Clinical Requirements

The following are specific to students enrolled in the BSN Pre-Licensure Nursing Core Courses with a lab, simulation, or clinical component. All students must provide documentation to the SONHS for the health status requirements listed below. All health status requirements must be uploaded into Project Concert by the end of the first week following the start of a Nursing Core Course.

Students who do not show proof of completed health status requirements or fail to upload the documents into Project Concert will not be allowed to continue in their lab, simulation, or clinical experiences. Any student who falls out of compliance due to expired documentation will immediately be restricted from lab, simulation, or clinical participation and receive failing grades on those assignments until renewed documentation is provided. Being restricted from lab, simulation, or clinical participation places the student in jeopardy of not meeting the course objectives and could result in a course failure. Faculty view maintenance of health as the responsibility of a student aspiring to be a nurse.

Note: Students are responsible for all costs associated with meeting these requirements.

Background Check	Students must submit to a criminal background check conducted by the University’s approved vendor. Students assume the cost for completing the background check. Background can only be completed after the student has been accepted to the BSN Pre-Licensure Program and must be completed at least 2 weeks before students begin their first nursing core course. Backgrounds completed while enrolled at other Colleges/Universities are not acceptable. The vendor will provide the SONHS with a statement of a clear background check. Any student with a felony conviction that precludes them from earning an RN license will have their admission revoked from the program. Any student with a misdemeanor conviction will be subject to review by the Program Director in consultation with the TN BON. Any student not receiving a clear background check may be denied access to the clinical agencies thus preventing progression in the BSN Pre-Licensure program. A student who is denied ongoing participation in clinical learning experiences at any clinical agency and by the clinical agency will be subject to the Code of Conduct policy. Students must report, within 10 days, any legal violation such as a DUI, misdemeanor, or felony if occurrence is during the program. Students will not be permitted to continue in the program without a disposition date. Students may not be allowed to continue in the program depending on the offense. Failure to accurately report misdemeanor or felony convictions to the Director of the BSN Pre-Licensure Program is a Code of Conduct violation. Students may have offenses in their past that is not flagged by the University’s approved vendor, it may be flagged upon graduation when the State Board of Nursing conducts a more extensive background check. Depending on the offense, the State Board of Nursing may refuse to grant permission for the student to take the NCLEX-RN even though the student has graduated from the BSN Pre-Licensure Program. In the event a student is involved in an offense during tenure in the program that was not reported or went undetected by the SONHS, this could also result in the State Board of Nursing refusing to grant permission to take the NCLEX-RN. Additional background checks may be required by clinical facilities, and if so, the SONHS must comply with these facility requirements and the student would incur the cost of the additional required screening.
Drug Screen	Students are required to have a negative drug screen prior to beginning first lab, simulation, or clinical experience. Students who do not meet this requirement will be reported for Code of Conduct. Students may remain enrolled while going through the Code of Conduct process, but cannot participate in the course without a clear drug screening. Students assume the cost for completing the drug screen and must use the University’s approved vendor. The drug screen can only be completed after the student has been accepted to the BSN Pre-Licensure Program. Drug screens completed while enrolled at other Colleges/Universities are not acceptable. Students will assume the cost of all additional testing, if required, due to a positive drug screen. Clinical facilities have the right to and may require annual drug screening. All students should refer to the detailed Policy for Student Drug, Nicotine & Alcohol Screening.
Health Insurance	Verification of the student’s current health insurance coverage. (e.g., copy of insurance card reflecting the student’s name and dates of coverage). Military may obtain proof of insurance through DEERS. This information will be required at the start of each semester you are enrolled. Students are required to maintain health insurance as long as they are enrolled in the BSN Pre-Licensure Program. Students who do not maintain health insurance will be withdrawn from their courses. Students are responsible for all costs and expenses they incur for medical treatment which results from their participation in the program.
Basic Life Support (BLS) card	BLS certification for the Healthcare Professionals through the American Heart Association is required. Information as to the availability of courses may be obtained online by visiting the American Heart Association. Training may be completed using the blended learning or classroom training method. This certification is valid for a two-year period and must be renewed prior to the expiration. If students do not meet this requirement, they will be withdrawn from their courses. *Other BLS courses will NOT fulfill this requirement. Online-only courses are not acceptable.*
Health Clearance Form	A healthcare provider completes this form following a physical exam of the student. If the physical was performed within the last three (3) months, the form may be completed based off of that exam. The healthcare provider must indicate if the student has any limitations for clinical practice. See Forms.
Mantoux Tuberculin Skin Test (TST)	The TST is one method of determining whether a person is infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The TST is performed by injecting 0.1 mL of tuberculin purified protein derivative (PPD) into the inner surface of the forearm. Initial TST must be completed using the two-step testing. If the first TST is negative, a second TST will be performed within 7 – 21 days. Subsequent single TST will be required annually. The skin test reaction should be read between 48 and 72 hours after administration by a health care worker trained to read TST results. A student who does not return within 72 hours will need to be rescheduled for another skin test. A TST is valid for one year. TST records must be current and on file. If the student has a history of a positive reading or PPD tests positive the student is required to submit a current CXR and clearance from their medical provider to participate in nursing school activities. A chest x-ray is valid for 5 years. The QuantiFERON®-TB Gold blood test may be accepted in lieu of the TST. TST is contraindicated only for persons who have had a severe reaction (e.g., necrosis, blistering, anaphylactic shock, or ulcerations) to a previous TST. It is not contraindicated for any other persons, including pregnant women, or persons living with HIV.However, TB blood tests are the preferred method of testing for people who have received the BCG TB vaccine. Students who choose not to complete this testing/screening may not be guaranteed clinical placement which may impede program progression.
Tetanus- Diphtheria (TD/Tdap)	Documentation of Tetanus/Tetanus-Diphtheria/Tetanus-Diphtheria with Acellular Pertussis vaccination administered within the past 10 years (Tdap vaccines are preferred). If you have a medical condition which does not allow current immunization, then you may sign a waiver and send to the Clinical Practice Manager to document your medical exception. Students who choose not to or are unable to take these vaccines due to medical reasons may not be guaranteed clinical placement which may impede program progression.
Hepatitis B	Hepatitis B vaccine (3 doses), or Hepatitis B Waiver, are required. A waiver is required if vaccine not administered. See Forms. If you have a medical condition which does not allow current immunization, then you may sign a waiver and send to the Clinical Practice Manager to document your medical exception. Evaluation will be made on an individual basis. Students who choose not to or are unable to take this vaccine due to medical reasons may not be guaranteed clinical placement which may impede program progression.
Influenza (Flu)	Flu vaccines are available from late September through early May. Students are required to have a current flu vaccine on file to enter the lab, simulation, or clinical setting. Influenza vaccine is required annually. If you have a medical condition which does not allow current immunization, then your Physician may sign a waiver and send to the Clinical Practice Manager to document your medical exception. Students who are unable due to medical reasons to take this vaccine may not be guaranteed clinical placement which may impede program progression.
COVID Vaccine	Students must submit evidence of full COVID-19 vaccination. The definition of fully vaccinated is having the entire series of shots completed. Exceptions for medical reasons will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Requests for exemption should be submitted via email to the respective Program Director for review. Students who choose not to or are unable to take these vaccines due to medical reasons will not be guaranteed clinical placement which may impede program progression and result in dismissal from the program.
Varicella (Chicken Pox)	Students must show proof of immunity (lab evidence indicating positive varicella titers within 5 years). Because of recent changes in policies, documentation of history of chicken pox or varicella vaccinations are not sufficient. If not immune (negative titer results), then student must be vaccinated and be re-tested at least 30 days after receiving the vaccination. If, after the second blood test, the student is still showing “negative” or “non-reactive” for immunity, no further vaccines/titer requests will be required. If you have a medical condition which does not allow current immunization, then you may sign a waiver and send to the Clinical Practice Manager to document your medical exception. Evaluation will be made on an individual basis. Students who choose not to or are unable to take this vaccine due to medical reasons may not be guaranteed clinical placement which may impede program progression.
MMR: Measles, Mumps, Rubella	Students must show proof of immunity (lab evidence indicating positive MMR titers within 5 years). It is not sufficient to report having had any of these illnesses or vaccinations as a child. Titers must indicate adequate protection. Equivocal results are considered negative, and the student is required to get a booster for the MMR vaccine. If not immune (negative titer results), then student must be vaccinated and be re-tested at least 30 days after receiving the vaccination. If, after the second blood test, the student is still showing “negative” or “non-reactive” for immunity, no further vaccines/titer requests then you may sign a waiver for this disease. If you have a medical condition which does not allow current immunization, then you may sign a waiver and send to the Clinical Practice Manager to document your medical exception. Evaluation will be made on an individual basis. Students who choose not to or are unable to take these vaccines due to medical reasons may not be guaranteed clinical placement which may impede program progression.
Hepatitis A	Recommended but not required.
HIPAA Form	Students must sign and upload this form to Project Concert. See Forms.

Note: Individual clinical agencies may have additional requirements.

At any time, a student may be required to receive a medical examination if deemed necessary by the faculty and/or Clinical Practice Manager for the wellbeing of the student and/or clients. The medical examination will be at the student’s expense.