requirements and are not allowed to attend clinicals until these requirements are fulfilled.
Health Costs and Coverage
Students may become ill, injured or exposed to infectious or communicable diseases while engaging in clinical activities.
A. Students must carry their own health insurance.
B. The SON and/or the clinical agency are not liable for healthcare costs associated with an illness or injury obtained during clinical activities.
C. For any incidence of blood or body fluid exposure, the SON and the clinical agency are not responsible for any and/or all medical costs associated with student counseling, prophylaxis and/or diagnostic testing. The student is responsible for all follow up care. If the student requires post-exposure testing, all results will remain confidential.
Again, all students of the School of Nursing must submit documentation of current enrollment in a health insurance plan. Students who fail to provide this documentation will not be allowed to participate in clinical activities and may be dismissed from the program.
Safety Education and Training
As required by the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) students must receive annual instruction in the use of universal precautions and the precautions use for patients with infectious and/or communicable diseases. The students are required to undergo this training during orientation to the program and may be required to undergo training modules at various clinical institutions. Faculty and students will review facility specific policies prior to participating in clinical activities at each facility.
Student Refusal to Care for Patients with Infectious/Communicable Diseases It is expected that students will provide care to patients throughout their clinical experiences and may be assigned patients with infectious/communicable diseases.
Refusal to care for any such patients violates the ethical principles of nursing and is not congruent with the expectations of the School of Nursing. The only exception is when the student is immunosuppressed or has another such medical condition that requires temporary reassignment.
Student Health Files
The School of Nursing maintains individual health files which contain the student’s records pertaining to vaccinations, CPR certification, annual physical and TB skin test.
Students are responsible for ensuring completion of the requirements both prior to beginning classes and annually as needed. Students with health file deficiencies will not be able to attend clinical activities until the deficiency is remedied. Health requirements are outlined on the following page. Attached is a copy of the Student Health Forms and Vaccination Record.
Revised 11/02/2009
HEALTH REQUIREMENTS
I. The objective of the health requirements is to promote optimal student health.
II. Clinical Requirements (Associate Degree Nursing, Mobility, and Practical Nursing)
• Physical Examination
• Complete Blood Count (copy of report)
• Urinalysis
• Chest X-ray (if applicable)
• Two-Step Mantoux TB Skin Test. Students with a known positive TB skin test will be required to complete a follow-up for positive TB skin test questionnaire.
• Tetanus initial immunization or booster within the past ten (10) years.
• Measles, Mumps and Rubella Vaccination (if prior to 1969 must be repeated)
• Written documented proof of immunity to Hepatitis B. Acceptable documentation consists of evidence of:
• receipt of at least the first dose of the vaccine for hepatitis B
• hepatitis B liter of at least 9.9 RU
A hepatitis B titer at least 2 months following the hepatitis B series is recommended.
• Verification of health insurance
• Current certification in CPR at the health care provider or professional rescuer level
• Signed statement by physician/nurse practitioner of ability to perform the nursing essential functions.
• Drug & Alcohol Screenings (refer to Drug & Alcohol Screening Policy)
• Background Check (refer to the Background Check policy)
• Accident Insurance( paid each semester by the student)
III. Second Level Requirements (Associate Degree Nursing)
• Verification of health insurance
• Current certification in CPR at the health care provider or professional rescuer level
• Physical Examination
• One-step Mantoux TB Skin Test
• Complete Blood Count (at the MD's discretion)
• Urinalysis (at the MD's discretion)
• Chest X-ray (if applicable and at the MD's discretion)
• Accident Insurance (paid each semester by the student)
Files will be rechecked from Level I for verification of immunity: Tetanus, Measles, Mumps, Rubella, and Hepatitis B.